One month from now, on Sunday 11 October, the Athora Bruges Marathon returns for a ninth edition. With four weeks to go, over 12,000 entries for the marathon, the half marathon and the Family Walk have already poured in. That number surpasses last year’s record, as the final 500 race numbers are now on sale.
Last year, the Athora Bruges Marathon was fully sold out with 12,000 participants. With this year’s number surpassing that, its success is confirming Bruges’ prominent position amongst the country’s most popular running events. The city of Bruges is continuing to establish itself as a sought-after running destination. Almost 30 percent of registrations hail from abroad, with France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands making up the largest groups, and a total of 92 nationalities represented. The event also remains firmly rooted in its local community, with a large number of participants from Bruges and the surrounding area, backed by a broad group of local partners.
Bruges’ popular course remains largely unchanged, although a number of key adjustments have been made to reduce pressure on the route and accommodate the growing demand from participants. The start remains at ‘t Zand, in the shadow of the Concertgebouw. The route then passes through Bruges city centre and follows the Damse Vaart to Damme, before returning to Bruges and completing a southern loop via Sint-Michiels and Steenbrugge. Traditionally, the finish line is drawn on Bruges’ gorgeous central market square.
There’s plenty for supporters to enjoy as well on Sunday. The city centre will be buzzing all day as spectators get to watch closely on ‘t Zand, along the canals and on the market square. Thanks to the city centre’s compact layout, supporters will be able to watch their runners pass by several times without having to walk far. The course is easily accessible outside the city centre too, whether along the Damse Vaart or on the southern loop.
The starting gun will go off at 10:00am for the marathon and half marathon runners. At 10:45 am, the Family Walk will follow, sending walkers on their 10-kilometre route through the historic city centre, with a culinary stop en route at the Spermalie Hotel School. They will finish on ‘t Zand, which will host the Food Market.
Dirk De Fauw, Mayor of Bruges: “The fact that more than 12,000 participants have already registered shows just how much the Athora Bruges Marathon has grown. With runners from 92 different countries, we are once again welcoming thousands of visitors from all over the world to our city. An event like this presents a beautiful combination of sport, experience and international appeal, allowing participants and supporters to discover Bruges in a very special way.”
Olivier Strubbe, Councillor for Sport in Bruges: “Many major cities host their own marathon, and Bruges can’t be left out. Large-scale, high-quality sporting events of this kind are a real asset to Bruges’ sporting offering and firmly put our city on the national and international sporting map. Participants from our own city or region, as well as entrants from abroad, will gather for a unique route steeped in history and surrounded by greenery. The start and finish are located in our UNESCO-protected World Heritage city, allowing both participants and supporters to enjoy this unique setting. As a Bruges councillor, but also as a running enthusiast, I am looking forward to the unmissable sporting atmosphere on 11 October. The whole city will be buzzing and teeming with sports enthusiasts and thousands of supporters. Everyone is most welcome!”
Steven Braudo, CEO of Athora Belgium: “In recent years, the Athora Bruges Marathon has enjoyed enormous and growing interest. That demonstrates just how popular this event has become, both in Bruges and beyond. We look forward to welcoming thousands of participants and supporters once again on 11 October for a day full of sporting challenges, perseverance and camaraderie, coming together to experience the unique atmosphere.”
