Vienna–Bratislava–Budapest Supermarathon

The ViennaBratislavaBudapest Supermarathon (Vienna–Budapest Supermarathon until 2005) is a 320 kilometer five-day ultramarathon connecting the capitals of Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. It is the largest and most significant ultramarathon race in Hungary and one of the biggest in Central Europe.

Organised since 1990, this multiday race was run for its first fifteen years between Vienna and Budapest but was modified in 2006 to include Bratislava as well.

The change in the route shortened the race to 320 kilometers from 352 kilometers. This reduced the second day to 84 kilometers from 116 kilometers, which according to competitors, significantly changed the dynamics of the event. The shorter second day made completion easier but sped up the event and now favors faster ultra runners over those with more endurance.

The race developed quickly in the early 1990s and there were 65 individual competitors by 1995. However, the race began a slow decline as many individual athletes saw that organizers put more time, money and effort into accommodating the accompanying relay race at the disadvantage of the individual competition. By 2003, the number of competitors had fallen to 30, although the change in route also helped the individual race and the number of runners grew to 42 in 2006.

Meanwhile, the relay race thrived and from an initial 55 teams grew to 167 teams by 2006.

Relay teams consist of five members and during the first four days, four of the five runners compete. On the fifth day, each relay member as well as individual athletes compete in a half marathon.

Prize money awarded in the race is unequalled by any other race in Hungary. Winners receive around $7,800 worth of cash, gifts and other prizes, second place receives $5,800 and third place receives $4,200.

Due in part to the relatively high prize money, the race regularly attracts some of the region's biggest names, including former Comrades Marathon winner Maria Bak of Germany, former Badwater Ultramarathon winner Anatoli Kruglikov of Russia, former Spartathlon winner János Bogár and Polish greats Jaroslaw Janicki and Thomasz Chawawko as well as Brazil's former 100 kilometer world record holder Valmir Nunes.

Winners

Women

YearWinnerCountry
2011
2010Event was cancelled
2009Irina Vishnevskaya Russia
2008Maria Bak Germany
2007Maria Bak Germany
2006Maria Bak Germany
2005Maria Bak Germany
2004Maria Bak Germany
2003Marina Bytchkova Russia
2002Maria Bak Germany
2001Maria Bak Germany
2000Edit Bérces Hungary
1999Martina Bytchkova Russia
1998Ágota Farkas Hungary
1997Edit Bérces Hungary
1996Yelena Sidorenkova Russia
1995Maria Alzira da Silva Portugal
1994Eleanor Robinson United Kingdom
1993Márta Vass Hungary
1992Márta Vass Hungary
1991Márta Vass Hungary
1990Márta Vass Hungary

Men

YearWinnerCountry
2011Csaba Németh Hungary
2010Event was cancelled
2009Jarosław Janicki Poland
2008Jarosław Janicki Poland
2007Jarosław Janicki Poland
2006Jarosław Janicki Poland
2005Jarosław Janicki Poland
2004Attila Vozár Hungary
2003Thomasz Chawawko Poland
2002Anatolij Krouglikov Russia
2001Attila Vozár Hungary
2000Attila Vozár Hungary
1999Konstantin Santalov Russia
1998János Bogár Hungary
1997János Bogár Hungary
1996János Bogár Hungary
1995János Bogár Hungary
1994János Bogár Hungary
1993Ernő Kis-Király Hungary
1992János Bogár Hungary
1991Ernő Kis-Király Hungary
1990Ernő Kis-Király Hungary

Route

DayRouteDistanceCut-off time
Day 1Vienna - Bratislava93.6K11 hours
Day 2Bratislava – Győr84K10:30 hours
Day 3Győr – Tata60.8K7:30 hours
Day 4Tata – Budakeszi59.2K7:30 hours
Day 5Budakeszi – Budapest21.1K2:30 hours
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.