Vienna–Bratislava–Budapest Supermarathon
Encyclopedia
The Vienna
–Bratislava
–Budapest
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
.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
–Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
–Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
Supermarathon (Vienna–Budapest Supermarathon until 2005) is a 320 kilometer five-day ultramarathon
Ultramarathon
An ultramarathon is any sporting event involving running longer than the traditional marathon length of .There are two types of ultramarathon events: those that cover a specified distance, and events that take place during specified time...
connecting the capitals of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. It is the largest and most significant ultramarathon race in Hungary and one of the biggest in Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western 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
Comrades Marathon
The Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately 90 km run in the Kwazulu-Natal Province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race...
winner Maria Bak of Germany, former Badwater Ultramarathon
Badwater Ultramarathon
The Badwater Ultramarathon describes itself as "the world's toughest foot race". It is a course starting at below sea level in the Badwater Basin, in California's Death Valley, and ending at an elevation of 8360 feet at Whitney Portal, the trailhead to Mount Whitney...
winner Anatoli Kruglikov of Russia, former Spartathlon
Spartathlon
Spartathlon is a ultramarathon race held annually in Greece since 1983 between Athens and Sparta.-Origin:The Spartathlon aims to trace the footsteps of Pheidippides, an Athenian messenger sent to Sparta in 490 BC to seek help against the Persians in the Battle of Marathon...
winner János Bogár and Polish greats Jaroslaw Janicki and Thomasz Chawawko as well as Brazil's former 100 kilometer world record holder Valmir Nunes
Valmir Nunes
Valmir Nunes is a Brazilian runner. A former world record holder, he currently holds South American and Brazilian Ultramarathon records.-Career:...
.
Women
| Year | Winner | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | – | |
| 2010 | Event was cancelled | |
| 2009 | Irina Vishnevskaya | |
| 2008 | Maria Bak | |
| 2007 | Maria Bak | |
| 2006 | Maria Bak | |
| 2005 | Maria Bak | |
| 2004 | Maria Bak | |
| 2003 | Marina Bytchkova | |
| 2002 | Maria Bak | |
| 2001 | Maria Bak | |
| 2000 | Edit Bérces | |
| 1999 | Martina Bytchkova | |
| 1998 | Ágota Farkas | |
| 1997 | Edit Bérces | |
| 1996 | Yelena Sidorenkova | |
| 1995 | Maria Alzira da Silva | |
| 1994 | Eleanor Robinson | |
| 1993 | Márta Vass | |
| 1992 | Márta Vass | |
| 1991 | Márta Vass | |
| 1990 | Márta Vass | |
Men
| Year | Winner | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Csaba Németh | |
| 2010 | Event was cancelled | |
| 2009 | Jarosław Janicki | |
| 2008 | Jarosław Janicki | |
| 2007 | Jarosław Janicki | |
| 2006 | Jarosław Janicki | |
| 2005 | Jarosław Janicki | |
| 2004 | Attila Vozár | |
| 2003 | Thomasz Chawawko | |
| 2002 | Anatolij Krouglikov | |
| 2001 | Attila Vozár | |
| 2000 | Attila Vozár | |
| 1999 | Konstantin Santalov | |
| 1998 | János Bogár | |
| 1997 | János Bogár | |
| 1996 | János Bogár | |
| 1995 | János Bogár | |
| 1994 | János Bogár | |
| 1993 | Erno" Kis-Király | |
| 1992 | János Bogár | |
| 1991 | Erno" Kis-Király | |
| 1990 | Erno" Kis-Király | |
Route
| Day | Route | Distance | Cut-off time |
| Day 1 | Vienna - Bratislava | 93.6K | 11 hours |
| Day 2 | Bratislava – Győr | 84K | 10:30 hours |
| Day 3 | Győr – Tata | 60.8K | 7:30 hours |
| Day 4 | Tata – Budakeszi | 59.2K | 7:30 hours |
| Day 5 | Budakeszi – Budapest | 21.1K | 2:30 hours |
External links
- Official Event Site: