The world's only intercontinental marathon to be run today

The marathon, which holds the title of "the world's only intercontinental marathon" and is included in the "Gold Label" category of World Athletics, will be held for the 45th time.

The event, which will start on the Anatolian side and end on the European side, will be held in the categories of marathon (42.195 kilometers), 15-kilometer run, 8-kilometer corporate run, and 8-kilometer public run.

A total of 15,000 chip-timed athletes will take part in the race, with 5,000 in the 42-kilometer category and 10,000 in the 15-kilometer category. Including the 15,000 runners each in the corporate and public run categories, a total of 45,000 athletes will compete in the organization across all categories.

Three athletes who have previously won the Istanbul Marathon will also participate in this year's event. The 2019 winner and course record holder Daniel Kibet, the 2020 champion Benard Sang, and last year's winner Robert Kipkemboi will compete for the championship again this year.

Kenyan Reuben Kiprop Kipyego, who finished first in the 2021 Milan Marathon with a time of 2:03:55, and Ethiopian star Gadisa Shumie, who managed to win the Seville Marathon with a time of 2:04:59, will also participate in the event in Istanbul.

In the women's category, Kenyan Beatrice Cheptoo, who achieved her career-best time of 2:22:28 in Doha in January, is considered among the favorites for the race, while Ethiopian Sifan Melaku, who took first place in the Stockholm Marathon this year, will also take part in the race.

COURSES

The marathon, title-sponsored by Türkiye İş Bankası, which will also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Republic, will start at 09:00 on the Anatolian side, approximately 250 meters before the 15 July Martyrs Bridge toll booths.

After crossing the bridge, the athletes will turn off at the Beşiktaş junction, descend to Beşiktaş via Barbaros Boulevard, and reach Karaköy by following the coastal road. After the Galata Bridge, the athletes will turn toward Sirkeci, follow the coastal road, and return from the direction they came in front of the Bakırköy Air Force Academy.

Continuing toward Gülhane Park along the coastal road, the athletes will pass through the park and emerge onto Sultanahmet Square via the tramway line. The race will end in the "Hippodrome," which was the meeting and sports center of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires, between the entrance gate of the Blue Mosque and the Obelisk.

The race will be broadcast live on TRT Spor Yıldız.

AWARDS

In the 45th Istanbul Marathon, a cash prize of 30,000 dollars each will be given to the winners in the men's and women's categories.

Those who finish second in the marathon will receive 15,000 dollars, and those who finish third will receive 10,000 dollars.

For Turkish athletes, the winners of the marathon will receive 40,000 liras, the runners-up 30,000 liras, and the third-place finishers 20,000 liras.

ROADS WILL BE CLOSED

The course and connecting roads for the 45th Istanbul Marathon will be closed to vehicle traffic.

On the European side, all roads leading to the 15 July Martyrs Bridge will be closed to traffic starting at 03:00, and the Galata Bridge will be closed to two-way traffic starting at 06:00.

The Fatih Sultan Mehmet and Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridges can be used as alternatives to the 15 July Martyrs Bridge.

News Source: AA