Interview with Reykjavik Marathon

You organize the Reykjavik Marathon on the 23rd of August 2014. Can you tell us where your event is located and how runners are able to travel there easily?

Iceland is a Nordic European island country situated at the confluence of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. There are direct flights to Iceland from over thirty cities around Europe, USA and Canada. The flight time to London is less than 3 hours and less than 6 hours to New York. The Icelandic airlines are Icelandair and Wowair. About ten to fifteen international airlines fly to Iceland during the summertime so there is plenty of supply.

Are there different distances in your event?

In Reykjavik Marathon you can choose between six distances: marathon, relay race, half marathon, 10k race, 3k fun run and a children´s run. We have something for the whole family.

Tell us something about the history of your event. Why was it created in the first place and how has it changed over the years?

In 1983 two young entrepreneurs working at a travel agency were looking for an opportunity to get more tourists to visit Iceland when they came up with the idea of starting an international road race in Reykjavik. A year later the first run was held with 214 participants. These were natives and runners from seven other nations.

Since then the Reykjavik Marathon has been held every year and now attracts around 13.000 participants with more than 1500 foreign runners taking part mainly in the marathon and the half marathon. In 2012 almost 13.500 runners participated in all six distances of the Reykjavik Marathon.

Reykjavik Marathon became a member of AIMS in 1984. AIMS is a member based organization of more than 300 of the world’s leading distance races from over 85 countries. World famous runners have participated in our marathon, among those are Stefano Baldini, Frank Shorter, Hugh Jones, Grete Waitz, Waldemar Cierpinski and Fred Lebow.

Describe your route a bit. How’s the scenery? Is the route beginner friendly? Can runners expect PB’s?

The course of the Reykjavik Marathon is unique, and very scenic. The race starts and finishes downtown within sight of the pond and the city hall. The location is unbeatable, considering that a large number of hotels are within 5 to 10 minutes’ walking distance from the start of the race. The first part of the course runs through a residential area where many of the inhabitants come out of their houses to cheer the runners on. This is followed by a section where the runners pass along the seaside and have excellent views of the ocean, but also of the mountains surrounding Reykjavik, including Esjan and the Snæfellsjökull glacier. Participants in the marathon also run through the Elliðaárdal valley, the location of one of the country’s more popular salmon-fishing rivers, a small waterfall, and some woodland. The participants pass a number of famous buildings, including Höfdi House, a Reykjavik City Council reception venue where US President Ronald Reagan and USSR General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev met for a summit in 1986.

The marathon and the half marathon are one lap (except for the last part of the marathon, as it goes nearly the same route as the beginning of the race). The course is relatively flat, about 60% flat and 40% rolling. The total difference in altitude is only about 30 meters. Most of the race takes place on the streets of the city, although parts of the route are run on tracks, particularly the seaside and salmon river sections. Course record for the marathon is 2:17:06 and for the half marathon 1:04:09.

How many runners do you expect to have in your event?

The total number of participants in 2013 was over 14 000 and the number of runners is getting higher every year. 

What kind of weather conditions can runners prepare to face in your event?

The Reykjavik Marathon takes place in August and the average temperature for this time of the year is about 14,5°C or 58°F, which is ideal for running a marathon. Iceland enjoys a much milder climate than its name and location adjacent to the Arctic Circle would imply. A branch of the Gulf Stream flows along the southern and the western coast, greatly moderating the climate. However, this also brings mild Atlantic air in contact with colder Arctic air, resulting in a climate that is marked by frequent changes in weather and considerable storminess. Furthermore, this leads to more rainfall in the southern and western part than in the northern part of the island.

What else runners should do in the city after/before the race? Any suggestions to newcomers?

We recommend that all visitors take a dip in the geothermal baths and pools in Reykjavik. One free admittance is included in the entry fee of the race. It is the perfect place to relax after a hard race. No one should either miss the Reykjavik Culture Night (Menningarnótt) that takes place in Reykjavik on the same day as the Reykjavik Marathon. The Reykjavik Culture Night is one of the most popular events in Iceland and is the city’s greatest celebration. People from all around the country and from abroad travel to the capital to enjoy various cultural events. This is truly an art festival with all kinds of happenings all over town, be it theater, music, fine arts, food or just fun. The long program of cultural events stretches right through the day. A myriad of art exhibitions, string quartets and theater events rub shoulders with rock bands, graffiti artists and an air display in the run-up to the fireworks at 11pm. The spectacular display heralded the official end of the celebrations, but as the heavens open, many thousands of people make their way to the bars and nightclubs to find out why Reykjavík thinks of itself as such a cool place to be.

How would you describe your event to people who haven’t yet participated in it? What makes your event unique?

The race offers an atmosphere which is both relaxed and welcoming. Around 1,000 runners participate in the marathon and 2,000 in the half marathon, making both races less crowded than is generally the case in larger events. Since the Reykjavik Marathon also includes 10k, 3k fun run and children’s run distances, it’s also a family event.

Although only around 200,000 people live in the larger Reykjavik area, large crowds gather in the streets to support the runners. However, parts of the course pass through uninhabited areas where there are few spectators, instead giving the runners a chance to enjoy Iceland’s natural environment and the spectacular scenery. The marathon passes through downtown Reykjavik, a residential area, near a salmon river, and along the beach.

The running conditions are usually extremely comfortable – the route is smoothly paved and very flat, while the weather tends to be breezy and in the mid-teens centigrade.