The Istanbul Marathon
Have you ever fancied running from one continent to another? This is something thousands of runners do every year, when they take part it the Istanbul Marathon, running from Asia to Europe, over the imposing Bosphorus Bridge.
The Istanbul Marathon is legendary, or the Avrasya Maratonu, to give it its local name, and it spans a huge 42.195km. The biggest thing? You’re not just running the marathon for exercise, perhaps for charity, or for glory, but you’re also running through history too!
The Istanbul Marathon Route
Because Istanbul is a city which spans over two continents, it makes sense at the Istanbul Marathon is the only one in the world which runs over two continents too. It begins on the Asian side of the city, and then crossed over the Bosphorus Bridge. This is certainly one of the most scenic parts of the journey, and if you can see the view through the thousands of people running alongside you, you’ll certainly have your breath taken away!
As you land on the European side of the city, you’ll immediately be in Ortakoy, which dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries. You’ll pass by beautiful Ottoman architecture, as well as the stunning Ortakoy Mosque. From there, you’ll continue your journey and reach Dolmabahce, close to Besiktas. You’ll see pictures of Ataturk everywhere, and this is where the great man’s last place of residence was, as well as being the last Ottoman palace around. You’ll notice that the clocks around here don’t move, and that is because they have been stopped to mark Ataturk’s time of death, on 10 November 1938.
Next up you’ll head to Karakoy. You’ll run by the shores of the Bosphorus, catching a welcome breeze as you go, before you spot the 13th century Galata Tower. You’ll pass Saint-Benoit French school, as well as countless ancient buildings too. Then, you see the imposing Galata Bridge, and the Golden Horn.
You’ll pass over the bridge, into Eyup, passing towering mosques and a stunning panorama. Heading over towards the glittering Marmara Sea, you’ll spot huge tankers slowly making their way into the Bosphorus. This is one of the most historic peninsulas in the world, so try and give yourself a split second to appreciate it as you run!
You’ll spot Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sofia, and Blue Mosque, and by that point you’re close to the finishing line!
Think You Could do it?
Thousands of people complete the Istanbul Marathon every year, and it is certainly one of the most scenic and challenging marathons around. You can go at your own pace, you don’t necessarily have to try and win! For that reason, this marathon is something you should add to your bucket list, for sure.
Applications need to be in a few months before, and you’ll certainly need to do some endurance training, to ensure you can finish the course. The marathon takes place around mid-November every year, when temperatures are thankfully cooler and you can run in more comfortable conditions. Rain is possible however, but snow is very unlikely at that point.
On marathon day, the city is very, very busy, as you would expect! Roads are closed and this backs traffic up into other areas. If you’re visiting the city on marathon day, and not taking part, it’s a good idea to put your walking shoes and go by foot to wherever you’re trying to reach! Of course, you could simply find yourself a great viewing spot and cheer on the runners instead!
Whether you decide to run the Istanbul Marathon or stick to being a spectator, this is a sight and experience you certainly shouldn’t miss.
