1,100 runners will compete in the Plovdiv 2021 Marathon

A total of 1,100 runners have applied to participate in this year's sixth edition of the Plovdiv Marathon. It will take place on October 31, 2021 ending the calendar of long runs in Bulgaria.

750 athletes have applied for a half marathon distance and 350 for the classic marathon distance of 42,195 km, announced the organizers of the Athletics Club "Marathon Plovdiv". The start on Sunday is at 9 am from Central Square in the direction of Stefan Stambolov Square. The route continues along the following route - Knyaz Alexander I Street (Main Street), Konstantin Stoilov Street, Krivolak Street, Saborna Street (next to Hisar Kapiya), Tsanko Lavrenov Street, Tsar Ivan Shishman Street, Zhiten Pazar Square, 6th of September Blvd., Tsar Boris III Obedinitel Blvd., Hristo Botev Blvd., St. Petersburg Blvd., Alley 8 in the park Lauta, Georgi Danchov Street, Saedinenie Street, Osvobozhdenie Blvd., Asenovgradsko Shose Blvd., Tsar Simeon Street, Yagodovsko Shose Street, Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd., 6th of September  Blvd., through Vladaya Street to Maritsa South Blvd., Rowing Base, 6th of September Blvd. from the intersection with Peshtersko Shose, Krasna Polyana Street, Koprivshtitsa Blvd., Alley of the Youth Hill (Mladezhki Halm), Lyuben Karavelov Street, Vasil Aprilov Blvd., the square in front of the Central Railway Station, Ivan Vazov Street, Avksentiy Veleshki Street, Tsar Simeonov Garden, Nayden Gerov Street, Knyaz Dondukov-Korsakov Street, Preslav Street, Alexander Ekzarh Street, Hristo G. Danov Street, Knyaz Alexander I Street and the finale is at the Central Square.

Traffic on these streets and boulevards will be restricted by teams of the Ministry of Interior Affairs - Plovdiv and Traffic Police - Plovdiv, which will monitor safety during the competition. It is expected that the traffic to be fully restored by 2 pm, when the control time of the marathon distance ends.

This year the organizers of SKLA "Marathon Plovdiv" are preparing an attraction program along the entire route to maintain the spirit of the participants. In the tunnel under the Old Town the athletes will be greeted by the brass band of Plovdiv, in the park "Lauta" they will be animated with cango jumps. A folk ensemble will take over the baton on Asenovgradsko Shose, and the rock band Chongi & the Smokers will meet them on Maritsa Blvd.

The prize fund for the winners in men and women is BGN 3,000 each, for the second place - BGN 2,000 and for the third result - BGN 1,500. In the half marathon the prize amounts to a distance of BGN 800, for the second place BGN 500 and for third BGN 300.

The best time of the classic distance so far is 2:24:08, achieved by Ahmet Nasef (ITA) in 2017.

As in previous years, the marathon program includes running for children aged 6 to 13, which will take place the day before the start of the marathon, on Saturday from 10:30 am. They will make two tours in Tsar Simeon's Garden, along a pre-marked route, and will end on Central Square, where a delicious piece of cake will await them.