The Antwerp Marathon supported by Port of Antwerp-Bruges on Sunday 11 September promises to be a fast morning marathon. The 42.195 km long course has fewer bends than last year and hardly any elevation. At the same time, there will be no lack of sightseeing opportunities along the way. Participants will get to see all the beautiful spots of the city.
Participants who want to run a PR should definitely mark the Antwerp Marathon in their diaries. The flat and tight course lends itself perfectly to a fast pace. But don’t forget to enjoy the surroundings as well.
Just like last year, the start and finish are in the vicinity of the MAS. After passing the Port Authority house, the runners head south along the Scheldekaaien. The Schoonselhof, the well-known monumental park cemetery in the Hoboken and Wilrijk districts, is the southernmost tip of the course. The marathon runners will run about five kilometres through the wide green lanes of the country’s most famous cemetery.
“I am personally very charmed by the idea of running the Antwerp Marathon through Schoonselhof. This underestimated green jewel of the city deserves to be known to a wider public. Thanks to the marathon, we can firmly put it on the international map,” says Mayor Bart De Wever. “I would like to wish all runners the best of luck with their preparations. The organisation and the city will do everything in their power to make sure this sports festival runs smoothly and safely.”
The marathon runners will return to the heart of the city via passages featuring the Olympic Stadium on the Kiel (home of Beerschot), Groen Kwartier (home of Michelin Star restaurant The Jane), Borgerhout District House, and Central Station. After that, the highlights follow in quick succession: the Meir, Groenplaats, Grote Markt, … and after a stretch through the university quarter and along Godefriduskaai they finish in the shadow of the MAS.
The half-marathon participants do not run through Schoonselhof but can look forward to a beautiful passage through the garden of the Vlinderpaleis and through Park Nieuw Zuid, a completely new park near Gerlachekaai. Their race also starts and ends in the area around the MAS.
“We are very proud to be able to announce such a course. Antwerp is perhaps the only place in Europe where the marathon and half-marathon runners are given such an impressive route through the city,” says Greg Broekmans of organiser Golazo sports.
