The organizers announced that 14,714 participants from 40 countries registered for Sunday races on 42, 21 and 10 km, while for Saturday races 4,973 children from elementary schools, 931 from secondary schools, and 1,793 preschool children are registered.
The weather will be nice, the temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius
"This year we expect very warm weather, with temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius, while many runners stayed at home last year because of the cold weather, and snow. As the Slovenska cesta Road is less wide now, we intend to prepare a route of 42 km in one lap for the 20th marathon, instead of two laps, which will be a big new step in our development, " said Andrej Razdrih, Organizing Committee President.
Parking places and public transport for free
On Sunday the 10K race will start at 8.30 AM, and races on 42K and 21K on 10.30 AM. 10 minutes earlier the longest race for the paraplegic athletes will start. The budget for the entire event is approximately 850,000 euros.
The traffic in Ljubljana will be reopened on Sunday at 4 PM, while for the participants there will be free parking places available at Rudnik, at Stožice, at the nearby hippodrome, and on other points owned by the municipality or public institutes. Participants with starting numbers will be granted free rides by public transport on all bus lines.
Start on the Slovenska cesta road, finish on the Kongresni trg square
1,474 male and 309 female runners are registered for the marathon distance of 42,195 m, valid for the Slovenian Championship. 4,590 male and 2,711 female runners registered for the shorter, half-marathon distance (21,098 m). The start will be on the Slovenska cesta road, as introduced two years ago, and the finish of the race at Kongresni trg square, the same as last year. The starting numbers will be available on Thursday and Friday, to be collected at Gospodarsko razstavišče.
Will a new record be set?
Besides recreational runners, 12 top foreign professional male, and six female runners will participate at the Ljubljana marathon. "We had offers from almost 60 foreign marathon runners, and we signed contracts with the best. We also have pacemaker runners for setting the rhythm, which should help achieve the time of one hour and four minutes, or even less, for the first lap," said Borut Podgornik, in charge of the top runners.
Two years ago Daniel Too from Kenya won and set the track record (2:08,25) on 42 km. This year he will start as number 1 on the start list. Female track record was set in 2009 by Kilel Cheptonui from Kenya, who won with the 14th world season-best time (2:25,24).
A day before dedicated to the youngest
Saturday is be dedicated to Lumpi run of the juniors, and runners from elementary and secondary schools. Lumpi started on 11 AM, and the competitions for older children will begin at 12.50 PM. At 6 PM the Marathon opening ceremony will take place at Gospodarsko razstavišče, with the traditional Pasta party. On Saturday at 5 PM a new 4,000 m race will be introduced, according to the organizer suitable for all age groups of the Ljubljana inhabitants.
