Vienna–Bratislava–Budapest Supermarathon

The Vienna–Bratislava–Budapest Supermarathon (Vienna–Budapest Supermarathon until 2005) is a 320 kilometer five-day ultramarathon connecting the capitals of Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. It is the largest and most significant ultramarathon race in Hungary and one of the biggest in Central Europe.

Organised since 1990, this multiday race was run for its first fifteen years between Vienna and Budapest but was modified in 2006 to include Bratislava as well.

The change in the route shortened the race to 320 kilometers from 352 kilometers. This reduced the second day to 84 kilometers from 116 kilometers, which according to competitors, significantly changed the dynamics of the event. The shorter second day made completion easier but sped up the event and now favors faster ultra runners over those with more endurance.

The race developed quickly in the early 1990s and there were 65 individual competitors by 1995. However, the race began a slow decline as many individual athletes saw that organizers put more time, money and effort into accommodating the accompanying relay race at the disadvantage of the individual competition. By 2003, the number of competitors had fallen to 30, although the change in route also helped the individual race and the number of runners grew to 42 in 2006.

Meanwhile, the relay race thrived and from an initial 55 teams grew to 167 teams by 2006.

Relay teams consist of five members and during the first four days, four of the five runners compete. On the fifth day, each relay member as well as individual athletes compete in a half marathon.

Prize money awarded in the race is unequalled by any other race in Hungary. Winners receive around $7,800 worth of cash, gifts and other prizes, second place receives $5,800 and third place receives $4,200.

Due in part to the relatively high prize money, the race regularly attracts some of the region’s biggest names, including former Comrades Marathon winner Maria Bak of Germany, former Badwater Ultramarathon winner Anatoli Kruglikov of Russia, former Spartathlon winner János Bogár and Polish greats Jaroslaw Janicki and Thomasz Chawawko as well as Brazil's former 100 kilometer world record holder Valmir Nunes.

Winners

Women

Year Winner Country
2011 –
2010 Event was cancelled
2009 Irina Vishnevskaya  Russia
2008 Maria Bak  Germany
2007 Maria Bak  Germany
2006 Maria Bak  Germany
2005 Maria Bak  Germany
2004 Maria Bak  Germany
2003 Marina Bytchkova  Russia
2002 Maria Bak  Germany
2001 Maria Bak  Germany
2000 Edit Bérces  Hungary
1999 Martina Bytchkova  Russia
1998 Ágota Farkas  Hungary
1997 Edit Bérces  Hungary
1996 Yelena Sidorenkova  Russia
1995 Maria Alzira da Silva  Portugal
1994 Eleanor Robinson  United Kingdom
1993 Márta Vass  Hungary
1992 Márta Vass  Hungary
1991 Márta Vass  Hungary
1990 Márta Vass  Hungary

Men

Year Winner Country
2011 Csaba Németh  Hungary
2010 Event was cancelled
2009 Jarosław Janicki  Poland
2008 Jarosław Janicki  Poland
2007 Jarosław Janicki  Poland
2006 Jarosław Janicki  Poland
2005 Jarosław Janicki  Poland
2004 Attila Vozár  Hungary
2003 Thomasz Chawawko  Poland
2002 Anatolij Krouglikov  Russia
2001 Attila Vozár  Hungary
2000 Attila Vozár  Hungary
1999 Konstantin Santalov  Russia
1998 János Bogár  Hungary
1997 János Bogár  Hungary
1996 János Bogár  Hungary
1995 János Bogár  Hungary
1994 János Bogár  Hungary
1993 Ernő Kis-Király  Hungary
1992 János Bogár  Hungary
1991 Ernő Kis-Király  Hungary
1990 Ernő Kis-Király  Hungary

Route

Day Route Distance Cut-off time
Day 1 Vienna - Bratislava 93.6K 11 hours
Day 2 Bratislava – Győr 84K 10:30 hours
Day 3 Győr – Tata 60.8K 7:30 hours
Day 4 Tata – Budakeszi 59.2K 7:30 hours
Day 5 Budakeszi – Budapest 21.1K 2:30 hours

External links

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