The 17th edition of the Brussels Airport Marathon & Half Marathon will take place on Sunday 2 October.
Runners from all over the world will put on their running shoes for the entirely new course.
Will you?
We are giving you 5 good reasons why you should not miss this wonderful running event.
1. Start under the Atomium
The brand new start by the Atomium, probably the best known symbol of our country, ought to emphasise the international cachet of the Brussels Airport Marathon & Half Marathon even more. It draws more than 600,000 visitors per year making it the most visited tourist attraction of the capital of Europe. And to think that the initial intention was to dismantle the Expo 58 flagship building after the World Exhibition. But look, today the Atomium is an arts centre, the international symbol of Brussels and Belgium and unique starting place of your sports performance.
2. New Course
Faster than ever! Brussels is never flat, but in comparison with the old course on the other side of the city, the gradient has drastically dropped. The course is surprising and varied and should allow everyone to set a sharp time.
3. Iconic Finish
After a second passage past the Atomium, you run over the Avenue de Marathon (what’s in a name) in the direction of the King Baudouin Stadium, the home of the Red Devils. The majestic finish is on the same athletics track that will host the Allianz Memorial Van Damme later this week, one of the most prestigious athletics meetings in the world. You will receive your well-earned medal in this unique location listening to the approving applause of the supporters in the stands..
4. Brussel is a Compact City
When you are in Brussels, you are in the heart of Europe, literally and figuratively. Because Brussels is not just the capital of more than half a billion Europeans, the city is also in an exceptionally central location. Travelling by train it takes less than two hours to get to the centre of Brussels from London, Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne. Its limited surface area makes it a compact city where you can move around easily by metro, tram and bus. You can travel from the marathon finish (Heysel station) to the prettiest square in the world in the centre of the city (de Brouckère station) in no time.
5. For the Entire Family
The seasoned athlete will be catered for during the 42.195 km through Brussels, but the programme also features the renewed Brussels Airport Half Marathon, a 10 km and 3 km (walk) in addition to the marathon. And the little ones can let off some steam in the Kids Run in the Parc de Laeken.
