FAQ

Below are answers to our most frequently asked questions

GENERAL INFO

  • 2024 – August 24th - the 40th anniversary

    2025 - August 23rd

    2026 - August 22nd

  • There are four available distances in the Islandsbanki Reykjavik Marathon.
    Note that some distances have age limits.
    Marathon (42.2K) – age limit 18 years
    Half marathon (21.1K) – age limit 15 years
    10K timed race for 12 years and older
    Fun run for the whole family - 3 km and with a shortcut

REGISTRATION

  • The online registration is open until 18:00 (6 pm) the day before the race, but the expo closes at 19:00 (7 pm). It is also possible to register at the EXPO. The registration fee goes up the closer it gets to the race.

  • Included in the registration is a bib number with a built-in timing chip, a medal for all the finishers and special prizes for the winners. Gatorade drinks and water at the finish line and on refreshment stations along the course, all other services as well as one free admittance to one of the geothermal baths and pools in Reykjavik.

  • All international runners are guaranteed a place if registered online. We recommend that you register in time for a lower entry fee.

  • All participants must pick up their race package at the EXPO, which is open on Thursday and Friday before the race. You can find the opening hours here.

  • Yes, you can change your distance online at "my page" until online registrations close. Go to corsa.is/en to start to process. It is also possible to change the distance at the EXPO. No change fee is collected unless the new distances entry fee is higher, then you will have to pay the difference.

  • No, the registration fee cannot be refunded or deferred to next year. See further information under entry fee.

  • Yes you can do that on my page.

  • You can find it on my page.

  • You click on this link here and use the email that you used to register for the race. You will receive an email where you can confirm and there you can access My Page.

  • When you register, one of the final steps is where you can write the code in.

  • You can sign up to 10 people through the registration system, if you have a larger group or want to register your workplace you can contact us.

  • You can find your ticket on My Page, you log in with the email you used to sign up on and you can find your ticket here. If anyone else has signed you up for the race, it is important that your email is used, if not your ticket is still in the other person My Page.

  • Yes, you can, but it is important that each registration has its own email to get into your My page. But if you are registering children you can use your own email for all of them.

  • You can find the receipts under My Page

  • We encourage companies to join us in the Reykjavik marathon. You can send us an email to receive more information.

THE RACE

  • The marathon and half marathon begins at 8:40 Saturday morning. You can find a more detailed program here!

  • The race starts and ends in the City Centre of Reykjavik nearby The Pond (Tjörnin). All distances start in Sóleyjargata and end couple of streets away, in Lækjargata.

  • Yes, there is plenty of space for family and friends at the start and finish line. We recommend that spectators stay on the grass in front of the school building by the start line.

  • The time limit for the marathon is 6 hours and 30 minutes. Participants in the half marathon will be asked to move up to the sidewalk on Sæbraut after 3 hours and 30 minutes everybody. Timing will finish at 15:10, after that no runners will get a certified time.

  • Yes, there are pace makers in all the competitive distances: marathon, half marathon and 10K. The pace makers will run in bright coloured vests with balloons fastened on them. Information about the pace makers speed will be available one week before the race.

  • Yes, the Reykjavik Marathon has been a member of AIMS (Association of International Marathon and Distance Races) since 1984 and is, therefore, a certified course. Many international races, therefore, accept Reykjavik Marathon as a qualifier for their race.

  • All participants in the Family Fun Run must have a bib number, if you ran a different race during the Reykjavik Marathon you can use that bib number for the Family Fun Run.

  • Photos from the race can be bought from Marathon Foto. The "early bird" price is X ISK. You simply go the website after the photo package has been purchased and type in your bib number or name to retrieve the photos. ATTENTION: THE PRICE FOR THE PACKAGE WILL RISE AS THE RACE GETS CLOSER.

  • AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships extends an invitation to those within the qualifications to the 2025 Championship. More information regarding the 2025 event TBA.

THE COURSE

  • The marathon and the half marathon are one lap. The course is relatively flat, total climb of 174 m in the marathon. Most of the race takes place on the city streets, although parts of the route are run on tracks, particularly the seaside and salmon river sections. The course record for the marathon is 2:17:06 and for the half marathon 1:04:09. Click here for maps.

  • The course of the Reykjavik Marathon is unique, and very scenic. The race starts and finishes downtown within sight of the pond and the city hall. The location is unbeatable, considering that many hotels are within 5 to 10 minutes' walking distance from the start of the race. The first part of the course runs through a residential area where many inhabitants come out of their houses to cheer the runners on. This is followed by a section where the runners pass along the seaside and have excellent views of the ocean and the mountains surrounding Reykjavik, including Esjan and the Snæfellsjökull glacier. Participants in the marathon also run through the Elliðaárdal valley, the location of one of the country's more popular salmon-fishing rivers, a small waterfall, and some woodland. The participants pass a number of famous buildings, including Höfdi House, a Reykjavik City Council reception venue where US President Ronald Reagan and USSR General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev met for a summit in 1986.

  • The Reykjavik Marathon takes place in August and the average temperature for this time of the year is about 14,5°C or 58°F, which is ideal for running a marathon. Make sure to check out the local forecast and dress appropriately.

  • The race offers an atmosphere which is both relaxed and welcoming. Around 1,500 runners participate in the marathon and around 3,000 in the half marathon, making both races less crowded than is generally the case in larger events. Since the Reykjavik Marathon also includes 10K and Fun Run distances, it's also a family event. Although only around 200,000 people live in the larger Reykjavik area, large crowds gather in the streets to support the runners. However, parts of the course pass through uninhabited areas where there are few spectators, giving the runners a chance to enjoy Iceland's natural environment and the spectacular scenery.

THE PARTICIPANTS

  • Around 3,000 international runners take part in the Reykjavik Marathon every year.

TOURIST INFORMATION

  • Yes, the Reykjavik Culture Night (Menningarnótt) takes place in Reykjavik on the same day. The Reykjavik Culture Night is one of the most popular events in Iceland and is the city's greatest celebration. People from all around the country and from abroad travel to the capital to enjoy various cultural events. This is truly an art festival with all kinds of happenings all over town, be it theatre, music, fine arts, food or just fun. The long program of cultural events stretches right through the day. A myriad of art exhibitions, string quartets and theatre events rub shoulders with rock bands, graffiti artists and an air display in the run-up to the fireworks at 11 pm. The spectacular display heralded the official end of the celebrations, but as the heavens open, many thousands of people make their way to the bars and nightclubs to find out why Reykjavík thinks of itself as such a cool place to be.

  • There are direct flights to Iceland from over thirty cities around Europe, USA and Canada. There are some great tour operators around the world who can arrange a good trip for you to Iceland. Click here for a list of known tour operators.

Hlaupastyrkur.is - Charity Run

  • Hlaupastyrkur means Charity Run, where runners who are registered for the Reykjavik Marathon make their own charity profile and collect money donations for some local charity organization.

  • After you have registered for the Reykjavik Marathon, you can go onto Charities on My page and there you can make your charity page and choose your charity. You can also see information regarding each charity on hlaupastyrkur.

  • After you have made your own charity profile you can start sharing it on your social media. People can click on a link on your page to give donations.

  • You can change until you have received your first grant, after that it is not possible.

  • You can always update your charity page on My Page.

  • It is possible to change the running distance as long as slots are available in that distance category. ATTENTION: Limited number of slots are available for each distance category.

Styrktaraðilar

  • Íslandsbanki
  • Corsa
  • Suzuki
  • 66 Norður
  • Kynnisferðir / Reykjavik Excursions
  • Gatorade