In the first Reykjavik Marathon in 1984 56 runners took part in the marathon distance. Past few years there were around 1,500 registered runners. 

The marathon distance is open for everyone 18 years and older, runners must be born in 2005 or before to be able to participate. The time limit is 6 hours and 30 minutes. 

Registration should be done online on our website or during the EXPO. Click here for further information about registration for the Reykjavik Marathon. Participants in the marathon are prohibited from bringing strollers/pushchairs or prams onto the course, this is race rule nr. 13, see here.

You can see a map of the route at the bottom of this site. 

The course of the Reykjavik Marathon is unique, and very scenic. The marathon is one lap and starts in Sóleyjargata and finishes downtown in Lækjargata within sight of the pond and the city hall. The location is unbeatable, considering that a large number of 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 of the 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, but also of 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. In the last part of the race, 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.

Most of the race takes place on the streets of the city, although parts of the route are run on tracks, particularly the seaside and salmon river sections.

These are the streets and tracks runners run through: 

Sóleyjargata, Njarðargata, Sturlugata, Sæmundargata, Eggertsgata, Suðurgata, Lynghagi, Ægisíða, Nesvegur, Suðurströnd, Lindarbraut, Norðurströnd, Eiðsgrandi, Ánanaust, Fiskislóð, Hólmaslóð, Grandagarð, Mýrargata, Geirsgata, Kalkofnsveg, Sæbraut to east, Sæbraut to west, Höfðatún, roundabout, Katrínartún, Miðtún, Hátún, east on path in Sóltún and beside Kringlumýrarbraut. Over the pedestrian bridge to Hofteigur, and to a path in Laugardalur valley (Þvottalaugavegur), east on a path along Engjavegur and then on a path near Suðurlandsbraut. Skeiðarvogur, Langholtsvegur, Gnoðarvogur, Skeiðarvogur, east on a path beside Suðurlandsbraut, walkway over Miklabraut and a path along Miklabraut. Under Reykjanesbraut, the path to Rafstöðvarvegur north, to a path beside Bíldshöfði to the west, a path along Knarrarvogur, Súðarvogur, Naustavogur and the walkway over river Elliðaár. Path beside Sævarhöfði to the east, Tangabryggja, the path behind Naustabryggja, Naustabryggja and Sævarhöfði to the south. Rafstöðvarvegur to the south, the path over river Elliðaár, under Reykjanesbraut, Traðarland, and through Fossvogsdalur valley. Crossing on a pedestrian bridge with the sea on your left, passing a cemetery on your right and going onto a walking path along Öskjuhlíð, over Flugvallarvegur, on a path alongside Flugvallarvegur and west on a path parallel to Bústaðavegur. Walkway over Hringbraut, Vatnsmýrarvegur, Gamla Hringbraut, Bergstaðarstræti, Skólavörðustígur, Grettisgata, Barónsstígur, Hverfisgata, Frakkastígur, Sæbraut to west Kalkofnsvegur and Lækjargata. 

The course is measured by a certified AIMS measurer and accredited by the Icelandic Athletic Federation.

Refreshment stations will be located every 4-5K. Gatorade and water will be provided and bananas and oranges on the second half of the route. Runners in the full marathon can leave a refreshment at the EXPO. It will be brought to the 20K 30K and/or 35K refreshment stations. Be sure to mark your refreshments very well with your name and bib number. At the refreshment station by the finish line marathon runners can also have pretzels. The locations of the stations are marked on the route map.

Timing is done by electronic timing. Each participant gets a number with a chip that measures the time. Click here for further information about timing.

All the runners that finish the race will receive a medal. The top three runners, male, female and non-binary will receive special awards as well as money prizes. See further information here.

The first runner in each age group will get a special prize. See further information here.

Here you can see a live map of the marathon course

Marathon

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