2,500 Runners Compete in 29th Zagreb Marathon
October 10, 2021 - The 29th Zagreb Marathon was held on Sunday, October 10, with 2,500 runners!
Cool weather with temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, dark clouds, and some rain created ideal conditions for Zagreb marathon runners on Sunday, reports Jutarnji List.
As a famous face on Croatian trails and roads put it:
"The weather was great!"
Tea Faber was among the 2,500 runners on Sunday morning at the start of the 29th Zagreb Marathon on Ban Jelačić Square and the first to cross the finish line in the women's competition. And with a personal record - 2:51:17. Men's marathon winner Ivan Dračar recorded the best result in his career, also the tenth of all time in Croatia (2:24:30).
Tea and Ivan were the main heroes of Sunday's event and the new champions of Croatia, but as the director of the Zagreb Marathon Marko Jakopović emphasized, this is not only a festival of top running but also the promotion of recreation and a healthy lifestyle. That is why after last year's 'corona break,' it was nice to see the river of runners on the streets of Zagreb again. The number was again limited due to that unfortunate pandemic, but the most important thing is that racing life is slowly returning to normal.
"A phenomenal feeling; this is my second marathon and second victory. Two weeks ago, I was the first in Split, now in Zagreb. The conditions were ideal, the track was flat, everything suited me," said Ivan Dračar, a 25-year-old from Imotski in the Zagreb Mladost jersey.
AK Dubrovnik member Tea Faber is a familiar face amongst Croatian runners because there is almost no weekend that you will not see her at a race.
"To win in your city, with a personal record and the title of Croatian champion, is indescribable. I love running; I live for sports; it’s my way of life."
It is worth mentioning the excellent marathon debut of the second-placed Petar Bratulić (2:26:32) and the eighth-place of Bruno Erent (2:37:58). He became the Croatian champion in the 20 km walk last Saturday; a day later in Budapest, he broke the Croatian record in the 35 km (2:55:49), and seven days later, he ran a marathon.
The 10 km runners were the first to start mastering the Zagreb asphalt, and the best were the members of AK Svetica Dorian Miškulin (30:29) and Olympian Matea Parlov Koštro (33:43).
"The temperature was even ideal, but that wind bothered me a lot. I tried to hide behind the other runners, but I was left alone at one point, so it was hard. I used this race as tempo training, considering I only did the first block of basic training. I am currently collecting a lot of kilometers, I am not doing anything fast, so I am satisfied," said the 21st marathon runner from the Games in Tokyo.
Her club colleague added: "I won, the personal record is there, so I have to be satisfied. Two years ago, I was second at 10km; as a kid, I ran 5km; I come every year, it’s a tradition. So now I have come to the first victory; I hope I will continue in that rhythm, ha-ha."
On Sunday, the only foreign winner was Kenyan Solomon Koech, the fastest in the half marathon (1:04:55). Among women, in first was Croatia's second Olympian Bojana Bjeljac, a member of Dinamo-Zrinjevac, who entered the finish line with a time of 1:12:04.
"When we went through Maksimir, the wind was blowing in my chest, and that slowed me down a lot. The trail has changed; there are more uphills, especially around British Square, which doesn't suit me. But 1:12 is solid as preparation for a marathon. Now we are continuing with the preparations, I have to fulfill the norm for the World (2:29:30) and European Championship (2:32.00), I will try to take off minutes in December in Valencia," Bojana pointed out.
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Tram Traffic in Zagreb Suspended This Weekend Due to Marathon
October 9, 2021 - The traditional Zagreb marathon is being held, so tram traffic in Zagreb will be suspended for most of the city center. The last tram will pass through the central city square at around 7.45 am.
According to Poslovni Dnevnik, the celebration of the marathon in Zagreb will cause changes in the usual circulation of the electric tram system in the capital, specifically in the city center. Tram traffic in Zagreb will see various routes suspended throughout the day, and therefore citizens should be aware. The City informed exactly which streets:
- Today, from 8.30 to 12.30: Trg bana J. Jelačića - Jurišićeva - F. Račkog - Smičiklasova - Martićeva - Rakovčeva - Štoosova - Harambašićeva - Maksimirska - Svetošimunska - T. Miloša - Fakultetsko dobro - Maksimirska c. Maksimirska c. - Wallachia - European Square
- Tomorrow (10.10.2021), from 9.00 to 16.00: Trg bana J. Jelačića - Jurišićeva - Vlaška - Maksimirska v. - Svetošimunska v. - Av G. Šuška - Maksimirska c. - Harambašićeva - Štoosova - Rakovčeva - Martićeva - Smičiklasova - F. Račkog - Jurišićeva - Palmotićeva - Amruševa - Zrinjevac - Teslina - Masarykova - Prilaz G. Deželićlike - Ul. Filipovića - Ž. Maričića - Ilica - Britanski trg - I. Kukuljevića - Zelengaj - Britanski trg - Ilica - Trg bana J. Jelačića.
Tram traffic will be suspended for most of the city center, so the last tram will pass through the central city square at around 7.45 am. Tram line 13 will not run until the end of the marathon, while all other tram lines, except lines 9 and 15, will run on the changed routes:
Line 2: Zapadni Kolodvor - Glavni Kolodvor - Žitnjak - Savišće
Line 4: Savski Most - Glavni Kolodvor - Borongaj
Line 5: Prečko - Ulica grada Vukovara - Žitnjak
Line 6: Zapadni Kolodvor - Glavni Kolodvor - Sopot
Line 7: Savski most - Zaprudje - Autobusni Kolodvor - Branimirova - Trg žrtava fašizma
Line 11: Zapadni Kolodvor - Glavni Kolodvor - Borongaj
Line 12: Ljubljanica - Ulica grada Vukovara - Žitnjak
Line 14: Trg žrtava fašizma - Glavni Kolodvor - Savska - Velesajam - Zapruđe
Line 17: Prečko - Vodnikova - Glavni Kolodvor - Borongaj
For more information on the Zagreb tram service and how to get around the country's capital, be sure to check Total Croatia's Zagreb in a Page complete guide here. Now in your language!
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29th Zagreb Marathon Canceled Due to COVID-19
September 28, 2020 - The 29th Zagreb Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, October 11, has been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the organizers announced on Monday.
"After several months of efforts by us to provide all the necessary conditions for the 29th Zagreb Marathon, we would like to inform you that, unfortunately, we have to cancel the races. The Zagreb marathon was supposed to be held on Sunday, October 11, 2020, with a start and finish on Ban Josip Jelacic Square. Still, unfortunately, like all major marathons in the world, this year, it suffered the same fate," said the organizers on their official website.
"Precisely because many marathons have been canceled in Europe and the world, many runners wanted to take part in the Zagreb Marathon, which this year also received a Bronze label from World Athletics. As the epidemiological situation in all countries has significantly deteriorated and there are many registered participants from Croatia and the world, we cannot consciously run the risk of endangering the health of our runners and the potential spread of the infection to other fellow citizens. The Zagreb Marathon is a major international sports event, which primarily aims to promote a healthy life, and we certainly want it to stay that way," the statement continued.
However, to mark October 11 and the day of the marathon in the spirit of running, the organizers announced they would hold virtual races, and preparations are now underway. All information will be published on the Zagreb Marathon website.
"Unfortunately, this year is uncertain and difficult for the organization of all events. As much as we hoped that the races would be possible with all organizational changes and adherence to epidemiological measures in the start zone, unfortunately, there are too many participants for the current epidemiological situation," the organizers concluded and expressed hope "that this year is really an exception and that we will all welcome 29th Zagreb Marathon, October 10, 2021, with joy and satisfaction."
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Zagreb Half Marathon on Sunday, Changes in Traffic
August 21, 2020 - The Zagreb half-marathon will take place on Sunday, August the 23rd, and cause some changes in temporary traffic regulation as well as changes in bus traffic.
The half-marathon will start at 7:30 and end at 12:20 in Hrvatska Bratska Zajednica street, so the bus line 234 (Main Train Station - Kajzerica - Lanište) will be suspended during the race.
The lines 218 (Main Train Station - Savica - Borovje), 220 (Main Train Station - Dugave), 221 (Main Train Station - Travno), 229 (Main Train Station - Odra - Mala Mlaka), 241 (Main Train Station - Veliko Polje), 242 (Main Train Station - Podbrežje), 268 Zagreb (Main Train station - Velika Gorica) and 281 (Main Train station - Novi Jelkovec) operate on changed routes in both directions.
Buses of line 218 will run from the Main Train Station to the left along Ulica grada Vukovara, then continue to the right to Marin Držić Avenue and Slavonska Avenue and left to Kruge and continue along their usual route to the final destination. The Lisinski and National University Library stops will be temporarily closed in both directions, and the Kruge - South stop, used by buses of line 107 (Jankomir - Žitnjak), can be used in the direction of the Main Train Station for further travel.
At the same time, bus lines 220 and 229 will depart from the Main Train Station terminal, turn left into Ulica grada Vukovara, then continue right along Marin Držić Avenue and Dubrovnik Avenue, turn left onto FR Germany Avenue and continue along the usual route to the final destination.
Lisinski, the National University Library, Bundek, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Sopot will be temporarily closed in both directions.
Bus lines 221, 241, 242 and 268 from the Main Train Station will turn left into Ulica grada Vukovara, then right onto Marin Držić Avenue, again right onto Dubrovnik Avenue and left onto Većeslav Holjevac Avenue, from where they continue on the usual route to their final destination. The Lisinski, National University Library and Bundek stops will be temporarily closed in both directions.
Line 281 will run from the starting point at the Main Train Station also along Ulica grada Vukovara, turn right onto Marin Držić Avenue, then left onto Slavonska Avenue and continue along the usual route to Novi Jelkovac.
The Lisinski, National University Library, and Kruge stops will be temporarily closed in both directions.
*Main Train Station - Glavni kolodvor
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