{"id":2887,"date":"2025-01-24T12:45:15","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T09:45:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sofiamarathon.bg\/the-marathon\/history\/"},"modified":"2025-09-19T00:03:26","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T21:03:26","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sofiamarathon.bg\/en\/the-marathon\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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History of Sofia Marathon: From 1983 to Today<\/strong>
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Sofia Marathon has a long-standing tradition, beginning in 1983 when the capital of Bulgaria took on the challenge of hosting a major international sporting event. The first edition of the running event was held under the name “First Marathon for the Prize of Sofia \u2013 83.” The route connected Sofia with Novi Han and back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From 1983 to 2008, the marathon was held annually. In 2007 and 2008, the grand prize was a Toyota car. In 2008, the prize fund included both cash and material rewards worth BGN 26,000 and BGN 19,000 respectively. Despite the growing interest in the event, the marathon was not held between 2009 and 2011 due to organizational and financial reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1997, during the Sofia Marathon, a national marathon record for Bulgaria was set in the men’s category. The achievement belongs to Hristo Stefanov, who completed the marathon distance in 2:11:26.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, the marathon was held on October 15 and attracted more than 2,500 participants. The prize fund was \u20ac30,000, and Kenyan runner Barmao Kiprono set a course record with a time of 2:14:49.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019, a new course was introduced consisting of two 21 km laps. Another significant change that year was relocating the start line to Battenberg Square, in front of the National Art Gallery \u2014 the same starting point for the 42nd edition of the marathon in October 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2020, Naomi Jebet from Kenya set the women’s course record with a time of 2:28:38.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2024 marked one of the strongest years for the marathon. A record-breaking number of over 7,000 participants from 63 countries took part, almost doubling the figures of previous editions. The 10 km race drew the most interest, with around 2,100 runners. About 2,000 people participated in the half marathon (21 km), and around 850 runners competed in the classic marathon distance (42.195 km). Among the new features in 2024 was a revised course, which, due to metro construction, passed mainly through the western parts of Sofia, with new sections along Todor Alexandrov Blvd. and Tsaritsa Yoanna Blvd. In addition to the improved course, the marathon featured eight music stages across six city districts, creating a festive atmosphere for participants and spectators. That same year, the race hosted the European Marathon Championship of the Union Sportive Internationale des Cheminots (USIC), attracting athletes from 11 countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over its 42-year history, the race has established itself as one of the leading marathons in the region, attracting athletes from all over the world and turning Sofia into a prestigious marathon and tourist destination. The prize fund exceeds BGN 65,000, with winners of the classic distance receiving \u20ac3,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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International Recognition and Membership in Global Organizations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, Sofia Marathon has earned recognition from leading international athletic organizations, including AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) and World Athletics, contributing to its growing popularity. The certified course and high level of organization make it a preferred event for both professional runners and amateur enthusiasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Attractive Route and Iconic Landmarks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the defining features of the marathon is its scenic route, which passes by some of Sofia\u2019s most iconic landmarks. Participants have the opportunity to run along paths that take them past the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the National Assembly, the National Palace of Culture, and the ancient ruins of Serdica. The course also goes through the so-called \u201cQuadrilateral of Tolerance,\u201d where four places of worship representing the four major religions practiced in Bulgaria today stand side by side. These are the Orthodox Church of St. Nedelya, the Catholic Cathedral of St. Joseph, the Banya Bashi Mosque, and the Sofia Synagogue. This blend of sport and cultural heritage makes the event not only an athletic challenge but also a unique tourist experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growing Interest and Rising Number of Participants<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Each year, Sofia Marathon attracts more and more participants from different continents, with a significant increase in the number of runners in recent editions. This contributes to the lively atmosphere of the event and places Sofia firmly on the global marathon map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cultural and Entertainment Program<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the sporting competition, the event also offers a rich musical and artistic program that enhances the festive mood in the city. Street performers, music bands, and cultural activities entertain both runners and spectators, creating a memorable atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Course and the Future of Sofia Marathon<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With its development in 2024, a new and even more attractive course was introduced, providing ideal conditions for personal bests and unforgettable experiences. Modern organization, institutional support, and volunteer engagement are transforming the marathon into a world-class event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sofia \u2013 A Marathon and Tourist Destination<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sofia Marathon is not just a sports competition but a true experience that combines the spirit of competition with the beauty and rich history of the Bulgarian capital. Participants can enjoy a vibrant and welcoming city offering relaxation, cultural tours, and a complete experience. With each edition, Sofia is further cementing its position as a destination worthy of the global marathon calendar.

Photos: Georgi Stanoilov archive, 5kmrun<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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History of Sofia Marathon: From 1983 to Today Sofia Marathon has a long-standing tradition, beginning in 1983 when the capital of Bulgaria took on the challenge of hosting a major international sporting event. The first edition of the running event was held under the name “First Marathon for the Prize of Sofia \u2013 83.” The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":3870,"parent":2884,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"both","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":301,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2887","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sofiamarathon.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sofiamarathon.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sofiamarathon.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sofiamarathon.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sofiamarathon.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2887"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/sofiamarathon.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32980,"href":"https:\/\/sofiamarathon.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2887\/revisions\/32980"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sofiamarathon.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2884"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sofiamarathon.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3870"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sofiamarathon.bg\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}