Great Bruges Marathon - 2024 - Participants' Guide

Dear Participant, Great to see you’re joining us for the 7th edition of the Athora Great Bruges Marathon. This guide will give you all the important info for your run or walk.

It will help you to appear at the start without a care in the world.

Good luck and see you Sunday 6 October!

Team Athora Great Bruges Marathon

PROGRAMME Saturday 5 October 12pm - 5pm:

Collection bib numbers from Site Oud Sint-Jan (Mariastraat 38, Bruges)

Sunday 6 October 8am-10.30am: 10am: 10.30am: 4pm: 5pm:

Collection bib numbers from Site Oud Sint-Jan (Mariastraat 38, Bruges) Start marathon & half marathon Start family walk Close finish End event: closure bag drop area & food market

EVENTSITE

BEFORE THE RACE

Want to avoid the crowds?

Come and collect your bib number or make a change on Saturday between 12pm and 5pm

HOW TO GET THERE? Preferably come by bike, on foot or by public transport.

The start is right by Bruges station.

If you do come by car, we recommend that you consult the website of the city of Bruges: www.brugge.be/parkeren.

COLLECTION PARTICIPANT PACK – OPENING TIMES Individual Registrations: Site Oud Sint-Jan (Mariastraat 38, Brugge) • Saturday 5 October between 12pm and 5pm • Sunday 6 October between 8am and 10.30am TIP: Avoid the crowds by the registration area on Sunday and collect your bib number on Saturday.

Have you registered as part of a group/business with group collection: It is impossible to collect your bib number from the organisers as an individual! Make arrangements with your group leader about where and when you can collect the bib number from them.

Looking for your start number?

Find it on the homepage or on our website.

CHANGE OF NAME/DISTANCE Change of name 1.

2.

3.

4.

Have you taken someone else’s bib number?

Collect the old bib number using that person’s confirmation email Bring your ID card with you.

Change your details at the ‘change of name/distance’ desk and receive your new bib number.

You will be charged a €5 admin fee on site for a name change.

Change of distance If you would like to change your distance, 1. First collect your bib number.

2. Change the distance at the ‘change of name/distance’ desk and receive your new bib number Changes to a shorter distance are free. You will be charged the difference in price for switching to a longer distance.

BIB NUMBERS - RUN

On the runners’ bib number are two tear-off strips for a free: Brugse Zot or Sportzot & Foodmaker pasta Both can be collected at the Foodmarket on ‘t Zand after your race.

BIB NUMBERS - WALK

On the runners’ bib number are two tear-off strips for a free: Spermalie tasting on the course & Brugse Zot or Sportzot (@foodmarket on ‘t Zand) after your race.

BAG DROP AREA 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Your participant pack contains a sticker of the same number as your bib number.

Stick it on your bag and hand it in to the bag drop area.

Report to the tent that matches your start number.

You will ONLY be able to collect your bag on presentation of your start number.

Make sure that your (sports) bag closes well so all your items fit in, loose items of clothing will not be accepted.

Sports bags can be collected until 5pm.

EXCLUSIVE EVENT T-SHIRT If you bought the event T-shirt when you registered, you can collect it with the envelope of your bib number from the registration area on Saturday or Sunday.

T-shirts will also be on sale at the helpdesk on site for €25.

THE RACE

STARTING PROCEDURE ‘t ZAND

SPORTOASE PACER TEAM A number of very experienced, mainly Belgian pacers have committed to act as pacers for the Athora Great Bruges Marathon and Half Marathon. There are two pacers per finish time to pilot you to the finish.

The pacers are easy to spot in the starting grid thanks to their coloured flag showing the finish time. Additionally, every participant will also get a wristband showing the intermediate times per kilometre that you have to run to finish within your desired time.

A handy reminder during the race that you simply wear on your wrist!

You can collect these free bands from the registration desk on Saturday and Sunday.

Half marathon 1hr30 pink flag 1hr40 blue flag 1hr50 yellow flag 2hrs red flag 2hrs10 green flag 2hrs20 black flag 2hrs30 orange flag

Marathon 2hrs59 pink flag 3hrs15 blue flag 3hrs30 yellow flag 3hrs45 red flag 3hrs59 green flag 4hrs15 black flag 4hrs30 orange flag 4hrs45 grey flag 5hrs white flag

COURSE (HALF) MARATHON Marathon

Half Marathon

Supplies

5 km

5 km

Water + AA Drink Iso-lemon + Wine gums + Savoury biscuits

10.9 km

10.9 km

Water + AA Drink Iso-lemon + Wine gums + Savoury biscuits

16.3 km

16.3 km

Water + AA Drink Iso-lemon + Bananas

20.3 km

20.3 km

Water + AA Drink Iso-lemon + Wine gums + Savoury biscuits

25.1 km

/

Water + AA Drink Iso-lemon + Wine gums + Savoury biscuits

30.5 km

/

Water + AA Drink Iso-lemon + Bananas

35.3 km

/

Water + AA Drink Iso-lemon + Wine gums + Savoury biscuits

40.2 km

/

Water + AA Drink Iso-lemon + Wine gums + Savoury biscuits

Finish

Finish

Water – AA Drink Iso-Lemon – Fulfil Vitamin & Protein Bar

• •

Order of supplies: Snacks  AA Drink Iso lemon (red vests)  Water (blue vests) There are toilets at each supply point

Check out detailed course & download GPX

COURSE FAMILY WALK When passing by Spermalie, you can enjoy some tasty snacks, accompanied by a mocktail or glass of cava, with a choice of: • Flemish Pork stew • Fish pie with fish from the North Sea • Vegan paella At the foodmarket (on ’t Zand) you will also receive a Brugse Zot or Sportzot!

At Spermalie, you will also get a bottle of water or you can fill your drinking bottle.

At the finish you will get a Fulfil Vitamin & Protein Bar and bottle of water.

Check out course in detail

ATHORA CHEERING ZONES Where can relatives, friends, ... Cheer you on?

At the Athora cheering zones of course!

Music, a DJ and cheer signs for a unique atmosphere!

Where can they go?

• The first cheering zone is in the heart of Bruges on Wulpenstraat, by the Sasplein • The second cheering zone is at the end of the Noorweegse Kaai – Dammesteenweg.

So be sure to bring your supporters!

Athora Cheering zones

KEEP IT CLEAN! Do not throw paper or packaging on the ground.

Keep hold of them and you can throw them away at the various supply stations along the course.

AFTER THE RACE

RESULTS (RUNNERS) The timer starts to run when you cross the start mat, so there is no need to push your way to the front. Just go and stand in the starting grid of your desired time. Your time will not start running until you cross the official start.

We rely on the fair play and sportsmanship of each participant. Improve your running comfort and that of others by standing in the starting area that best matches your estimated finish time.

LIVE TRACKING (RUNNERS) Your fan club can follow every step you take via the new “live results” page. You will be able to find it on the homepage of the website from Sunday morning.

You can find live intermediate times there and your final result after the race.

YOUR PERSONAL ACTION SHOTS SPORTOGRAF.COM is the official photo service of the Athora Great Bruges Marathon. These photographers have built up a good reputation with their fully digital service and affordable prices over the last years.

Check out the Sportograf website and find your Athora Great Bruges Marathon photos.

YOUR FINISH TIME ON YOUR MEDAL If you have ordered medal engraving when registering, you can take your bib number to the stand on ‘t Zand.

If you did not order it beforehand, not to worry, you can still have your medal engraved for €12 on site.

SMOKE FREE EVENT We would like to ask everyone not to smoke, both at the event site and along the Athora Great Bruges Marathon course.

That way all participants and spectators can enjoy a smoke free event.

Thank you for your cooperation!

SAFE SPORTS Exercise is healthy and conducive to good physical and mental health. However, it is important to exercise responsibly. This prevents injuries and increases pleasure. Below are 5 tips we would like to share with you.

The importance of a good warm-up.

To prevent injuries, it is important to warm up properly. At this time of year, your body is extra susceptible to injuries. A warm-up warms up the muscles and prevents injuries.

Drink plenty Nutrition also helps to keep the body in shape in low temperature. Drink enough during your run. At lower temperatures, you think you sweat less and drink less. But adequate hydration is very important when exercising.

Listen to your body Don’t let the crowd lead you too much. Run the pace you trained for.

Don’t forget the cool-down After running, a cool-down is recommended. It is important to get your heart back to its normal rhythm after intense exercise. Gradually tone down your exercise!

ENJOY! You have been working towards this achievement for a long time. Don’t forget to enjoy the course and be encouraged by the many supporters along the route!

UP FOR A NEXT CHALLENGE? 30.03.2025 - Sofico Gent Marathon 12 & 13.04.2025 - European Running Championships (Brussels – Leuven) 11.05.2025 - Dwars door Brugge