Runners from all over the globe will occupy Ljubljana

On 26 October, Ljubljana will host the most important Slovenian running event. The sound of the starting pistol will echo through the Slovenian capital and mark the beginning of the 19th Volkswagen Ljubljana marathon. The most enduring runners from Slovenia and abroad will test themselves and try to conquer the 42 kilometre-long route, which will start and end in the picturesque old town centre of Ljubljana and, as each year, will be accompanied by a loud support from the audience.

The importance of the Ljubljana marathon is increasing exponentially. Only 673 runners participated in 1996, when the first Ljubljana marathon was organised; however, the number of participants has grown to almost 20,000 last year. Two years ago, the event was officially recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federation, which awarded the Ljubljana marathon a certificate that enables competitors to officially qualify for major championships by running through the streets of Ljubljana. This year for the first time, the route will form one large circle, giving runners a chance to see a large part of this small and pleasant city, which is considered one of the top European tourist destinations by Lonely Planet.

Runners can also compete in a half marathon (21 km) and a recreational run (10 km). In addition, special runs are organised for secondary school students, primary school pupils and children, who can become familiar with the most universal form of recreation at a very young age. Less traditional competitors can participate in a handbike marathon with bicycles and some conquer the marathon barefoot.

The gods of sports favour the Ljubljana running event, since the weather has been bad only twice in 18 years and the event has attracted many international sponsors, for instance the general sponsor Volkswagen and others, such as Adidas, Duracell and Airwaves. There is no doubt that their collaboration means that the event is heading in the right direction.

The term marathon originates from a legend about the Greek soldier Pheidippides, who is said after the Battle of Marathon, where the Greeks defeated the Persians in 490 BC, to have run the 40 km from Marathon to Athens without stopping, where he informed the senate about this great event by exclaiming "we have won" before dying on the spot from exhaustion. The very idea of a marathon is a testimony to human cultural heritage with a strong symbolic meaning– the purpose of running is not running away from but persistently running towards a goal while being guided by personal sense of happiness and victory.

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