Marathon de Samarcande

Have you never run abroad before? It’s time! Today the Finishers teams take you far away, very far indeed! 🧐 Beyond the Black Sea and the Georgia, further south of Russia, lies the legendary country of Uzbekistan, a mythic land once on the Silk Road between the Mediterranean and the China 🌊. For French travelers this remains a unique destination, so let's not talk about it for runners 🏃🏼‍♀️. In the south of the country and near the very lovely capital Tashkent, which you’ll visit upon arriving in the country, a beautiful race takes place every year in the city of Samarkand, a true world city 🌎. The city was inscribed in 2001 on the UNESCO World Heritage List and even if it isn’t widely known here, it carries a remarkable aura in Central Asia ✨.

Three running routes of 10 km, 21 km and 42 km are offered at the Samarkand Marathon, perhaps the farthest race you’ve ever run 🥳. The events, suitable for a para-athlete public handisport 🧑‍🦽, take place in the city where Alexander the Great 👑. Expect a high level of competition at this marathon, whether in sporting terms... or festivities! 😏 You’re not obliged to run in costume 🦸‍♀️ but for this race the tradition is to bring color, and many runners still add color to this already colorful race from cultures different. Numerous concerts are planned during the event, which offers enticing night runs 🌙. The idea of running at night in this historic city, beneath the minarets, has a certain charm, right? 🕌 Like Napoleon, you’ll be able to tell your athletic troops "Imagine that, from the top of these monuments, centuries of history watch you" 👀. If you have time, of course, because this will race onto Uzbek soil 💨.

When it comes to crossroads for certain cities, Istanbul being an example, Samarkand indeed forms part of them. This millennia-old city is considered by historians to be one of the oldest inhabited cities in Central Asia 👨‍🦳. Its openness to the world has been such that Samarkand is a multicultural city, where many religions coexist. The Silk Road ran precisely through Samarkand, which shows how the city is rich in historical monuments 🗽. Noteworthy sites include the Registan, a square bordered by 3 madrasas adorned with mosaics, dating from the 15th and 17th centuries.

Let’s go explore! 😉