Split Marathon

Welcome to the arena of the running: where the emperor Diocletian meets... your calves! 🦵

The best gladiator-style race takes place in February in the city of Split and carries the legendary name of the “Split Marathon”! 🏃 If you want a race amid Roman ruins with a view of the Adriatic, you’ve landed exactly where you need to be! 🌊 Also, in Croatia at that time, temperatures hover between 5°C and 12°C 🌡️. Perfect for running without turning into a statue of salt like the Diocletian’s Palace ☀️, and to enjoy the Mediterranean climate without burning! 🔥 By the way, 5 races are on the menu for this Roman festival: a marathon, a half marathon, a 10 km, a 5 km, and even a 2 km family to turn kids into real centurions! 👣 Ancient palaces listed as UNESCO, along the Dalmatian coast, on the hills of Marjan, home to Hajduk Split’s football stadium (yes, you’ll literally run around a football stadium ⚽)... It’s the legendary cocktail that will map out your epic journey! 😎

We know you’re curious like a cat before an Egyptian sphinx, so here’s more on these famous courses 🗺️...

The Split Marathon isn’t a leisurely stroll for tourists in flip-flops! 🩴 You’ll start on the West Coast (Západna obala) along the shore as if you’re taking a Roman digestive stroll 🫡, passing the legendary Poljud stadium of the Hajduk Split (you can shout “GOAAAAAL” if you’ve still got breath at km 20 😂), climbing the wooded hill of Marjan for the view (and mostly to remind yourself why you love the dish), detouring to the ancient Roman town of Solin (the former Salona that had 60,000 inhabitants back then, more populated than some marathons today!), and finishing like an emperor on the Riva, right in front of the Diocletian’s Palace! 🏰 A palace that's 1700 years old and so well preserved that 3000 people still live inside it! Imagine: you finish your marathon and find yourself in a UNESCO-listed monument where people enjoy coffee among ruins from the IVe century 🤯. Diocletian, this emperor who loved growing cabbages 🥬 in his garden after retirement (true! ), would be proud of you! Okay, let’s be honest: the course is AIMS-certified but not as flat as a crepe 🥞. Translation: prepare your thighs because you’ll have 220 mD+ to climb! 📈 But remember, with every ascent you’ll be rewarded by a breathtaking view of the Adriatic 🌅. It’s better than staring at a wall, right? You might dream of smashing your PR? 🕐 The half marathon might be a better fit for chasing times! With 12 aid stations and 10 intermediate timing points, you’ll be followed like a gladiator star! 📡 And for the 10 km and 5 km, it’s the perfect chance to discover Split without too much suffering 😅. One more good-to-know thing: your Split Marathon result will earn you points in the AbbottWMM world ranking 🏅 featuring the world’s most renowned marathons (Tokyo Marathon, London Marathon) 👀.

And as good news rarely comes alone, you’ll be happy to know there’s more to tell. The 10 km race can be done as a team and the marathon in relay. No excuses to come without friends 👯. Running in Split is great, but running in Split with loved ones or your club mates from running, is even better! 😎

During your Croatian stay, you’ll love the sightseeing! 🏛️ On the program: the Diocletian’s Palace obviously (have you seen Game of Thrones? That’s where Daenerys hid her dragons in the caves! 🐉), the Peristyle with its columns from Egypt and its 3500-year-old sphinx (older than your running coach 😜), the Cathedral of Saint Domnius built as a mausoleum for the emperor (irony: it became a church while Diocletian persecuted Christians 😬), and the ruins of Salona a few kilometers away. You’ll be able to climb to the top of the bell tower for a 360° view of Split 📸, explore the palace’s underground caves, stroll along the Riva while sipping a Dalmatian coffee ☕, and especially bathe in the Adriatic after the effort! 🏊 The Bačvice beach is right next to the palace, convenient for rinsing cramps in the water! 🏖️ And if you really want to feel like an emperor, stick around until noon to see the Roman guard parade on the Peristyle: Croatian students dressed as centurions with Diocletian and his wife saluting you in Latin 🛡️. On the gastronomic side, after 42 km, your stomach deserves a chef’s feast! 🍽️ Don’t miss the pašticada (beef stew braised with prunes and red wine, the traditional Dalmatian dish that slays! 🍷), the grilled fish freshly caught at the Riva fish market 🐟, and the famous Dalmatian prosciutto (smoked raw ham) served with Pag cheese and olives! If you’re curious, try the crni rižot, a squid ink risotto that’ll give you pirate teeth 🏴‍☠️. And finish in style with the fritules, little lemon-scented fried pastries best enjoyed hot! Watch out for the rakija (50°) for digestion, you’ll feel the warmth! 🤪

The true connoisseurs know Split proclaims itself as "the most beautiful city in the world" 🌍, just like its people. It’s only you who can confirm them... So, head to Dalmatia? 🇭🇷