The Vienna–Bratislava–Budapest Supermarathon (Vienna–Budapest Supermarathon until 2005) is a 320 kilometer five-day ultramarathon connecting the capitals of Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. It is the largest and most significant ultramarathon race in Hungary and one of the biggest in Central Europe.
Organised since 1990, this multiday race was run for its first fifteen years between Vienna and Budapest but was modified in 2006 to include Bratislava as well.
The change in the route shortened the race to 320 kilometers from 352 kilometers. This reduced the second day to 84 kilometers from 116 kilometers, which according to competitors, significantly changed the dynamics of the event. The shorter second day made completion easier but sped up the event and now favors faster ultra runners over those with more endurance.
The race developed quickly in the early 1990s and there were 65 individual competitors by 1995. However, the race began a slow decline as many individual athletes saw that organizers put more time, money and effort into accommodating the accompanying relay race at the disadvantage of the individual competition. By 2003, the number of competitors had fallen to 30, although the change in route also helped the individual race and the number of runners grew to 42 in 2006.
Meanwhile, the relay race thrived and from an initial 55 teams grew to 167 teams by 2006.
Relay teams consist of five members and during the first four days, four of the five runners compete. On the fifth day, each relay member as well as individual athletes compete in a half marathon.
Prize money awarded in the race is unequalled by any other race in Hungary. Winners receive around $7,800 worth of cash, gifts and other prizes, second place receives $5,800 and third place receives $4,200.
Due in part to the relatively high prize money, the race regularly attracts some of the region's biggest names, including former Comrades Marathon winner Maria Bak of Germany, former Badwater Ultramarathon winner Anatoli Kruglikov of Russia, former Spartathlon winner János Bogár and Polish greats Jaroslaw Janicki and Thomasz Chawawko as well as Brazil's former 100 kilometer world record holder Valmir Nunes.
Winners
Women
Year Winner Country2011 – 2010 Event was cancelled2009 Irina Vishnevskaya 2008 Maria Bak 2007 Maria Bak 2006 Maria Bak 2005 Maria Bak 2004 Maria Bak 2003 Marina Bytchkova 2002 Maria Bak 2001 Maria Bak 2000 Edit Bérces 1999 Martina Bytchkova 1998 Ágota Farkas 1997 Edit Bérces 1996 Yelena Sidorenkova 1995 Maria Alzira da Silva 1994 Eleanor Robinson 1993 Márta Vass 1992 Márta Vass 1991 Márta Vass 1990 Márta Vass
Men Year Winner Country2011 Csaba Németh 2010 Event was cancelled2009 Jarosław Janicki 2008 Jarosław Janicki 2007 Jarosław Janicki 2006 Jarosław Janicki 2005 Jarosław Janicki 2004 Attila Vozár 2003 Thomasz Chawawko 2002 Anatolij Krouglikov 2001 Attila Vozár 2000 Attila Vozár 1999 Konstantin Santalov 1998 János Bogár 1997 János Bogár 1996 János Bogár 1995 János Bogár 1994 János Bogár 1993 Ernő Kis-Király 1992 János Bogár 1991 Ernő Kis-Király 1990 Ernő Kis-Király
Route Day Route Distance Cut-off time Day 1 Vienna - Bratislava 93.6K 11 hoursDay 2 Bratislava – Győr 84K 10:30 hoursDay 3 Győr – Tata 60.8K 7:30 hoursDay 4 Tata – Budakeszi 59.2K 7:30 hoursDay 5 Budakeszi – Budapest 21.1K 2:30 hours
External links Official Event Site: The Vienna-Bratislava-Budapest Ultramarathon homepage