The Skopje Marathon ( mk, Скопски маратон) is an annual

marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of , usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There are also wheelchair div ...

held in Skopje, North Macedonia. Marathon is held in October from 2020.

History

The first marathon race in Skopje was organized in 1997. It only lasted for that year and the following year before folding, primarily for financial reasons. After a nine-year break, in 2007, the event was partially revived with a half marathon-only race, and then fully restored in 2008, when three races were run: marathon, half marathon, and a 5K humanitarian race. Erwan Fouéré, European Union Special Representative for the country, helped spark the revival.Скопскиот маратон ита кон елитата
'' Dnevnik (Skopje)'' (in Macedonian), Retrieved November 10, 2010 Since 2009, the race has been a member race of the

Association of International Marathons and Distance Races The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, also known as AIMS, is an association of the organisers of long-distance road running races. It was founded in 1982 at a meeting in London of marathon race directors. Its membership wa ...

(AIMS). In 2012, the Skopje Marathon became one of the most significant sporting events in

the Republic of Macedonia North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedonia,, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Yugoslavia. It ...

, as more than 3,600 runners from more than 36 countries attended. That year, the marathon was in the list of Qualifying Marathon Races for the Olympic Games in London. The 2013 Skopje Marathon featured a full marathon, a half marathon, and a 5K race, and took place on 12 May 2013. The 2015 edition canceled due to the

2015 Macedonian protests In May 2015, protests occurred in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, against the incumbent Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and his government. Protests began following charges being brought up against Zoran Zaev, the Social Democratic opposition leade ...

.May 2015
AIMS. Retrieved on 2015-05-17. The 2020 edition of the race was postponed to 2020.10.04 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia, with registrants also having the option of either running the race virtually or transferring their entry to another runner or 2021.

Past winners

References

External links

* * {{in lang, mk Marathons in Europe Athletics in North Macedonia Recurring sporting events established in 1997 Annual events in North Macedonia Annual sporting events Sport in Skopje Spring (season) events in North Macedonia