Finish line moves into the heart of history

Istanbul Eurasia Marathon will have a new course in its 30th anniversary in 2008, marking the first major course change in 11 years. 

The new course increases the scenic and historical appeal of the marathon, crossing, as usual, the Bosphorous Bridge, then passing through Besiktas and Karakoy and following the Golden Horn to Eyup. Eventually running along the sea coast to Gulhane Park, the 42,195-meter race will finish in Sultanahmet district, at the Hippodrome, one of the oldest sporting arenas of the world, decorated with many historical monuments including the 3500-year-old Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius. The 15km race will also finish at the same area. 

Sultanahmet is the heart of historic Old Istanbul where Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Sunken Palace Cistern, and several other sights are located. The finish will be in the area that hosted horse races and equestrian competitions as well as foot races during the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman eras. During the empires, the square also served as the center of entertainment, coronation ceremonies and victory parades. It had a capacity to hold 100,000 people and today it is a major tourist area with many hotels and restaurants. 

The Fun Run finishes in Dolmabahce, between the Besiktas Inonu Stadium and the Dolmabahce Palace, which served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1853 to 1922.