Date April or May Event type Road Primary sponsor Shell Lubricants | Location Almaty, Kazakhstan Distance Marathon Established 2012 | |
The Almaty Marathon (Kazakh: Алматы Марафон) is an annual marathon race held in either April or May in the Central Asian city of Almaty, Kazakhstan. The first edition of the race, in 2012, had 2500 total participants; that grew to more than 19,000 from over 40 countries in the 2015 edition.
Contents
The marathon weekend has five events: individual races at 3 km, 10km, a half-marathon (21 km), a full marathon (42 km), and an ekiden-style marathon relay.
The Almaty Marathon is a member of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS). Profits from the race go toward supporting public works projects and charities in Kazakhstan.
Course
The marathon course starts at the Park of the First President in Almaty. It proceeds along Al-Farabi Avenue and the Eastern Bypass Road. After making a U-turn, the course returns past the start line and along Sain Street to Abay Avenue. The race finishes with a 300m run within the Central Stadium.
Climate
Almaty is located at an elevation of 900m, with typical temperatures between 11 and 16 C in April. Temperature inversions in the valley between the Trans-Ili Alatau can trap smog, making for difficult running conditions.
Winners
Key: Course record
Benefits
A primary goal of the marathon is to raise funds for charities in Kazakhstan. In 2012 and 2013, funds went to support a program for rehabilitation of children with infantile cerebral paralysis, including the construction of a therapeutic swimming center. Over 2.7 million tenge in total were raised and sent to the Ardi Fund. In 2014, money from the marathon went to buy an ambulance for the Children’s Oncological Department of the Pediatrics and Children Surgery Research Center in Almaty.