FRIDAY 28 MARCH 2025

• Collection bib number: 12.30 – 6.30pm

SATURDAY 29 MARCH 2025

• Collection bib number: 10am – 5pm

SUNDAY 30 MARCH 2025

• Collection bib number from 8am
• Start Marathon: 9:00 AM
• Start Half Marathon: 1:30 PM
• Closing of the finish line: 5:15 PM

Start & finish for all distances of the Sofico Gent Marathon are at Sport Vlaanderen Gent (Topsporthal), Zuiderlaan 14, 9000 Ghent.

Accessibility

We recommend to everyone to come to the Ghent marathon on foot, by bike or public transport.

Parking

The car park by Sport Vlaanderen Gent will not be accessible.

Detailed information will be communicated later.

• Personalized race number with your name*
• Unique medal at the finish
• Marathon participants receive the exclusive Sofico Gent Marathon T-shirt for free
• Refreshment stations on the course and at the finish
• Changing rooms
• Free storage of sports bags
• A marathon & half marathon course officially measured by World Athletics
• Correct distance and time indication on the course and at the finish
• Complete results, available live on the website
• Detailed course description for every distance, with indication of the supply posts
• Sportinez insurance during the races. Click here for more information.
• Electronic chip for correct time recording

* personalised bib number only valid for participants that register online before 10 March..

Participation packages will not be sent by mail but can be collected on site on Saturday March 23 and Sunday March 24, 2024.

1 week before the event, individually registered participants will receive a confirmation email with their personalised number (when registered by March 4th), which allows participants to collect their race numbers from the registration desk.

You can pick up your running shirt on presentation of your envelope. Please note: indicating the desired size on the registration form is purely informative & no guarantee that this size is still available when picking up the T-shirt. The earlier you pick up your T-shirt, the more likely it is that the size you want is still available.

(*) Those registering online before 10 March, will receive a personalised bib number.

Water and AA Drink iso-lemon will be provided approximately every 5km.

There will also be food supplies at various points along the course.

More info about this will follow later.

Delivery of personal drinks is not possible.

Sofico Gent Marathon

The time limit for Sofico Gent Marathon runners is 6 hours. By order of the police the roads will be opened for traffic based on this pace. Those running slower will be eliminated from the race but can continue on the course at their own risk, but must strictly adhere to the traffic rules like pedestrians.

Sofico Gent Half Marathon

By order of the police, the course will be opened for traffic after the last runner finishes, following a tight schedule of 7 minutes per kilometre. Those running slower will be eliminated from the race but can continue on the course at their own risk, but must strictly adhere to the traffic rules like pedestrians.

If you would like to change the distance or name, You can until 10 March 11.59pm by emailing info@golazo.com. After that date, changes can only be made at the registration desk on Friday 28 Saturday, 29 and Sunday 30 March.

Distance change (on-site)

1. Collect the bib number using the confirmation email of the person from whom you are taking the starting number.
2. Change the information at the desk ‘change of name/distance’ and receive a new bib number.

Changing to a lower distance is free of charge. For a higher distance, the difference in price will be charged.

Name change (on-site)

1. Collect the bib number using the confirmation email of the person from whom you are taking the starting number.
2. Change the information at the desk ‘change of name/distance’ and receive a new bib number.

Do not forget to bring your ID. For a name change there is a € 5 administration cost.

Timing is done using an electronic chip. This chip, on the back of the bib number, measures the net time between start and finish. This means that your time does not start running until you cross the starting line. This extra service ensures a more accurate recording of your time.

This chip is included in the registration fee and does not need to be recovered after the race.

Do not fold the bib number and do not remove the stickers on the chip

Are you injured or can’t participate for a different reason?

While registering you have the option to purchase a cancellation insurance for just € 14 (marathon) or € 9 (half marathon. If cancelled before the end of the day January 17, 2025, 100% of the registration total will be refunded.

Any extras such as T-shirts, medal engraving and cancellation policy itself will not be refunded (non-exhaustive). Take note: if you already registered without a cancellation insurance, then it is no longer possible to buy the insurance afterwards.

Cancellation requests should be submitted by January 17, 2025, at the latest.

From 18 January onwards it is no longer possible to request a reimbursement.

From 8am you can leave your sports bag for the event duration at the bag drop area provided.

1. In your participation pack is a sticker with the same number as your BIB number.
2. Stick this sticker on your bag and hand it in the bag drop area.
3. Sign in at the tent corresponding to your start number.
4. You can pick up your bag ONLY upon presentation of your start number
5. Make sure you have a tight-fitting (sports) bag to put all your belongings in, loose items of clothing will not be accepted.

The organisers will take the necessary safety precautions to guard the area as best as we can, nevertheless use of the bag drop is at your own risk. The organisers are not responsible for any damage, loss and/or theft of personal items.

Some recommendations:

Changing Room

Showers and changing rooms are available for participants in the buildings of Sport Vlaanderen Gent

There is a team of pacers for different speeds.

These pacers will be easily recognisable in their start boxes thanks to their coloured flags: These pacers will be easily recognisable in their start boxes thanks to their coloured flags:

After you finish, you have the option to immortalise your achievement by having your medal engraved with your name and finishing time. On the registration form, you can tick the ‘medal engraving’ option for only €12.

Are you a late decider? Are you a late decider? No problem, as long as there is still availability, you can also decide and pay €14 on site.

SPORTOGRAF.COM is the official photo service of the Ghent Marathon. These photographers have acquired a good reputation in recent years with their fully digital service and competitive prices.

As they are active runners themselves, they have an excellent feeling from the perspective of the participant.

You can find more info on how your photos will be handled here.

You do not have to enter a personal best when registering.

For the start of the marathon, you can go and take your place in the start box of the time you are aiming for, just like the pacers. This should ensure ideal running comfort for everyone. We do not perform checks. If all marathon runners stick to the rules of fair play, everyone can have a good start.

• The start boxes for the marathon : 2u59/3u15/3u30/3u45/3u59/4u15/4u30/>4u30.
• Start boxes for the half marathon: 1u30/1u40/1u50/2u00/2u10/2u20/> 2u20.

Coming soon.

The organisers would like to advise against intense physical activity without proper preparation. Ensure that you make sensible decisions regarding the distance you wish to cover and/or the pace you want to maintain. If you want to take part in competitive sport at high intensity level, it is advised to undergo an annual medical check-up.

The submission of medical certificates is not mandatory. It is up to the athlete himself to decide how to deal with the information he receives during a medical check-up. The organiser shall bear no responsibility in this regard.

Meer informatie over gezondheid sporten vind je hier.

The organisation also applies the following minimum age:

• Marathon: 18 years
• Half Marathon: 16 years

Would you like to combine Sofico Gent Marathon with a visit to this unique historic city? You can!

Ghent breathes history and offers you a fascinating cultural cocktail filled to the brim with trendy and modern city life. Ghent is a city for bon vivants. The sympathetic and hospitable inhabitants of Ghent know what the good life is all about. During your city trip, don’t miss the opportunity to admire the world-famous masterpiece “The Mystic Lamb” by the brothers Van Eyck.

For information about accommodation and places of interest, please refer to visit.gent.be