The seventh edition of the Sofico Gent Marathon will take place on Sunday 30 March. It will once again be a record edition, an impressive 20,000 runners, spread over the marathon and half marathon, mean the extremely popular running event is completely sold out.
At the 2024 edition one year ago, there were more than 15,000 participants at the start. However, this year that record will not just be broken, it will be smashed to pieces. With 20,000 runners, the 2025 edition is completely sold out. 5,300 of them will run the full marathon on Sunday, while 14,700 enthusiastic runners are opting for the half marathon. The Sofico Gent Marathon continues to grow in popularity and once again confirms its status as one of the most important running events in Belgium.
With 2,500 participants from abroad, the biggest running event in and around Ghent also has an international flair. The Netherlands has the second largest representation after Belgium with over a thousand runners at the start.
To improve the running comfort, the marathon and half marathon runners will start at different times. The starting shot for the marathon will sound at 9 am on Sunday and for the half marathon at 1:30 pm.
The course will remain largely the same as in 2024, with stretches through the historic heart of Ghent and past iconic locations such as the St Michael’s bridge, the Houtdok, Gentbrugse Meersen and the Planet Group Arena. The start and finish will be at Sport Vlaanderen Gent, the Topsporthal on Zuiderlaan.
”You couldn’t dream of a more beautiful backdrop than the towers of Ghent”
Councillor for Sport Bram Van Braeckevelt: “Ghent has been known as a city for running for years, but the Sofico Gent Marathon has quickly become the crown jewel. With no fewer than 20,000 runners, it is an international hit for sports enthusiasts. Whether your goal is to cross the finish line or set a new personal best, you couldn’t dream of a more beautiful backdrop than the towers of Ghent, as I experienced myself during my two races.”
Piet Maes, CTO of Sofico: “The explosive growth of the Sofico Gent Marathon is nothing short of impressive. Not only are we seeing a general increase in interest in marathon running and health & fitness, but the Ghent Marathon is growing even faster than that trend. This is underlined by the fact that we are completely sold out this year with 20,000 participants. Even the European Running Championships in Brussels and Leuven seem to be acting as a catalyst for Ghent, which is fantastic for sport in Belgium. I am also particularly proud of the large number of colleagues from Sofico who are participating – especially now, despite the rather tough distances. This shows the strong commitment and sporting character of our team.”
Mobility
With a record number of runners and a multitude of spectators, Sunday promises to be a very busy day in Ghent. Organiser Golazo advises participants to pick up their bib numbers on Friday or Saturday from the site at the Topsporthal. It is also still possible to pick up your starter pack on Sunday morning.
The most efficient ways of reaching the start and finish area are on foot or by (shared) bicycle. Those who come to Gent-Sint-Pieters by train on Sunday can use the free shuttle buses to the Topsporthal. Despite the strike, the NMBS (Belgian Railways) is running a reduced service (you can check whether your train is running on the website of the NMBS). Once again, the Event Shuttles will provide an alternative, they will transport participants and supporters from 22 departure points throughout Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia to and from the start and finish area.
Please note: You will not be able to access the immediate vicinity of the Topsporthal on Sunday, Zuiderlaan will be closed off all day. The organisers asks that you do not come to the area by car.
Important for supporters and residents: cyclists are not allowed on the course on Sunday, pedestrians may cross the course if possible. Many De Lijn buses will follow an alternative route between 8 am and 8 pm. Trams will keep you well connected to and within the city centre. Only tram 4 follows an alternative route. If you wish to travel through Ghent by car, it is best to use Waze. The impact of the Sofico Gent Marathon on the traffic situation will be kept up to date in the navigation app. Ghent’s parking guidance system will also be continuously updated.
Participants, supporters and residents can find a detailed overview of all access information on the Sofico Gent Marathon website: click here for all the information on how runners can best get to the start and here for all the details of the impact on Ghent’s residents.
