The southern shore of Lake Balaton had an eventful weekend: the 22nd Balaton Marathon and Half Marathon, organized by the Budapest Sports Office (BSI), attracted more than 5,000 runners and their companions to Siófok and Fonyód. The event proved that sports tourism can fill the lakeshore with life – and guests – even in November. The participants completed the distances in cold, harsh weather, biding their farewell to the autumn season in the region.
Although Lake Balaton is usually quieter at this time of year, the shore was bustling with life over the weekend. The presence of over 5,000 runners and their companions from hundreds of towns and villages across the country generated significant off-season traffic for local accommodation and catering establishments, proving that the region is an attractive destination for those seeking active recreation outside of the summer high season.
Two days, two cities: Siófok and Fonyód as hosts
This year's novelty was that the competition took place in two locations, allowing the athletes to explore several points of the southern coast. On Saturday, Siófok was the center, and on Sunday, Fonyód. The varied layout of the course provided a memorable experience for the participants in terms of sports value, and the lakeside panorama provided a memorable experience.
The most popular race was the half marathon in Siófok on Saturday, but the new race in Fonyód on Sunday also attracted a large field. The climb to Várhegy in Fonyód
was a particularly popular section among runners. The vast majority of participants did not come from the immediate region, but from Budapest, Pest County, and from more distant parts of the country, so their presence generated significant tourist traffic in the area at the end of the autumn season. Many chose to complete the race in pairs, and the marathon distance was a real speciality, which the runners completed over two days, thus maximizing the experience of the Balaton weekend.
Strong local participation: The people of Balaton stood up for themselves
Although the field was dominated by running tourists, the activity of the local community was also outstanding: more than 550 runners from the three Balaton counties (Somogy, Veszprém, Zala) laced up their shoes to compete on home turf. The ratio of men and women was balanced (52% and 48%).
With the 22nd Balaton Marathon and Half Marathon, we not only closed our own season, but we also wanted to give a final, big boost to the autumn at Balaton. We are pleased to see that more than 5,000 people thought: Lake Balaton in November is also the perfect place to get active. This number is not only a sporting success, but also a clear sign that the events have a serious tourist attraction even in the off-season. – he said Arpad Kocsis, managing director of the Budapest Sports Office.
Charity and recognition
The participants' activity was also reflected in charity: the runners supported the Brave Little Soul Foundation and Nemes Marcell's medical treatment with a total of 1.3 million forints. The performance of those who reached the finish line was recognized with a unique medal reminiscent of Lake Balaton in the fall.
BSI said goodbye to the autumn running season in the region with this event. The year 2025 will be marked by a real joy run, the anniversary 10. PENNY Santa Run will close on December 7th in Budapest.
