Practical Info

Saturday 12 April 2025

• European Half Marathon Championships

Sunday 13 April 2025

• European 10K Championships
• European Marathon Championships

The races are scheduled to start in the morning. More detailed info about the programme will follow later.

• Start Marathon: Place des Palais – Brussels
• Start Half Marathon & 10K: Leuven
• Finish: Leuven (by the Philips site)

The exact locations for collecting bib numbers, bag drop area, etc. will be communicated later.

The European Running Championships are ‘open’ races. This means that both elite runners and recreational runners can compete for the European title.

To participate, you must be at least 18 years old for the marathon, 16 years old for the half marathon or 14 years old for the 10 kilometres.

Non-Europeans can also register. Their finish time will be included in the results, but will not count towards the official individual, team, or country rankings.

Participants for the elite race are selected by their National Federation.

It is possible to cancel your registration if you took out a cancellation policy at the time of registration.

If you cancel by 11 October, you will be refunded 80% of the entry fee.

If you cancel by 11 January 2025, you will be refunded 50% of the entry fee.

If you cancel after 12 January 2025, you will not be entitled to a refund.

Please submit any cancellation requests using this contact form.

The cancellation policy fee is as follows:

• €15 for the marathon
• €9 for the half marathon
• €7 for the 10KM

• Personalised bib number stating your first name* with chip
• Unique medal at the finish
• Supply stations on the course and at the finish
• Free bag drop
• Correct signposting of distance and time measurement  along the course and at the finish
• Full results available on website
• Online course description showing the supply stations
• Sportinez insurance during the races.

*Personalised bib number is only available for those participants who signed up online by Monday 17 March 2025.

The course will feature supply stations at approximately every 5 kilometres. The supplies include water, iso drink, savoury and sweet snacks. Detailed information will be available here later.

At the latest one week before the event, all individually registered participants will receive a confirmation email containing their personalised number. Take this e-ticket to collect your participant pack from the preregistration desk on site. The opening times and location of these desks will be communicated later.

Checking of nationality: Please indicate the country you want to represent / nationality you use to compete for on the registration form. Please bring a valid identity card or passport when collecting your participant pack to prove your nationality.

If you have signed up as part of a group with group collection, you cannot collect your bib number individually, you will have to ask your group leader to do so. That person will be in charge of collecting and distributing the bib numbers of the entire group.

To collect your T-shirt, you have to present your envelop or e-ticket.

Please note selecting the desired size on the registration form is purely informative and not a guarantee that this size will still be available when collecting the T-shirt. The earlier you collect your T-shirt, the greater the chance that the desired size is still available.

There is an electronic chip for measuring the time. This chip, at the back of the bib number, measures the net time between start and finish. This means that your time only starts running when you cross the starting line. This extra service provides a more accurate time measurement.

This chip is included in the entry fee and does not have to be returned after the competition.

Do not bend the bib number or remove the stickers on the chip.

Information about accessibility and parking will be shared later.

Marathon

The time limit for marathon runners is 6 hours. On orders of the police, the roads will be reopened to traffic on the basis of a 6-hour pace. Slower runners will be eliminated from the race, but they will be able to continue on the course at their own risk and must strictly observe the highway code.

Half Marathon

The time limit for marathon runners is 3 hours. On orders of the police, the roads will be reopened to traffic on the basis of a 3-hour pace. Slower runners will be eliminated from the race, but they will be able to continue on the course at their own risk and must strictly observe the highway code.

There will be a sports bag drop area in Brussels and Leuven. Marathon runners can collect their sports bags in Leuven after the race; sports bags will be transferred from Brussels to Leuven.

During the event, you can leave your sports bag in the bag drop area for free.

A sticker with a unique number will be attached to your bag and you receive a sticker with the same number to stick on your bib number. After competing in the event, you can collect your sports bag upon presentation of your sticker on your bib number. If you lose your sticker, you will only be able to collect your sports bag after giving an exact description of the bag and its contents.

The organisation will take the necessary safety measures to guard the area as best as it can, still use of the area is at the owner’s risk. The organisation cannot be held responsible for accidental damage, loss and/or theft of personal belongings.

Some recommendations:

• Use a sports bag that closes well and make sure that it is closed securely so that no items can fall out.
• Loose items of clothing or plastic carrier bags may be refused.
• Do not leave any valuable or delicate items in your sports bag (e.g. smartphone, sports watch, spectacles, wallet, cash, keys, …)

A number of very experienced, predominantly Belgian, ultra-runners led by Marnix Callewaert, have committed to help as pacers at the European Running Championships.

The pacers are easy to spot in the starting area thanks to the flag showing the finish time:

Marathon

• 2hrs50
• 2hrs59
• 3hrs15
• 3hrs30
• 3hrs45
• 3hrs59
• 4hrs15
• 4hrs30
• 4hrs45
• 5hrs00

Half Marathon

• 1hr20
• 1hr30
• 1hr40
• 1hr50
• 2hrs00
• 2hrs10
• 2hrs20
• 2hrs30

10 KM

• 40 min
• 45 min
• 50 min
• 55 min
• 59 min
• 1hr05

In addition, each participant will receive a wristband showing the split times per kilometre you need to run to achieve your desired finish time. A handy reminder for during the race, which you simply wear around your wrist! These bands can be collected free of charge from the registration area on Saturday and Sunday during opening hours.

There are rankings for each gender, distance, elite runners and elite country teams, age group and by country.

The net finish times of the top 25 runners per country (including elite runners) will be added together. This is the basis for the country rankings by race and gender. The country with the lowest overall time wins the country ranking.

All participants can have their medal engraved with name and time immediately after the race. You can check ‘engrave medal’ for €14 on the registration form.

If you did not tick this when registering, you can still decide on the spot and pay €16, depending on availability.

The exclusive event T-shirt is not included in your registration. You can purchase it during online registration for €30.

SPORTOGRAF.COM is the official photo service of the European Running Championships. These photographers have built a good reputation in recent years with their fully digital service and reasonable prices.

Being active runners themselves, they also have an excellent feel from the perspective of the participant.

The entire course is traffic-free. Traffic will be allowed again depending on the position of the participants and will thus vary from street to street. This information will be announced prior to the event.

If you have any questions or comments, do not hesitate to contact the organisers on info@golazo.com.

More information on the accessibility of the event will be shared at a later stage.

Transport to or between Leuven and Brussels

The easiest way to get to the start or finish in Leuven, which are within walking distance from the station, is by train.

The start in Brussels is within walking distance of Brussels-Central station. The easiest way for marathon runners to travel between Brussels and Leuven is by train.

You can plan your train journey using the SNCB website.

Leuven, a vibrant city in the heart of Belgium, is known for its centuries-old university, lively student culture and beautiful historical architecture. Its atmospheric streets invite you to explore cosy cafés, boutiques, and historical sights, such as the imposing Gothic Saint Peter’s Church. Its rich history, lively atmosphere and hospitable inhabitants make Leuven an irresistible destination for tourists and locals alike. For information on sights in Leuven, please refer to www.visitleuven.be.

Whether you like a charming B&B or prefer to stay in a well-known chain hotel, Leuven has it all. Book your accommodation in Leuven here.

Brussels has great historical, architectural, gastronomic, and cultural riches, but it has so much more to offer! The lively capital city is unique, welcoming, and warm. There is always something to do. Explore and get to know the inhabitants and their big hearts. For information on attractions in Brussels, please visit www.visit.brussels.

Whatever your occasion, desires, or budget … you can rest assured! The capital of Europe offers a wide range of accommodation. Take your pick and book your stay via this link.