Eker I Run Marathon

The tenth edition of Eker I Run Uludag Marathon, the fourth at the maraton distance, will take place in 2023. It is Turkey’s fifth road track and the first downhill marathon that begins at an elevation of 1793 m in the Uludag hotels zone and continues downhill to the Eker Square at 117 m elevation. The course offers stunning views of the mountains as runners traverse the roads on the south side of Uludag and connect to Orhaneli Road via the Tuzakli village. The first 18.7 km of the racetrack is above 1,000 m elevation, with a total elevation gain of 550 m and a total elevation loss of 2,230 m. Water supply points are available every 5 km, and the 21 km point (located at 900 m elevation in Kirazli Village) provides runners with a drop bag station for personal items and food. The average elevation of the marathon is 914 m, and the first 10 km is run at an elevation of 1,500 m, while the last 10 km is run at an elevation of 300 m or lower. This minimizes the sensation of running at a high elevation, as there is minimal uphill in the first two kilometers and very little else during the rest of the race.