A record number of participants are to take part in the Varna marathon set for Sunday, 8 May, which is part of the initiative Life World Run.

There is an enormous amount of interest in the event, and this has meant providing additional start numbers. More than 760 athletes are to take part, among them guests from the UK, Germany, Romania and other countries.

The start of the marathon is at 9.30 AM from Nezavisimost square near the Varna opera house. The first to start will be the participants in the classic marathon, after them, at 5-minute intervals – the runners in the half marathon, and in the end, the contestants in the 10.5 kms race.

The athletes will, once again be running surrounded by the greenery of the park, with the sea horizon in front of them. For several years the route has been certified and meets the International Association of Athletics Federations requirements. The prize-winners in the classic marathon will receive cash prizes, there will also be bonuses for the winners in all runs for the over-45 “veterans”.

The initiative belongs to Varna municipality, which has transformed the marathon into an emblematic spring event for the city. The next Life World Runstart will be on 9 October in Sofia.

Compiled by Gergana Mancheva