New horizons

It surprises tourists with incredible views, delicious food and open people. Almaty Marathon is the biggest running competition in Central Asia.

Come to participate in the marathon and discover the city with its exciting mix of Soviet architecture and modern reality. The main attractions of the city are: Medeu – the world’s largest high-mountain skating rink and the Ascension Cathedral, which is a 56m-high earthquake-resistant structure, built in 1907 from blue Tien Shan spruce. Then there are the parks and squares with their many fountains and restaurants. We recommend you to try Kazakh national dishes and drinks.

A relatively long stretch of the course passes along the main avenue of Almaty named after a famous Central Asian philosopher – Al-Farabi. This avenue represents the merger of the modern part of Almaty and the natural surroundings with stunning buildings and breath-taking mountain views.

Almaty Marathon was first held in 2012 with the goal of building a healthier nation. The first edition attracted only 2500 participants but over the years the event has developed in quality and in scale. In 2022 12,000 people from more than 40 countries came to participate.

Race records in the Marathon are held by Shedrak Koech (KAZ) at 2:21:27 and by Aleksandra Kalanova (RUS) at 2:42:44. In the Half Marathon Rinas Akhmadeev (RUS) set the record in 2022 with 1:04:04. The women’s record stands to Sardana Trofimova (KGZ) with the time of 1:12:49.

The event is open to all running enthusiasts. It offers several different distances including 42.2 km, 21.1 km, 10 km, 10 km Nordic walking, and Ekiden Relay. Participants must be over 15 to run the 10km and over 18 for the other distances.

As the Almaty Marathon develops its prize fund increases. Last year total prize money for Marathon and Half Marathon totalled USD 14,000 (12,900 EUR).

A sports expo is held each year at which manufacturers and distributors of sports goods, service providers in the field of sports, medicine and nutrition take stands to promote their goods and services. Master classes, consultations, presentations and mini-competitions on sports topics take place within the expo. Registered participants pick up their race packs at the expo.

Almaty Marathon is not just a sporting competition. Each year the event allocates part of the proceeds from the registration fees to create the necessary sports infrastructure for children with special needs. In 2022 funds raised in this way amounted to almost USD 100,000 (92,000 EUR).

Almaty Marathon is organised by the “Courage to be the first” team of the Corporate fund with the help of volunteers. The Corporate fund also organises more than 10 other sports competitions each year including cycle and swimming. The Almaty Marathon organisation is headed by Saltanat Kazybayeva who has been the race director for more than ten years.

Registration opens on 18 April 2023.