The first European Running Championships are taking place in Brussels and Leuven this weekend. Over 300 professional athletes and thousands of recreational runners will participate in one of the six races, and the Belgian team has a number of medal contenders in its ranks.
The first edition of the European Running Championships consists of three disciplines: the marathon (42.2 km), the half-marathon (21.1 km) and the 10 km. The 10 km and half-marathon take place in Leuven, while the marathon starts in Brussels and finishes in the Flemish university city.
On Saturday, the half marathon starts at 10:00 in Leuven. On Sunday, the 10 km starts at 09:30 in Leuven, while King Philippe of Belgium will give the honorary starting signal for the marathon at 10:15 at Place Royal in Brussels.
For the marathon, runners from all corners of Europe will set off from the square, via Rue de la Loi and the iconic Berlaymont building, Woluwe and Tervuren, in a straight line to Leuven.
Credit: European Running Championships
Leuven will form the heart of these European Running Championships: all races finish and – apart from the marathon – start on the Leuven ring road at Parkpoort. After a steep climb up the Keizersberg, the half marathon will head to the north of the city and the banks of the Vaart before moving through the city. The 10 km race is largely confined to the city centre.
The last 4 km is the same for all three distances and goes from the Vaartkom to Bondgenotenlaan and via Ladeuzeplein to the ring road for the final 600 m.
The event is open to all, meaning that recreational runners can participate as well: the organisation expects more than 28,000 runners to take part in the races. Sunday's marathon will be the biggest ever in Belgium, with 12,500 participants.
However, they will have to compete with world-class athletes. The field will be strongest in the 10 km race: European champion Dominic Lubalu will be competing in the men's race, while Olympic silver medallist Nadia Battocletti will be aiming to win the women's race.
Belgian medals?
Belgium also has several potential medallists. In the women's half marathon, Juliette Thomas and Chloé Herbiet, the second and fourth fastest on the start list, respectively, will be battling for a podium finish. Isaac Kimeli has the third-fastest time in the men's 10 km and over a decade of international competition experience.
Participants will gather before and after the race at the Philips site by Parkpoort. A large supporters' area will be set up by the podium where the winners will be announced. Additionally, the Ladeuzeplein will also become one big fan village with TV screens, music and entertainment.
