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Íslandsbanki Reykjavik Marathon
22 August 2026 · Reykjavik, Iceland
scenicbeginner ok
Distances
3K · 10K · 21.1K · 42K
The Reykjavik Marathon starts by Tjörnin lake right next to City Hall and winds along the coast past the Sun Voyager sculpture before finishing a stone's throw from the old harbour. Your bib doesn't just get you onto the course — it also buys free entry to Laugardalslaug pool, so you can soak in geothermal water right after finishing. The course records have stood for over thirty years: 2:17:06 for men since 1993 and 2:38:47 for women since 1996, still unbeaten.
Course records
Men
2:17:06
1993 · Ceslovas Kundrotas
Women
2:38:47
1996 · Angharad Mair
Weather in August
Late August averages 9-15°C with high humidity and frequent rain, but conditions are unpredictable — in 2016 runners reported unexpectedly hot, sunny weather and sunburn.
Starter pack 2025
- Bib with timing chip
- Race programme booklet
- Technical t-shirt
- Voucher for a free visit to the Laugardalslaug pool
- Bag for personal belongings
Pretzels await at the finish for recovery; every finisher receives a medal.
Pacers & bib pickup
No pacers announced for this race.
Bib pickup
Fit&Run expo, Laugardalshöll sports hall
day before or on race morning
Main pickup is at the expo one to two days before the race; for those who miss it, a bib-only pickup point opens race-morning at 7am near the start area (no full expo).
Course map
Route not added yet
What’s nearby
Walking
Tjörnin lake and City Hall — Right by the start.
Old Harbour and the Sun Voyager sculpture — The course runs right past it, near the finish.
30 minutes
Viðey Island — A few minutes by ferry from the old harbour.
Perlan — An observation deck and ice cave inside a dome above the city.
2 hours
Golden Circle — Þingvellir, the Strokkur geyser, and Gullfoss waterfall — the classic day-trip loop.
Blue Lagoon — About 45 minutes by car, a half-day outing once you factor in soaking time.
Dinner before the race
No single favorite restaurant among runners was found; some tour operators run a private pre-race dinner exclusive to their own clients.
After the finish
Salty pretzels at the finish; the main recovery perk is free entry to the Laugardalslaug geothermal pool on race day or the day after.
Reviews
Liz Dexter (travel & running blog)2016
We started in central Reykjavik and ran across the lake and through a residential district where people were banging pots and pans and shouting encouragement, and then the coastal views were amazing and made me well up.
Dane (See Dane Run)2015
The start was right by Tjörnin lake in front of City Hall — an idyllic setting for a marathon start; the aid stations had liquids so perfectly cold it was a wonderful surprise.
Registration open
42.2