The Gdańsk and Bali Marathons
My marathon training centers around my travel plans. When I find a race I want to run, I drop everything and start looking for races 14 days before and after to try and make a pairing. If I find two races 10-15 days apart that interest me, I plan the trip. This keeps my travel time close to two weeks and lets me two marathons in a short period of time.
The Bali Marathon has been in the back of my mind for a while now and I was waiting for a published race date to start planning my trip. I’ve decided to pair Bali with Gdańsk Poland.
The Races
Gdańsk, Poland – August 15, 2016
The Gdańsk Marathon is a point to point race starting in Gdynia and ending in downtown Gdańsk. Bag check closes at 8:45am, the race starts at 9am and there is a cutoff time of 5 hours and 30 minutes. The application deadline is August 8, 2016. I like this race because it’s a point to point, the city looks beautiful and I’ve never been to Poland.
Bali, Indonesia – August 28, 2016
The Bali Marathon is single loop race starting in the early morning (around 3am). The application deadline is July 24th, but unfortunately the race is full as of May 29th (dagger). I liked this race because it’s a single loop, Bali is beautiful, and I’ve never been to Indonesia.
The Travel
8/12: Depart IAD-FRA on LH 419 at 6:05pm (747)
8/13: Depart FRA-GDN on LH 1376 at 12:20pm
Stay Hilton Gdańsk from 8/13-8/18 (5th night free)
8/18: Depart GDN-FRA on LH 1379 at 6:10am
Depart FRA-SIN on SQ 25 at 12:30pm (A380)
Stay 2 nights Fairmont Singapore 8/19-8/21
Stay 2 nights hotel of choice 8/21-8/23
8/23: Depart SIN-DPS on SQ (13k typ, completes o/j)
Stay 6 nights Bali 8/23-8/29
8/29: Depart SIN-NRT on GA 880 at 12:55am
Depart NRT-IAD on NH 2 at 11am
Arrive IAD at 10:40am on 8/29
Flight Cost: $1600 + $130 + taxes
Final Thoughts
It took me about two hours to throw this itinerary together and I’m pretty bummed that the Bali Marathon filled up before I got a chance to register. I still think this is a great marathon pairing and I hope I can complete it in 2017.
How about trying a brand new marathon. March 7, 2017, the Bhutan International Marathon. In one of the world’s most mysterious, beautiful and inaccessible countries in the world. Punalkha Dzong in the town of Punakha in the country of Bhutan.
For the first time ever the country is opening it’s doors to runners throughout the world as a World Peace Initiative. Kona Marathon is excited to announce our partnership with the Sister Marathon Peace Initiative (SMPI), a new organization that promotes world peace and spreads goodwill through the sport of marathon running.
https://www.facebook.com/sistermarathon/ for more information.
Aloha Miles runner,
Are you planning on doing the Bhutan Marathon on March 7, 2017? The Kona Marathon is looking for runners to sign up under the Kona Marathon Team. If you are interested let me know by email please
raceinfo@konamarathon.com
Compared to some of the other sister marathons supporting the Bhutan Marathon, we are a smaller family friendly event and would love to have you be part of our team.
Aloha for now,
Sharron Faff – Race Director
I’m happy to run across this website. I really appreciate your efforts and I am waiting for your further posts. Thanks!