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Copenhagen Marathon, breaking records before it begins!

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Copenhagen Marathon, breaking records before it begins!

The Copenhagen Marathon is one of the premier events in the capital's calendar. Since the race was first staged in 1980, it has grown into a greatly anticipated annual tradition for runners and spectators alike. Marathons are all about setting records of course and this year's Glitnir Copenhagen Marathon, which takes place on Sunday 18 May, will be no exception - in fact it is already achieving new heights in terms of the number of people signing up.

Last year's marathon attracted an unprecedented 6,600 entrants, but even this impressive figure pales in comparison with the 7,500 or more runners expected to assemble at the starting line this year. It reflects the fact that Danes are increasingly taking to running, not only to keep themselves phyically fit but also as a means of gaining the satisfaction of achieving personal performance goals.

Another pinnacle of achievement that this year's marathon is already set to attain is a technological one. The 2008 Glitnir Copenhagen Marathon will be the first in the world to feature GPRS-based TracTrac technology that can show the real-time positions of the leading runners and VIP entrants on giant screens or on the internet. This smart technology can also track the minute-to-minute performance of the athletes, and reveal when runners reach the fabled 'marathon wall'.

One factor that favours time records being broken this year is the fact that the tough rising ground at the 20 km mark on the previous course has been re-routed so that the entire marathon is now run on flat ground. The course takes in three of Copenhagen's main thoroughfares - Ã˜sterbrogade, Vesterbrogade and NÃ¸rrebrogade - and is designed to give spectators the maximum opportunity to get a grandstand view of the race. The first and third sections of the route are almost identical, giving spectators the benefit of more than one chance to cheer on the participants.

As on previous occasions, the route starts and finishes at the architecturally renowned "Black Diamond" building (which houses the Royal Library) on the waterfront, not far from the Danish parliament. The course is designed to give the runners an inspiring view of well-known Copenhagen landmarks along the way, and a good stretch of the course runs along the waterfront where the usual bustle of activity will no doubt be even livelier on the day.

The fastest ever times for the Copenhagen Marathon - for men and for women - were both set quite some years ago. For the men, Svend Erik Kristensen clocked a record 2hr 14m 10s way back in 1986, while for the women Dorte Rasmussen broke the tape at 2hr 35m 48s to set the record in 1995.

The arranger of the Glitnir Copenhagen Marathon is Sparta, Denmark's leading athletic club and one of Europe's leading arranger's of running events.

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