1,400 professionals are working behind the scenes of this weekend’s SPAR record marathon

The invisible army: A small-town crew

A team of nearly 1,400 people is responsible for the safety, comfort and care of the runners. A team of 500 people is working on the creation and maintenance of the route, in which the police, BKK employees, route insurers and race judges jointly guarantee smooth progress. The energy supply is taken care of by a team of more than 500 people at the refreshment and relay stations.

A 70-person crew manages the events in the race center, a 14-person decoration team is responsible for the atmosphere of the venue, a 130-person cloakroom team guards the runners’ personal belongings, and 80 people hand over the finish packages. The uplifting moments of reaching the finish line are completed by a 60-person team of medalists, and 25 people ensure the smooth reception of VIP guests and the media.

Safety in Focus: Professional Healthcare

The safety of the runners is of utmost importance at the event. A 90-person, professional healthcare team consisting of doctors, paramedics and nurses will be on duty along the marathon route and at the finish line. Two specialized ambulances with stretchers and first aid equipment will be set up on site, 10 ambulances will be on standby, and 4 motorcycle units will constantly patrol the route. In addition, trained professionals will be looking after the participants at each refreshment station.

Food and atmosphere: 3.5 tons of medals and music in abundance

The sheer scale of the event is best shown by the sheer numbers. A total of 3.5 tons of finisher medals await those arriving at the finish line. At the refreshment points, 38,000 liters of water, 7,500 liters of isotonic drinks and nearly 1,700 kg of bananas will be distributed over the two days. Temporary infrastructure will also be built for the event: 149 tents, covering approximately 2,500 square meters at the Lágymányosi Campus, and more than 300 mobile toilets will serve the comfort of the participants. The festival atmosphere will be guaranteed by more than 60 musicians and DJs at 36 music points along the route, in almost all genres, helping runners to stay motivated throughout the run or to get through the dead ends.

Cleanliness and sustainability: Caring for the environment

The event considers waste management to be a priority task. Mohu’s waste compactor vehicle will follow the field to collect all the trash, and the organizers will also use a separate sprinkler truck to clean the area around the refreshment stations, removing any remaining dirt, leaving a completely clean area.

Behind every smile at the finish line and every medal around the neck is the coordinated, dedicated work of this huge team, which makes the 40th SPAR Budapest Marathon Festival not just a competition, but a real, community celebration.