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PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONDK / RACE GUIDE

Hans Christian Andersen Marathon - HCA Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Odense
DK

Jebulon · CC0Jebulon / Wikimedia Commons / CC0Jebulon / Wikimedia Commons / CC0

Race date in 347 days: Sep 26, 2027 Sun
City · Distance: Odense · 42.195km · 21.1km · 10km +1 more events
Entry fee: DKK 675Varies by event and entry period
Status: OpenSee how to enter ↗

2027Date Sep 26, 2027 · Open

2026

2026Date Sep 27, 2026 · Entry fee DKK 525 · Start 10:00

Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 14, 2026

About the race Runner stories How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

The HCA Marathon is a city marathon held in Odense, Denmark, every year in late September.

Its name comes from Hans Christian Andersen, the fairy-tale author born in Odense.

Founded in 2000, it has been held annually and operates as a course measured according to International Association of Athletics Federations standards and certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS).

Alongside the marathon and half marathon, the 10km Last10 has been offered since 2017.

In 2019, the average finisher time was 3:51:22, leading to its description as the "fastest marathon in the world."

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2

BenjaminRan in 2024 · Finish time 03:37:26

“There was only one thought in my head. Keep moving!”

The runner made smooth progress through the early half marathon section of the Hans Christian Andersen Marathon, hitting the wall around 30km. At the aid station, walking to drink before resuming running helped complete a first marathon in 3 hours 37 minutes 26 seconds.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

Én ting går dog igennem mit hoved – og det er bare: FREMAD!

Read the original on Benjawl Journal

Tor RønnowRan in 2021 · Finish time 5:15:34

“This section was really tough!”

The runner enjoyed local cheers and reunions with old running friends around Odense's streets and harbor at the Hans Christian Andersen Marathon. Warm weather and a difficult bridge section marked two laps and a finish in 5 hours 15 minutes 34 seconds.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

Det var ret hårdt, dette!

Read the original on Tor on Marathon

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Full recap

Franni unterwegs · Full recap

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Marathon

Entry cost DKK 675

until Jan 4, 2027 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Half

Entry cost DKK 550

until Jan 4, 2027 · subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Your 42.195km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2026 edition

Runners start · local timeFrom 10:00

10:00–16:00 road closures on course

Event	Start
Marathon42.195km	10:00
Half21.0975km	10:00
Other4.2km	14:15

START

Stadionvej, Odense

Start · Google Maps

FINISH

Odense Atletikstadion

Finish · Google Maps

The course consists of two laps of the 21.097 km circuit course,

starting and finishing at Odense Athletics Stadium (track and field stadium), with finish set up on the athletics track.

With only a 21 m difference between the highest and lowest points, the course is generally flat.

Course passes through the Rugårdsvej and Næsbyvej areas west of Odense, continues to the harbour area along Kanalvej and Havnegade,

passes through Skibhuskvarteret (the former shipyard district), and then runs through the city-centre sections of Vestergade, Nørregade and Fisketorvet.

Typical race-season temperature: around 15°C (58°F): Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Event T-shirt

From the most recent edition

Event T-shirt 2026

Finisher medal 2026

This may change for the next edition.

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition

Fri – Sun

Pick up your bib at the expo

Collection details for bib have not been published.
Other races by the same organizer use on-site collection on race day.
Contact: info@hcamarathon.dk

Odense Sports Park (Odense Idrætshal), Israels Plads 3, 5200 Odense V

Google Maps Directions

Fri: 14:00~18:00
Sat: 10:00~16:30
Sun: 08:00~16:00

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the startOdense Idrætspark (tram
Getting to the finishOdense Idrætspark · Odense Atletikstadion (same tram stop as the start)

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

Odense Idrætspark (tram/light rail stop)

Start on Stadionvej, assembly around 10:00. Reachable via Odense Letbane from Odense Banegård (central train station), approximately a 9-minute ride, DKK 15/10.

Map

Getting to the finish

Odense Idrætspark/Odense Atletikstadion (same tram stop as the start)

The marathon finishes on the inner track of Odense Atletikstadion, adjacent to the start area and tram stop.

Map

Road closures

Approximately 9 minutes from Central Station to Idrætsparken by Odense Letbane.

Start shuttle

Public light rail (Letbane) runs all day between Odense Banegård and Odense Idrætspark; Park & Ride offers approximately 800 free spaces and takes around 34 minutes to the venue.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

In late September, when the race is held, Odense is cool,

with daytime temperatures around 16–17°C and nighttime temperatures around 12–13°C, and humidity is fairly high at about 79%.

It rains on about 10 days a month at this time of year, with around 26mm of precipitation, so come prepared for rain.

With little elevation change, the flat course is considered well suited to runners attempting their first full marathon or chasing a personal best.

Aid station are placed at close intervals throughout course,

and pacer carrying colored balloons for each target finish time run with the field to help runners manage their pace.

Times are local to Odense. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotel Odeon

Hotel · 2.7km

8.5/10(2749)

View on Booking.com

Copenhagen Card

DKK 635

Hans Christian Andersen Marathon - HCA Marathon

About Hans Christian Andersen Marathon - HCA Marathon — what makes it special

A day you'll remember,long past the finish line.

The road to your own record

When the city cheers

The trip that follows the run