Charity pledges for Reykjavík Marathon reach 210 million krónur

About 210 million Icelandic krónur has been pledged to charities taking part in the Reykjavík Marathon, mbl.is reports. The total is around 15 million krónur higher than at the same point last year.

About 250 million krónur was raised in total last year, and organisers say this year’s fundraising is progressing at a similar pace.

A total of 15,130 people have registered for this year’s race, according to Hrefna Hlín Sveinbjörnsdóttir, events director at the Reykjavík Sports Union. Around 200 charities are participating in the fundraising.

The competitive 10-kilometre race is sold out, but places remain in the 10-kilometre fun run. The full and half marathons are also nearing capacity.

Almost all pledges go to charities

According to Sveinbjörnsdóttir, about 99.9 per cent of the pledged money goes to the charities, with no organisation taking a commission. Only minimal card-processing fees are charged.

“Íslandsbanki contributes considerable funding so that the charities can receive the money directly. There are some minimal processing fees, but work is being done with all the companies so that the organisations receive 99.9 per cent of their fundraising,” she told mbl.is.

Temporary road closures expected

Several roads in the capital region will be closed to traffic during the Reykjavík Marathon on Saturday, said Frímann Ari Ferdinandsson, chief executive of the Reykjavík Sports Union.

Police will assist where the disruption is greatest, and considerable traffic problems are expected from 8am to 3pm.

This year’s race will start at the University of Iceland rather than at Sóleyjargata, as in previous years. As a result, traffic disruption on Hringbraut will be reduced.

“There will be much less disruption on Hringbraut. In recent years, we have had to stop traffic there four times in the morning, but now it will only be once,” Ferdinandsson said.

Vesturbær, a neighbourhood of Reykjavík, will be temporarily closed while runners pass through. Roads in Grandi, Sæbraut and several parts of the city centre will also be closed, with disruptions expected on Sæbraut and near Rauðarárstígur, particularly before noon.

Different atmosphere in the rain

The weather forecast for Saturday is not especially favourable, but Ferdinandsson said conditions would nevertheless be good for running.

“It is excellent running weather, although perhaps not as much of a fun run for those who want to go out, run and enjoy the atmosphere in good weather. The atmosphere will therefore be a little different in the rain,” he said.