# Ljubljana Marathon

The Ljubljana Marathon is the largest running event in Slovenia, organized annually since 1996 by the City of Ljubljana and implemented by the Timing Ljubljana Association. It takes place every year on the third weekend in October. The main event is the Heineken 0.0 Marathon (42 km), and there are also the Generali ZAME Half Marathon (21 km), the Garmin Run 10 km, all on Sunday. The Saturday program is intended for younger people: preschoolers, School Runs (for students and high school students), and a charity run. From 2024, the general sponsor is NLB d.d.

## History

October 27, 1996, was not an ordinary day for Ljubljana. This actually only became apparent years later, but that day a seed was sown that successfully sprouted and began to grow more than anyone could have imagined. Those who had been working for it for several years knew the role of marathon events in large cities and therefore could imagine that the Ljubljana Marathon could eventually grow into something bigger. On that beautiful Sunday morning, the streets of Ljubljana were first taken over by runners, 673 in total. In 2024, a total of 21,242 runners participated in the NLB Ljubljana Marathon.
The largest was the Ljubljana Marathon in 2015, when a total of 24,372 runners ran.

## Course

The start is on Slovenska cesta near Figovec (Trg Ajdovščina), all routes are circular (in one circle), flat, and the finish is at Kongresni trg.

## Other races

In addition to the marathon, a half marathon (21.098 km (13.110 mi)), a 10K run, a fun run (3.150 km (1.957 mi)), and a free run for kids (200 m (660 ft)) are organised. A number of races of different lengths for schoolchildren of different ages are also held.

## Winners

Key: Course record
| Year | Men's winner | Time | Women's winner | Time |
| 2024 | Getaneh Molla (ETH) | 2:06:29 | Joyce Chepkemoi Tele (KEN) | 2:20:17 |
| 2023 | Edmond Kipngetich (KEN) | 2:06:47 | Gerado Senbeta Zinash (ETH) | 2:21:05 |
| 2022 | Gebretsadik Abraha (ETH) | 2:06:09 | Dagne Siranesh Yirga (ETH) | 2:21:08 |
| 2021 | Ernest Tarus (KEN) | 2:22:39 | Grace Momanyi (KEN) | 2:38:10 |
| 2020 | postponed due to coronavirus pandemic | postponed due to coronavirus pandemic | postponed due to coronavirus pandemic | postponed due to coronavirus pandemic |
| 2019 | Kelkile Gezahegn (ETH) | 2:07:29 | Bornes Chepkirui (KEN) | 2:21:26 |
| 2018 | Sisay Lemma (ETH) | 2:04:58 | Visiline Jepkesho (KEN) | 2:22:58 |
| 2017 | Marius Kimutai (BHR) | 2:08:33 | Shuko Genemo (ETH) | 2:27:02 |
| 2016 | Laban Mutai (KEN) | 2:09:16 | Purity Changwony (KEN) | 2:29:32| |
| 2015 | Limenih Getachew (ETH) | 2:08:19 | Melkam Gizaw (ETH) | 2:25:42 |
| 2014 | Ishhimael Chemtan (KEN) | 2:08:25 | Janet Rono (KEN) | 2:29:16 |
| 2013 | Mulugeta Wami (ETH) | 2:10:26 | Caroline Chepkwony (KEN) | 2:27:27 |
| 2012 | Berhanu Shiferaw (ETH) | 2:09:40 | Workenesh Tola (ETH) | 2:30:45 |
| 2011 | Daniel Too (KEN) | 2:08:25 | Lydia Kurgat (KEN) | 2:33:01 |
| 2010 | Evans Ruto (KEN) | 2:10:17 | Tiruwork Mekonnen (ETH) | 2:37:16 |
| 2009 | William Biama (KEN) | 2:10:12 | Caroline Kilel (KEN) | 2:25:24 |
| 2008 | Abraham Mulu (ETH) | 2:14:41 | Tetyana Mezentseva (UKR) | 2:37:13 |
| 2007 | Oleksandr Sitkovskyy (UKR) | 2:12:49 | Tetyana Filonyuk (UKR) | 2:34:58 |
| 2006 | Joachim Nshimirimana (BDI) | 2:14:14 | Inga Juodeškiene (LTU) | 3:01:55 |
| 2005 | Samuel Nganga (KEN) | 2:15:47 | Daneja Grandovec (SLO) | 2:50:42 |
| 2004 | Joachim Nshimirimana (BDI) | 2:13:31 | Yelena Razdrogina (RUS) | 2:46:30 |
| 2003 | Andriy Naumov (UKR) | 2:13:58 | Galina Zhulyeva (UKR) | 2:38:13 |
| 2002 | Andriy Naumov (UKR) | 2:14:30 | Galina Zhulyeva (UKR) | 2:39:36 |
| 2001 | Roman Kejžar (SLO) | 2:22:57 | Nada Rotovnik-Kozjek (SLO) | 3:09:47 |
| 2000 | Patrick Chumba (KEN) | 2:13:35 | Maria Luisa Costetti (ITA) | 3:08:38 |
| 1999 | Woliye Jara (ETH) | 2:20:53 | Lyudmila Petrova (RUS) | 2:52:25 |
| 1998 | Piotr Pobłocki (POL) | 2:18:20 | Helena Javornik (SLO) | 2:32:33 |
| 1997 | Charles Subano (KEN) | 2:19:28 | Helena Javornik (SLO) | 2:40:05 |
| 1996 | Roman Kejžar (SLO) | 2:20:12 | Helena Javornik (SLO) | 2:37:58 |

## Statistics

    Note: Marathon statistics only

### Winners by country

| Country | Men's race | Women's race | Total |
| Kenya | 11 | 7 | 18 |
| Ethiopia | 7 | 6 | 13 |
| Ukraine | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Slovenia | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Russia | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Burundi | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Poland | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Lithuania | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Italy | 0 | 1 | 1 |