The Race
| Next Race Date | Sunday 26 September 2027 |
|---|---|
| Course type | Loop: two laps, start on Stadionvej, finish in the athletics stadium |
| Registration | Open online entry through Sportstiming; 2026 reference price DKK 575 to 775 |
| Ballot opens | Not applicable |
| Start | Stadionvej, Odense Idrætspark, 10:00 with the half marathon |
| Finish | Athletics stadium, Odense Idrætspark |
| Total finishers | Not published |
| Cutoff time | 6 hours (gross) |
| Free race-day transport | Not published |
| Course certification | Measured to DAF-IAAF practice and approved by AIMS according to the organiser; certificate number not published |
History
The organiser dates the race to 15 October 2000, when about 2,000 runners took part in the first event. The race is named after Hans Christian Andersen, who was born in Odense, and is run by a self-governing institution of the same name. The 2027 edition is the 27th, which suggests that some years were skipped or numbered differently. A half marathon was added in 2006 and a 10 km in 2017, according to Wikipedia, and the organiser's sponsor page reports more than 7,000 participants in 2024 and expects more than 10,000 across the 2026 programme. Those figures cover every distance and do not count marathon finishers.
The organiser's page lists the marathon course records as 2:10:37 for men and 2:30:48 for women and uses them as thresholds for a prize bonus of DKK 10,000. Wikipedia attributes the men's time to Luka Chelimo of Kenya in 2012 and the women's to Jerubet Perez of Kenya in 2019, and reports that winners were predominantly Kenyan until 2018, with Danish, Ethiopian and Norwegian winners since 2019. Championship history, year-by-year finisher counts and the full route history have not been published.
The course
The marathon starts on Stadionvej at 10:00 and finishes in the athletics stadium at Odense Idrætspark, about 200 m away. The route is a circuit of 21.097 km run twice. Half marathoners start with the marathon, run the circuit once and split off on Møllemarksvej to enter the stadium, and marathon runners continue for a second lap.
Each lap heads east then north on Rugårdsvej and Åløkke Allé at km 1 and 2 to Næsby at km 3 and Kanalvej beside the canal at km 4, then runs through the City Campus area at km 4 to 6 and east to Skibhuskvarteret and the harbour district at km 7 to 9. It comes back through the centre on Vestergade and Vindegade at km 10 to 12, passes Munke Mose on Filosofgangen at about km 13, continues south through Hunderup at km 14 to 15 and returns by Søndre Boulevard, Falen and Kløvermosevej to Stadionvej at km 20.
The two laps are not identical. On the second lap the course goes further north through Næsbyvej and Lumbyvej to Odins Bro at about km 26, the furthest point at 3.7 km from the start, before rejoining the first-lap line through Skibhuskvarteret at about km 29.
The organiser describes the course as fast and suitable for a debut, with a difference of 21 metres between the highest and lowest points. The profile runs from near sea level beside the canal at km 3 to 7 to 18 m near the finish: 15 m at the start, a 10 m fall on Åløkke Allé at km 2, 11 to 16 m through the centre, and 13 to 17 m on the south side and back at the park. The largest change in any kilometre is the 14 m fall at km 23 on the second lap, and no sustained climb reaches 15 m. The organiser publishes no total climb.
The course is traffic-free for about six hours, from 10:00 to 16:00. Barricading begins at 05:30, the closure is complete by 08:30 and traffic returns to normal from around 16:00. Seventy Home Guard police officers and more than 200 marshals staff the route.
Kilometre by kilometre
Km 0 to 21: the first lap. The marathon and half marathon start together at 10:00 from Stadionvej. The crowd is large for the first kilometres, and no separate corrals are published for the two races. The route heads out north through Næsby and then through City Campus to Skibhuskvarteret and the harbour district, before the central streets and Munke Mose. The organiser's aid stations are at about 2, 4, 7, 8.5, 11, 14, 16.5 and 20 km. The course is flat enough to tempt a faster start than you planned, so run the first lap by feel.
Km 21: the split. Half marathoners turn off on Møllemarksvej into the stadium and finish. Marathon runners continue past the stadium entrance for a second lap, and this is the point to keep your head. A runner who has spent a lap with the half-marathon crowd will find the road quieter. Check the course map for the exact turn before race day.
Km 21 to 42.2: the second lap. The second lap follows the first with a loop north to Odins Bro at about km 26, a 14 m fall at km 23 to near sea level and a 17 m rise over 7.7 km back to 15 m at km 31 to 33, then the centre again at km 31 to 34 and the south side. The same stations repeat at about 25, 29.5, 35 and 41 km for the large ones, with small ones between. Faster marathon runners overtake half marathoners who are still on their first lap, since both races start together, and the extent of the crowding is not documented. Pass with care.
Km 42.2: the stadium. The finish is on the track in the athletics stadium at Odense Idrætspark. Spectators fill the grandstand, which offers the best view of the finish and the last lap on the track.
Surface and rules. The surface is road throughout, with no unpaved sections documented. The pedestrian crossings, bridge ramps and the turns in the city centre are the places to watch your footing. Headphones are prohibited, and the organiser says it needs to communicate with runners on the loop.
Start with the half marathoners and run by feel. Næsby, the harbour district, the centre and Munke Mose all come before the split.
Half marathoners turn into the stadium on Møllemarksvej. Marathon runners continue.
The same circuit with a loop north to Odins Bro at about km 26. Faster runners overtake slower half marathoners.
Back along Stadionvej to finish on the track in the athletics stadium.
Course Map
Two laps from Stadionvej: north through Næsby, east to the Skibhus district, back through the centre and Munke Mose, and home through Hunderup and Bolbro, with a longer loop to Odins Bro on the second lap. Tap a marker for details, and scrub the slider or press play to move the orange marker along the course with the elevation profile beneath it.
Pacers
Blue balloons mark the marathon target finish times. The half marathon has separate green-balloon pacers from 1:30 to 2:30. Whether targets are gross or net has not been published.
| Start | Pacing groups (blue balloons) | Corrals |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00, joint with the half marathon | 3:00, 3:15, 3:30, 3:45, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30 | Not published |
The HCA Marathon prohibits headphones, including open-ear models, because officials need to communicate with runners on the loop. Train without music in the weeks before.
The marathon starts at 10:00 on the last Sunday of September. No verified average temperature for that hour exists, so plan from the forecast in race week. Late September in Denmark is usually cool, with a chance of rain. The course is flat and almost entirely on road, so road shoes are suitable. The 10:00 start leaves the first hour in the shade and the rest in an open city, so arm sleeves you can remove work better than a jacket.
You cannot run with headphones, so train without them. The ban applies to open-ear models too, according to the organiser. Bring a dry change of clothes for the finish. Staffed bag storage in the sports park is open from 08:00 to 16:30, with marathon bags going to Hall 2 and half marathon bags to a separate hall. Use only the supplied race bag and the bib slip.
Entry
Entry is open and online through Sportstiming, with no ballot and no qualifying time. The organiser has not yet published the 2027 prices. The 2026 structure was DKK 575 for early bird entries until 30 September, DKK 675 until 4 January and DKK 775 after that, and those are reference prices only. The early bird period has expired. A sterling conversion was not retrieved.
The organiser sells a shirt for DKK 250 and an engraved medal for DKK 75 as add-ons. Cancellation insurance is optional, and the organiser says a next-year deferral is not available. If the race is cancelled no refund is due, though a surplus may be shared, so read the general conditions before entering. The minimum age for the marathon is 18, and under-18s need parental consent. The time limit is six hours gross from the 10:00 gun, and the organiser reserves the right to remove runners who cannot finish in time.
Bibs are personal and cannot be passed to someone else without an official reassignment, and unauthorised sharing risks disqualification. The general conditions say you must collect your own number while the home page allows proxy collection with a name and bib number, so ask the organiser in the runner email and do not rely on a proxy. A fast-runner procedure exists: a runner with an official sub-three marathon from 2025 or 2026 can ask for a sticker at the information desk before 08:30, and the final bulletin may change this. No guaranteed charity places, good-for-age route or official travel package was found, and wheelchair, stroller and walking rules have not been published.
| Registration window (2026 reference) | Price |
|---|---|
| Early bird until 30 September | DKK 575 |
| Until 4 January | DKK 675 |
| After 4 January | DKK 775 |
Fast runner standards
There are no Good For Age standards. A runner with an official sub-three marathon from 2025 or 2026 can ask for a start sticker at the information desk before 08:30.
Register on the organiser's site →Race Weekend
Sports fair and number collection
The sports fair is at Odense Idrætshal in Odense Idrætspark, Israels Plads 3, 5200 Odense V, about 0.3 km from the start in a straight line. Entry is free throughout the race weekend. The 2026 hours were Friday 14:00 to 18:00, Saturday 10:00 to 16:30 and Sunday 08:00 to 16:00, but the fair's own page did not list them, so confirm them in the 2027 runner email.
Bib collection takes place before race day, on your own responsibility, and requires the start card sent by email. Delays from traffic or queues are the runner's problem, so do not plan to collect on the morning of the race, and check the runner email for the collection dates and the last collection time. The fair combines equipment retailers, apparel and seminars on training and recovery. Speakers and exhibitors for 2027 are not announced. The fair is in the sports park and not in the city centre, so allow time for the light-rail trip.
Getting to the start
The marathon and half marathon start together at 10:00 from Stadionvej. The site is Odense Idrætspark, a sports complex and not the city centre, so keep the plan around the sports park. Odense Letbane runs from the central station to the sports park in about nine minutes, with an adult ticket at DKK 15 and DKK 10 for under 26s, and it is the easiest way from a central hotel. Check the race-day timetable and any disruption notices for 2027; no free public transport for runners was found. A park-and-ride has 800 free spaces, with a travel time of 34 minutes to the venue that needs checking.
Barricading starts at 05:30 and the closure is complete by 08:30, with traffic returning around 16:00. Arrive at the park at least 60 minutes before the start to drop your bag and use the toilets. Staffed bag storage is open from 08:00 to 16:30, marathon bags go to Hall 2 and extra items cost DKK 30 each. A bib slip goes on the race bag, and the organiser also takes donated start clothing, which is separate from bag storage. Do not use headphones. Corrals and toilet numbers have not been published.
At the finish you receive a medal automatically, and a finisher certificate can be downloaded from the results list. A runner who does not complete the registered distance does not get a medal. Finish food has not been published.
Nutrition on course
The organiser lists four large and four small depots on the first lap. The large ones offer energy drink, water and bananas, and the small ones offer drinks only. The energy drink is served in High5 cups. The second-lap positions are the first-lap positions plus the lap length of about 21 km, and the organiser published second-lap figures for the large depots only, so the small-depot second-lap positions are inferred.
Personal nutrition can be left at the large depots, labelled, and collected from the marked boxes for the lap in question. A page about vest refills gives 7.5 and 17.5 km, which does not match the small-depot list, so do not rely on the vest figures. Gel availability and the exact drink formulation have not been published, so carry your own gels.
| Type | First-lap km | Second-lap km (approx.) | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large | 4 | 25 | Water, energy drink, bananas |
| Large | 8.5 | 29.5 | Water, energy drink, bananas |
| Large | 14 | 35 | Water, energy drink, bananas |
| Large | 20 | 41 | Water, energy drink, bananas |
| Small | 2 | 23 | Water, energy drink |
| Small | 7 | 28 | Water, energy drink |
| Small | 11 | 32 | Water, energy drink |
| Small | 16.5 | 37.5 | Water, energy drink |
Spectating
The best viewing point is the athletics stadium at Odense Idrætspark, which the organiser's spectator guide says gives the best view of the finish and the final lap, with the grandstand open to spectators. A large screen at the Front Food area shows the finish with a 45-minute delay. The 2026 guide lists cheer zones with live entertainment along the route, including Pipes and Drums, a DJ, gospel choirs, Odense Running Crew, Tinderbox Moonshine and Vikings Cheerleaders; the 2027 locations are not published and a PDF map of the 2026 zones exists.
The two-lap circuit lets a spectator see a runner twice from one point, but the second lap varies: a point near Odins Bro is passed only once, at about km 26. The centre is passed at km 10 to 13 and again at km 31 to 34, so a point there gives two sightings. Live tracking and stream links were still pending on the organiser's page, and accessibility, grandstand admission and spectator toilets have not been published.
- Take the light rail to Odense Idrætspark for the 10:00 start.
- Watch the runners through the lap point near the sports park at about km 21.
- Wait in the stadium for the finish.
- Watch the start at the sports park.
- Take the light rail to the city centre and pick one mapped cheer zone, such as Vestergade or Munke Mose, which runners pass at about km 10 to 13 and again at about km 31 to 34.
- Return to the stadium in time for the finish.
- Stay at the sports park throughout.
- Eat at Front Food between sightings.
- Watch the finish from the grandstand.
Post-race food
Front Food operates at the main entrance of Odense Idrætspark and inside the stadium, with more than eight food trucks selling everything from burgers to churros and coffee. That is the post-race food on site, and its 2027 line-up is not announced. The organiser has not published what food or drink is handed out inside the finish chute, so keep a recovery snack in your bag.
A named restaurant with checked hours and a booking policy was not verified. For a seated meal, take the light rail back to the station and eat in the city centre. The Andersen quarter has several hotels with restaurants, but check each one's Sunday hours and book ahead.
Where to Stay
Odense is a compact city and most places are within walking distance of each other. The race is in the sports park, a short light-rail ride from the centre, and the course itself runs through the centre at km 10 to 13 and again at km 31 to 34.
The Andersen quarter
The old streets around the H.C. Andersen House hold the best-known hotels and restaurants. Hotel Odeon and Comwell H.C. Andersen are listed by the tourist board here, about 2.4 km from the start in a straight line. This is the area for sightseeing and evening meals, and a short walk takes you to the station.
Station area
Odense central station is the hub for trains from Copenhagen and the light rail to the sports park. CABINN Odense is listed here as simpler accommodation. A hotel by the station makes the race-morning journey easy and the return after the finish too.
Central streets
First Hotel Grand and Milling Hotel Plaza are traditional central hotels, about 2 km from the start. They are a short walk from both the old quarter and the station. Check the walk to the light rail from your chosen hotel.
Near the sports park
The park is the start and finish area. No hotel beside it was verified, so do not assume a walk to the start from a central hotel.
The race website advertises a Scandic Odense discount code whose wording mixes 2026 with other years, so do not treat it as a 2027 offer.
Recommended hotels
In the old quarter near the cultural centre. Check the walk to the light rail and breakfast times.
Listed beside the Andersen sights. Confirm the transfer to the sports park.
A central hotel, convenient for the station and the old town.
A traditional central hotel. Check the rate and the walk to the station.
Simpler, lower-cost accommodation near the station, with quick access to the light rail.
Booking timeline
Enter once the date and terms suit you. The 2027 prices are not yet published, and in 2026 the price rose in two steps, from DKK 575 to 675 on 30 September and 775 after 4 January, so recheck after the programme is released. Reserve a cancellable room for the nights of 24 to 27 September depending on how you travel; that is an editorial suggestion and not an organiser deadline. No hotel sell-out point or weekend room premium was found.
Copenhagen Airport has a rail link to Odense, and the tourist board confirms it. Odense has its own airport, ODE, but a scheduled commercial route for race weekend was not verified, so do not book it as the default. Ask hotels about breakfast times, luggage storage and late checkout, and do not plan the race-morning transfer until the final 2027 programme and runner email arrive.
See & Do
Most sights are in the old centre, a light-rail ride from the sports park. Distances are straight-line from the start.
H.C. Andersen House
The museum of Odense's most famous son, and the place the tourist board lists first. It has a children's area called Ville Vau, a fairy-tale world. Check September opening hours and prices before visiting, and book ahead.
Brandts Art Museum
An art museum with interactive exhibits. It is an indoor, level visit, which suits the day before the race, when legs need rest, or the day after.
Danish Railway Museum
A museum of railway history in the city centre. Check hours before going.
The Funen Village
An open-air museum of rural life on Funen in the 19th century, with historic farmhouses, gardens and fields. It involves walking on uneven ground, so go the day after and not the day before.
After the Race
Late September on Funen is cool and often showery, which suits museums and a castle. The four itineraries run from a day in Odense to three nights around Svendborg. Journey times are left to check against Rejseplanen.
The Andersen quarter, a museum or two and the river park, with benches never far away.
A water castle and gardens on south Funen, reached by bus from Odense.
Two flat days in the capital, ending at the airport on the same rail line.
One base on the southern coast, with Egeskov, Tåsinge and an island ferry within reach.