Eker I Run Marathon
Bursa will bring runners from mountain air to city energy on October 3–4, 2026, as the Eker I Run Marathon returns with one of Türkiye’s most distinctive road-running formats. Set between Uludağ and Nilüfer, the event will combine a downhill marathon, shorter race distances, relay participation, children’s activities, and community-focused formats into a full running festival.
The 42K marathon will start from the Uludağ Hotels Area at 1,793 meters and descend toward Eker Meydan in Nilüfer, at around 117 meters. Known as Türkiye’s first mountain-to-city downhill road marathon, the course will offer a fast but demanding challenge. The downhill profile may support speed, but the altitude, rolling sections, climbs, and long descent will require smart pacing, strong legs, and careful control. The marathon will also serve as an Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Group World Championship ranking race, adding international performance value to the event.
The program will go beyond the marathon. The 15K Road Race will take runners through the green side of Nilüfer, with a route that starts and finishes near Eker Meydan and carries the feeling of Uludağ’s foothills. The 5K will offer a more accessible city-and-nature race experience, while the relay race will allow two-person teams to share the marathon course. Kids Race, officially open to children aged 4–12, will bring young runners into the festival atmosphere with games, workshops, and family-friendly experiences. Run with Your Dog will add a non-competitive, pet-friendly side to the weekend, where there will be no stopwatch, no podium, and no pressure—just movement, companionship, and shared joy.
Bursa will make the weekend feel like more than a race trip. Visitors can connect the event with Uludağ, Misi Village, Cumalıkızık, Ulu Cami (Great Mosque), Koza Han, and the city’s deep Ottoman heritage. The local table will complete the experience with İskender kebab, pideli köfte (Bursa-style meatballs with pita), cantık (Bursa-style meat pie bread), chestnut candy, and süt helvası ( Bursa-style milk halva). Even if you are not running, you will still want to be here—because Eker I Run will turn Bursa into a weekend where mountain roads, family energy, community spirit, green routes, and local culture all move together.