These are the some of the main running events in Iceland.
This is not at all a full list of races in Iceland or necessarily the best ones but these are all races we have tried and can recommend.
There are plenty of other good races that we have heard about but not yet gotten around to try !
None of these races are “elite-only”, they all have runners of all standards participating.
A full list (in Icelandic) is at Iceland’s most popular running page, hlaup.is.
| Date | Race Name | Distances | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
JAN |
Powerade Winter Series | 10K | 10k through Elliðaárdalur |
|
JAN |
FH/Atlantsolía 5K Series | 5K | 5k in Hafnarfjordur |
|
FEB |
Powerade Winter Series | 10K | 10k through Elliðaárdalur |
|
FEB |
FH/Atlantsolía 5K Series | 5K | 5k in Hafnarfjordur |
|
MAR |
Powerade Winter Series | 10K | 10k through Elliðaárdalur |
|
MAR |
FH/Atlantsolía 5K Series | 5K | 5k in Hafnarfjordur |
|
APR |
Viðavangshlaup ÍR – Powerade summer races | 5K | One of the oldest races in Iceland, in the center of town. |
|
APR |
Marathon Runner’s Association’s Spring Marathon | Half and Full marathon | 21.1 route, 2 loops in the full marathon. |
|
MAY |
Icelandair airport run | 7K | A very popular run around the Reykjavik airport. Last year over 500 runners finished the race. |
|
MAY |
Neshlaup TKS | 7.5K/15K | A race that goes one or two circles around Seltjarnarnes (very close to Reykjavik). Small but fun ! |
|
MAY |
Hvítasunnuhlaup Hauka | 14K/17.5K | A trail run on the outskirts of Hafnarfjordur(again 5 mins from Reykjavik). |
|
JUN |
Heilsuhlaup Krabbameinsfélagsins | 3K/10K | Starts and ends close to the Reykjavik centre. Good flat course. |
|
JUN |
Gullspretturinn á Laugarvatni | 8.5K | A trail/adventure run in Laugarvatn, an hours’s drive from Reykjavik. |
|
JUN |
Midnight run | 5K/10K/Half | A midsummer/midnight race that starts in Laugardalur, Starts in the evening on or around the longest day in Iceland. An absolute must! |
|
JUL |
Ármannshlaupið | 10K | A flat course by the seaside , close to Harpa |
|
JUL |
Laugavegur ultra | 55K | Laugavegur ultra trail run |
|
JUL |
The Four Forest Run | 4,3 km/ca.10 km/17,7 km/30,6 km/42,2 km | Trail run in the north of Iceland close to Akureyri. Small but lots of fun! |
|
AUG |
Brúarhlaup Selfossi | 2,8 km/5 km/10 km | Very flat course in Selfoss, about 50 km from Reykjavik |
|
AUG 8 |
Jökulsárhlaupið | 13 km/21,2 km/32,7 km | A trail run which could lay claim to having the most scenic course in Iceland. |
|
AUG |
The Reykjavik marathon | 10K/half/marathon | Reykjavik marathon |
|
SEP |
Reykjanes marathon | 3K/7K/10K | Flat course in Keflavik, the town closest to the international airport. |
|
SEP |
Hjartadagshlaupið | 5K/10K | Ends at the Sports stadium in Kopavogur |
|
OCT |
Powerade Winter Series | 10K | 10k through Elliðaárdalur |
|
OCT |
Marathon Runner’s Association’s Autumn Marathon | Half and Full marathon | 21.1 route, 2 loops in the full marathon. |
|
NOV |
Powerade Winter Series | 10K | 10k through Elliðaárdalur |
|
DEC |
Powerade Winter Series | 10K | 10k through Elliðaárdalur |
|
DEC |
IR New Years Eve Run | 10K | Runners celebrate the last day of the year, often in costumes ! Starts and ends at Harpa concert hall |