Race Report

Dear Running Friends

The 4th Cyprus International 4-Day Challenge is for another year an unforgettable memory for runners and organizers alike as the 260+ participants that took part finished a most challenging, tough, but enjoyable race! Runners of all levels and ages (19-73!!!) from the UK, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Italy, Ireland, Austria, Norway, Brazil & Cyprus, run for 4 days “from one view point to the next” to complete all 4 picturesque stages:

  • DAY 1 - Coral Beach 6k Time Trial
  • DAY 2 - AKAMAS 11k Hill Run in the Nature reserve park
  • DAY 3 - AKAMAS Multiterrain 1/2 Marathon in the Nature Reserve Park
  • DAY 4 - 10K Paphos City Run

For one more year, highlights of the event were the 11k Hill Run on day 2 of the race & the Half Marathon Multiterrain Run on day 3 of the race, both of which took place in the AKAMAS Nature reserve.

  • - The 1/2 marathon started from Neo Chorio - Smigies Picnic Area, finished on the Beach of Toxeftra and took runners on one of the most scenic & spectacular routes on our island, if not on Europe.
  • The 11k Hill Run, started close by Toxeftra Beach, finished by the beautiful village square / church of Pano Arodes, and took runners on a climb where steep ascends took turns with short, sharp descents, to give a final gain of altitude of over 600m through alternating landscapes, including a forest, a moonscape like valley and vineyards!!!

Both AKAMAS routes on day 2 & 3 as well as the time trial on the first day and the 10k Paphos City Run on the last day, were dominated for the second consecutive year by Richard Gerzner from Switzerland, who completed the event in 03:01:02. In a similar way, at a slower pace though Margriet Zwartjens from Netherlands dominated the first 3 races and with a good performance finishing 4th during the 10K Paphos City Run which was also open for runners that did not participate in the other 3 races completed all 4 races in 03:48:31 and won first F overall place.

  • Overall M&F first place winners for the 4-days won 2 complimentary holiday packages for 1 that can be taken any time of the year, (worth over EURO.1250.00 each) + 1 free entry each to next years race, offered by ARENA DMC and Sports Division.
  • Overall Category M&F runner up winners for the 4-days won a Garmin 305 Forerunner each (worth EURO. 425.00 each) offered by 2:09 Events + 1 free entry each to next years race offered by ARENA DMC and Sports Division.
  • Overall Category M&F third place winners for the 4-days have the opportunity to come back next year with the 1 free entry each offered by ARENA DMC and Sports Division.

In the Team Event where we had many of our individual running friends form random teams, in an attempt to compete against the pre-registered teams from the RAF, British Army and the UN forces , the Tus Deuz 2 from Germany were the fastest, winning with a cumulative time of 10:02:28, improving last years time by 00:25:22.

For a Full results list click here.

The end of the 4 days, found runners, accompanying persons & organizers alike enjoying the party atmosphere created on the last day at the 10k Paphos City Run with free beer "flowing" and the DJ "boosting" us all after 4 exhausting but extremely joyful days. The party continued later on in the evening, during the Gala Dinner, where after the award ceremony all participants enjoyed a lovely buffet, and danced the night away!!!

It would be of course an omission on our part not to thank all runners that have joined us for the first time this year, our friends who "did not have enough" with the 2007 race and came back for more in 2008 (over 30% of all runners!!!!) and of course all accompanying persons and friends, and hope that other than running or cheering their friends / family, they also had the opportunity to relax and enjoy the warm and mostly sunny "November Cyprus".

If you feel that the Cyprus International 4-Day Challenge 2009 could be your challenge... or if you have not had enough of it this year... you would be more than welcome to join us next year.

Challenging Yours,
The organizing committee.

2007 Race Results

2006 Race Results

2005 Race Results