Athletic event starting from Arkalochori featuring half marathon (21.1km), 10km, 5km races for adults, plus children's and disability races.
Crete Half Marathon 2025 takes place on Sunday, October 5, 2025, in Arkalochori, Heraklion, with a fast, village‑to‑village loop through olive groves and vineyards and a festival finish at the Arkalochori Exhibition Center that blends pure Greek racecraft with a Cretan cultural celebration after the awards ceremony. The 10th‑anniversary edition features the hallmark half marathon alongside 10 km, 5 km, and a 1 km kids’ run, plus prize money for the top three men and women and an afternoon “glenti” with music and local tastes that turns race day into a community party.
Date, place, and start times
- Date: Sunday, October 5, 2025.
- Host town: Arkalochori, 25 minutes from Heraklion (Crete), with start/finish at Arkalochori Exhibition Center (coordinates 35.1381, 25.2729).
- Gun times: 10 km at 8:50, Half Marathon at 9:10, 1 km at 9:15, 5 km at 12:10; awards at 13:10; traditional Cretan festivity at 13:40.
Distances and time limits
- Half Marathon: 21.097 km, limit 2:45.
- 10 km: limit 1:15.
- 5 km: limit 1:05.
- 1 km kids’ run: no time limit.
Course overview
- Half marathon: A circular route in central Crete that threads the villages of Minoa Pediada amidst vineyards and olive groves, with rolling terrain and classic countryside views before closing back at the Exhibition Center for a stadium‑style finish.
- 10 km: Out toward Houmeri with a u‑turn back to the finish.
- 5 km: A village loop entirely inside Arkalochori.
Registration, fees, and caps
- Registration window: Online through the official site; deadline September 15, 2025; edits and cancellations accepted until August 30.
- Early bird until Aug 29: Half Marathon €30, 10 km €29, 5 km €28; Late entry from Aug 30: Half €33, 10 km €32, 5 km €31.
- Entry caps: Half 1,100; 10 km 600; 5 km 2,800; 1 km 100 students; organizers note sellout about two weeks before race day in 2024, so early sign‑up is advised.
Packet pickup and timing
- Bib collection: Saturday, Oct 4, 11:00–18:00 at the event kiosk in Eleftherias Square, Heraklion; bring bib number and ID/passport.
- Timing: Official chip timing with checkpoints en route; downloadable finisher certificate after results validation.
What runners receive
- Half/10K/5K: Bib, timing chip, on‑course aid, finisher’s medal, a special handmade clay commemorative medal, official technical T‑shirt, official back‑bag, online certificate, and race photos.
- 1K kids: Bib, on‑course support, finisher medal, official T‑shirt.
Prize money and awards
- Overall Half Marathon: €1,100 for first man and first woman, €600 for second, €400 for third; category awards and bespoke winners’ cups also featured, reinforcing a competitive but celebratory atmosphere for the anniversary race.
Safety and medical
- Medical: Volunteer doctors, Hellenic Red Cross Samaritans, and two ambulances at the Exhibition Center; runners participate at their own responsibility and are advised to complete a pre‑race medical check; under‑18 participants require parental approval.
Why run Arkalochori
- Scenery and culture: The half marathon’s ring through villages gives a pure slice of Cretan rural life, and the finish‑line glenti delivers a signature island welcome with music, cheering locals, and post‑race celebration built into the schedule.
- Organization: A tight schedule, clear wave times, and a simple expo pickup in central Heraklion make logistics straightforward for travelers flying in for the weekend.
- Performance: Rolling but runnable; many runners target personal bests on the 10 km and 5 km, while the half’s countryside loop rewards steady pacing and smart fueling on the undulations between villages.
Training and pacing notes
- Terrain profile: Expect gentle rises and descents among olive groves; the toughest section is reported late in the half, so aim to negative split by opening a touch conservative through 10–15 km.
- Weather: Early October in Crete is warm and sunny; hydrate early and often, and take advantage of aid stations listed in the race guide.
- Music zones: Organizers and independent guides highlight musical spots along the half route to keep energy high through village sections, which helps runners lock into rhythm between water tables.
Travel logistics
- Getting there: Fly to Heraklion (HER). Arkalochori is about 25 minutes by car; many participants stay in Heraklion for packet pickup and drive in on race morning.
- Parking and access: Follow event signage to the Exhibition Center start/finish; arrive at least one hour before gun time per organizer guidance.
- Where to stay: Heraklion city for easy expo access and dining, or an Arkalochori/Peza countryside stay for a quieter pre‑race night; coastal bases like Hersonissos are also within driving range.
Weekend itinerary idea
- Saturday: Packet pickup in Heraklion, easy shake‑out along the Venetian Walls, early dinner with carb‑friendly Cretan dishes like rustic pasta, vegetables in olive oil, and grilled lean protein.
- Sunday: Race morning transfer, run, awards, and traditional festivity at the finish; afternoon recovery meal in a nearby village taverna.
- Monday: Wine country loop through Peza or Archanes, Knossos visit, and Heraklion Archaeological Museum before departure.
How to register and stay updated
- Official site: Event details, registration, and last‑minute updates are posted on cretehm.com, with the race info page consolidating start times, fees, caps, and packet pickup instructions.
- Race listings: Third‑party calendars confirm date and location for Oct 5, 2025, and summarize the course structure across all distances for travel planning and comparison.
Verified details at a glance
- When: Sunday, Oct 5, 2025.
- Where: Arkalochori, Heraklion, Crete; start/finish at Arkalochori Exhibition Center (35.1381, 25.2729).
- Starts: 10K 8:50, Half 9:10, 1K 9:15, 5K 12:10; awards 13:10; Cretan festivity 13:40.
- Fees: Early bird until Aug 29 — Half €30, 10K €29, 5K €28; late from Aug 30 — Half €33, 10K €32, 5K €31; deadline Sept 15.
- Caps: Half 1,100; 10K 600; 5K 2,800; 1K 100; prior sellout about two weeks before race day.
- Packet pickup: Sat, Oct 4, 11:00–18:00, Eleftherias Square, Heraklion.
- Prize purse: Half overall M/F — €1,100/€600/€400 for 1st/2nd/3rd.
Lace up for a run that captures Crete’s soul. Secure a bib before caps fill, book an easy hop into Heraklion, and get ready to race through vineyards and villages to a finish line where the medal is handmade and the celebration is pure Cretan hospitality. Head to cretehm.com to register, lock travel, and make October 5 a goal worth training for — with a finish you will never forget.