Event info
Find below all the relevant information for the smooth running of the Arena Cross Country event on September 27, 2026. Please read it carefully and take it into account.
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Attention! For participants from outside Bucharest and Ilfov County who plan to pick up their race kit on Sunday morning, please consider the distance between the kit pickup point and the start line. We recommend designating someone to collect the kit on Friday or Saturday, so that on race day you can go directly to the start.
START AREA 10 KM
HOW TO GET TO THE START
The starting area is located on Alexandru Constantinescu Street, between Arc de Triumf Square and Arc de Triumf National Stadium. The easiest ways to get to the starting area are:
- Metro (M2) to Aviatorilor station and then by bus 331 or 335 to Arcul de Triumf station. The distance from Pța. Charles de Gaulle (Aviatorilor metro station) to the starting line is 900 m and can also be covered on foot on Bd. Maresal Constantin Prezan.
- Metro (M1 and M2) to Piața Victoriei station and then walk to the starting area. The distance is 2 kilometers on Bd. Kiseleff.
- Buses 331 or 335 to the Arc de Triomphe stop.
- Tram 41 to Casin station, right in the starting area of the event.
- By personal car to Bd. Aviatorilor, and then walk to the start area. For this option you must take into account the traffic restrictions generated by the event and use the available public parking spaces. We recommend the Bd. Aviatorilor area as the arrival point because it has shoulder straps in both directions with numerous public parking spaces for a fee.
- By taxi to the Arc de Triomphe if you are coming from the east side or to the National Stadium Arc de Triomphe if you are coming from the west side of the city.
During the week of the event, traffic restrictions will be in place for cars and other public transportation. We will return to this page with updated information as soon as it becomes available.
SERVICES AVAILABLE IN THE STARTING AREA
For easy orientation on site, you will find signs with the most important elements to help you navigate. Here are the most important landmarks on site:
- INFO POINT: This is the place where you can find out all the information related to the race. People from the organizing team are ready to answer all the questions you have about the event.
- CHANGING ROOMS: You will be able to change in specially arranged tents. The changing rooms are divided according to gender.
- MOBILE LOCKER: Because the finish is in a different place than the start, the locker is mobile, so you will find your things in the finish area. It is better not to leave valuable or fragile things in the locker bag! When you leave your things at the locker, you will receive a label that must be stuck on the bag and a bracelet that you keep and show when you want to retrieve your luggage from the National Arena. Keep the label, this way we can easily identify your luggage.
10KM FINISH AREA
START/FINISH AREA FOR FAMILY RUN
HOW TO GET TO THE NATIONAL ARENA
The finish area for the 10 km, 10 km Wheelchair and 10 km Masters National Championship, as well as the start/finish area for the Family Run event is located at the National Arena, on the inner ring, in the media parking lot, next to the access road from Basarabia Blvd. The easiest ways to get to the National Arena are:
- Metro (M1) to the Piața Muncii station and then on foot, on Bd. Basarabia, 1.5 kilometers
- Bus 143 to the National Arena station
- Tram 36 to the Bd. Nicolae Grigorescu stop, then walk on Bd. Basarabia, 850 meters
- By personal car or taxi to Str. Maior Coravu or Bd. Pierre de Coubertin
During the week of the event, traffic restrictions will be in place for cars and other public transportation. We will return to this page with updated information as soon as it becomes available.
HOW TO GET BACK TO THE START
If you came by car to the start and need to get back to the area, the easiest option is the metro. Walk to the Piața Muncii metro station (M1), about 1.5 kilometers, then take the metro to Piața Victoriei (M1). From here you can change to the M1 and M2 lines and walk one more stop to Aviatorilor (Piața Charles de Gaulle) or walk.
For taxi services or car pick-up, if traffic restrictions have not been lifted on Basarabia Blvd., our recommendation is to use the access road from Maior Coravu St., located next to the VIP area of the National Arena, or the access from Pierre de Coubertin Blvd., after the VIP area.
SERVICES AVAILABLE IN THE FINISH AREA
For easy orientation on site, you will find signs with the most important elements to help you navigate. Here are the most important landmarks on site:
- INFO POINT: This is the place where you can find out all the information about the race. People from the organizing team are ready to answer all the questions you have about the event.
- CHANGING ROOMS: You will be able to change in specially arranged tents. The changing rooms are divided according to gender.
- MOBILE LOCKER: Because the finish is in a different place than the start, the locker is mobile, so you will find your things in the finish area. It is better not to leave valuable or fragile things in the locker bag! When you leave your things at the locker, you will receive a label that must be stuck on the bag and a bracelet that you keep and show when you want to retrieve your luggage from the National Arena. Keep the label, this way we can easily identify your luggage!
- PARTNERS AREA: Here you can interact with the event’s partners or purchase various sports-related or children’s products.
- STREET FOOD AREA: From here you can purchase hot and cold drinks from Coffee Bike (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, lemonade, fresh orange juice), ice cream from Butoiul cu Înghețată or vegan dishes from Sara Green.
RELAY EXCHANGE AREA
Runners registered for the relay race who run segment 2 (5 kilometers) of the 10 kilometers of the race will change the relay in this area.
HOW TO GET TO THE RELAY EXCHANGE AREA
The relay exchange area is located on Halelor Street, at the intersection with Splaiul Independenței, Unirii Square area. The easiest way to get here is by Metro (M1, M2, M3) to Piața Unirii station. The metro exit for Piața Unirii 1 station is one pedestrian crossing away from the relay exchange area.
HOW TO GET FROM THE RELAY EXCHANGE AREA TO THE FINISH
For those who finish the first running segment of the relay race, the easiest way to reach the finish line (National Arena) is by metro from Piața Unirii 1 to Piața Muncii station (it is necessary to change trains from Dristor 1 station to Distror 2 station), then walk to the finish line on Bd. Basarbia (approximately 1.5 kilometers).
SERVICES AVAILABLE IN THE FINISH AREA
- ZONE COORDINATOR: He is the person from whom you can get additional information on site and who will coordinate the relay handover. Listen carefully and follow his instructions.
- MOBILE WARDROBE: In the bag that you will receive in your participation kit, you can leave your things at the cloakroom, near the hydration point. Don’t forget to stick the tag with your race number on the lanyard, according to the instructions, for easy later identification. Because the finish is in a different place than the start, the cloakroom is mobile, so you will find your things in the finish area. It is better not to leave valuable or fragile things in the cloakroom bag! The cloakroom at this point will close at 10:00, so make sure you have left your luggage by this time.
TOILETS
- Start area
- On the route, in the area of the fuel point (kilometer 5)
- Finish area
HYDRATION AND FOOD POINTS
- In the starting area – hydration point with water and isotonic drinks
- Victoriei Square (km 1.8) – hydration point with water and isotonic drinks
- Unirii Square (km 5.3 in front of the Unirea store) – food point
- Alba Iulia Square (km 7.5) – hydration point with water and isotonic drinks
- Finish – fuel point
At the food stations you will find: water, isotonic, bananas, oranges, lemons, apples, glucose, chocolate, wafers, cheese, corn chips. Additionally, at the finish line refreshment point, you will find: cashews and cranberries.
Please use the designated bins at the hydration/food points on the route to dispose of any leftovers from your drinks and/or food. These bins will be positioned on the side of the route up to 50 meters after the hydration/food point. Disposing of any leftovers more than 50 meters after the points is prohibited and may result in disqualification from the race.
START OF THE 10 KM RACE - WHEELCHAIRS
The start will take place at 09:25 from the Arc de Triomphe.
RACE NUMBER
START OF THE 10 KM TRIAL
The start will take place at 09:30 from the Arc de Triomphe.
RACE NUMBER
RACE NUMBER 10 KM
Please keep the numbers in good condition, without damaging them. On the back of the number is the timing chip, necessary for recording the time you spend on the route. Wear the number in front of you, in plain sight, throughout the run, so you can take as many pictures as possible on the route and in the start and finish area. The product from Muller, the event partner, can be picked up at the finish, in the partners’ area, also based on the competition number. The competition number also shows the assigned start sector depending on the time to complete the route declared upon registration (for registrations made by September 12) as well as the emergency number you can call during the competition if necessary.
START SECTORS
There are 4 starting sectors whose entrances are signaled by differently colored flags as follows:
- BLACK
- RED
- BLUE
- GREEN
Access to the starting lane will be made in the last sector by the competition number. In If there is no assigned sector next to the start sector, please evaluate yourself according to the times below and choose the sector corresponding to your own running pace. A more realistic evaluation will help you It makes running more enjoyable, you will avoid crowds and minimize the number of overtaking.
Here is the division scheme into sectors according to the times declared upon registration.
PACEMAKERS
6 teams of pacers will keep different paces. Choose the team that matches the pace at which you want to cover the distance. Pacemaker teams are easy to recognize by the different colored flags they will carry along the route. Cross the finish line with satisfaction, knowing that you have achieved your race goals with our pacemaker team.
10 KM ROUTE
The route is one-way, which ensures the uniqueness of this running event. The 10 kilometers of the route will be covered on some of the most beautiful streets in Bucharest, in addition to many tourist attractions.
The route is measured and approved by the International Association of Athletics Federations, ensuring that the distance covered is correct and the time obtained is representative of that distance.
The route will be marked with mileage posts for each kilometer, and hydration/food points will be signposted 100 meters ahead.
IMPORTANT ROUTE NOTE
For the safety of runners, please note that the bike path on Calea Victoriei is not part of the running route. If you need to stop on the side, please use the sidewalk to the right of the running route. On Calea Victoriei, running will only be on the lanes dedicated to car traffic. Thank you for your understanding!
TIME LIMIT
Time limit for completing the 10 KM and wheelchair test: 1h45min
Runners who do not meet the 10:30 maximum pace will be informed of this and will be required to leave the course and continue to the finish line as pedestrians. This measure is necessary to implement the actions to open up traffic behind the runners.
START OF THE FAMILY RUN
The start will take place at 11:45 from the National Arena.
RACE NUMBER
FAMILY RUN RACE NUMBER
Please keep the numbers in good condition, without damaging them. The product from Muller, the event partner, can be picked up at the finish line, in the partner area, also based on the competition number. The competition number also includes the emergency number you can call during your run if necessary.
SAFETY MEASURES
If you notice an incident that requires ambulance intervention, please call the emergency number you have entered on your contest number or directly at 112. Additionally, you can notify volunteers in the area. Provide first aid if you are trained in this regard.
It is strictly forbidden to listen to music on headphones or block out the sound of your surroundings while running!
PREMIERE FESTIVAL
The award ceremony will take place in the finish area, starting at 12:30.
Vouchers will be awarded to the first 5 winners of the Women’s OPEN and Men’s OPEN 10 KM races.
TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS
START – Alexandru Constantinescu Street (between Mărăști Avenue and Alexandru Constantinescu Street) – Arc de Triumf Square (between Alexandru Constantinescu Street and Kiseleff Avenue) – Pavel D. Kiseleff Avenue (between Arc de Triumf Square and Victoriei Square) – Victoriei Square (re-systematization of road traffic by creating two-way traffic, in front of the Government of Romania) – Calea Victoriei – Spl. Independêței (direction from Unirii Square to Calea Victoriei) – Halelor Street – right Unirii Square (in front of the Unirea store) – left Unirii Avenue – Alba Iulia Square – Decebal Avenue – Basarabia Avenue (to the National Arena) – FINISH.
ALTERNATIVE ROUTES
To minimize inconvenience to drivers and keep traffic moving, here are some alternative routes and detour options to avoid the area with traffic restrictions.
– Charles de Gaulle Square – Victoriei Square – Ștefan cel Mare Street – Obor Square – Mihai Bravu Street – Iancului Street;
– University Square – Carol I blvd. – Pache Protopopescu Square – Pache Protopopescu blvd. – Iancului Street;
– Cantemir Blvd. – Mărășești Blvd. – Mircea Vodă Blvd. – Calea Dudești Blvd. – Camil Ressu Blvd.
RESTRICTION SEPTEMBER 21, 2024
In order to arrange the starting area of the event, between September 21, 3:00 p.m. and September 22, 12:00 p.m., traffic will be restricted on Alexandru Constantinescu Street, the road segment between Mărăști Boulevard and Arcul de Triumf Square.
Regarding surface public transport, the routes of the following lines will undergo changes:
– Trams: 1, 10, 40, 61
– Trolleybuses: 66, 69, 70, 85, 86
– Buses: 104, 116, 117, 122, 137, 123, 133, 136, 168, 226, 368, 178, 201, 205, 282, 312, 313, 323, 331, 335, 336, 381, 385, 783.
For more details on these changes, please follow the press releases issued by the Intercommunity Development Association for Public Transport Bucharest – Ilfov.
