Europe’s largest lake-circling running event will reach a milestone on the last weekend of April: the NN Ultrabalaton will be held for the 20th time. Organizers expect a larger turnout than ever before for this year’s race.
The race distance this time will be 209 kilometers, with a record number of 433 individual runners at the starting line, alongside tens of thousands of team members, support staff, and fans participating in the Ultrabalaton.
The total number of registrants reaches 35,100.
Participants in the 19th NN Ultrabalaton running race on April 26, 2025. Photo: MTI/Katona Tibor
The scale of the organization is evident in the fact that
a staff of more than 1,000 people is working to ensure the race runs smoothly, with 58 refreshment and transition points providing support for the runners, while the entire route passes through over 50 towns and villages around Lake Balaton.
Over the long weekend, an estimated 45,360 liters of water and nearly 8 tons of bananas will be consumed.
Lake Balaton. Photo: Hungary Today
Last year’s NN Ultrabalaton. Photo: MTI/Katona Tibor
In addition to the classic individual and team races, this year’s extreme challenge will receive special attention:
As part of #Projekt418, five ultra-runners—Linda Boros, János Bogár, István Csingár, Ádám Kertész, and Róbert Varga—will attempt to complete a double lap, meaning they will run more than 400 kilometers without stopping.
“The 20th NN Ultrabalaton is special for us as well. Not only because of its scale, but also because of what it represents: a community that proves year after year that sport brings people together, motivates them, and pushes boundaries,” said Róbert Kulcsár, the race director.
Last year’s NN Ultrabalaton. Photo: MTI/Katona Tibor
Last year’s NN Ultrabalaton. Photo: MTI/Katona Tibor
NN Ultrabalaton and the BioTechUSA Group are also celebrating a joint anniversary: one of Europe’s largest dietary supplement manufacturers has been the event’s refreshment partner for 10 years. In honor of this milestone anniversary, the company is contributing an additional 18 million forints (49,500 euros) to the now-traditional on-site community fundraising campaign.
The fundraising campaign has been joined by 100,000 charitable runners to date.
Thanks to them, the BioTechUSA NN Ultrabalaton Charity has so far supported the medical treatment of 12 sick children with 25 million forints (68,700 euros) and the development of 15 hospitals and civil organizations with 69 million forints (189,500 euros). This year, runners can once again donate by waiving the deposit fee for their timing chips, and BioTechUSA will reward their contributions with a total of 18,000 custom shakers.
Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Katona Tibor
