The half marathon is the most popular distance at the SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne with 7000 runners per year from all over Switzerland and the whole world. This makes the SwissCityMarathon the largest half marathon in Switzerland.
The half marathon in Lucerne always takes place on the last sunday in October. Starting time is in the morning at 9am on the Haldenstrasse, Lucerne.
The course is a circuit in the length of a half marathon, with the start and finish at the Swiss Museum of Transport.
From the start, the course leads along the traditional luxury hotels of the city and the Hofkirche to the centre of Lucerne. With a view of the Kapellbrücke (chapell bridge) and the Wasserturm (water tower), you cross the main bridge of Lucerne. On the opposite side of the lake, the course passes the famous Culture and Congress Centre Lucerne (KKL). The tour continues with a view of the impressive mountain panorama of Central Switzerland along the beautiful Lake Lucerne around the Horwer Peninsula. The next highlights will follow immediately with the runs through the athmospheric zone in Horw, the modern football stadium of the FC Luzern and then the KKL Lucerne. In the last section, the picturesque old town of Lucerne is crossed before heading for the finish at the Swiss Museum of Transport.
A start at the half marathon is possible from the age of 16.
In the category without ranking your time is measured, but the list in the ranking list is alphabetical.
| Age | Years 2021 | Categories Women | Categories Men |
| 16 – 19 years | 2005 – 2002 | 71: U20W | 51: U20M |
| 20 – 29 years | 2001 – 1992 | 72: W20 | 52: M20 |
| 30 – 34 years | 1991 – 1987 | 73: W30 | 53: M30 |
| 35 – 39 years | 1986 – 1982 | 74: W35 | 54: M35 |
| 40 – 44 years | 1981 – 1975 | 75: W40 | 55: M40 |
| 45 – 49 years | 1976 – 1972 | 76: W45 | 56: M45 |
| 50 – 54 years | 1971 – 1967 | 77: W50 | 57: M50 |
| 55 – 59 years | 1966 – 1962 | 78: W55 | 58: M55 |
| 60 – 64 years | 1961 – 1957 | 79: W60 | 59: M60 |
| 65 – 69 years | 1956 – 1952 | 80: W65 | 60: M65 |
| 70 – 74 years | 1951 – 1947 | 81: W70 | 61: M70 |
| 75 years and older | 1946 and older | 82: W75 | 62: M75 |
| without ranking | 2005 and older | 66: alphabetically | 66: alphabetically |
Choose your starting block with your expected running time. On the day of the race you will stand in the marked blocks independently.
You don't have to enter a running time when registering.
| Block nr. | Starting time | Expected half marathon running time |
| 1 | 9.00 am | <01:30h |
| 2 | 9.02 am | <01:35h |
| 3 | 9.06 am | <01:40h |
| 4 | 9.10 am | <01:50h |
| 5 | 9.14 am | <01:55h |
| 6 | 9.18 am | <02:00h |
| 7 | 9.22 am | <02:00h |
| 8 | 9.26 am | <02:10h |
| 9 | 9.30 am | >02:10h |
Benefit from a cheaper registration fee if you register in time.
| Registration until 30.09.2021 | From 01.10.2021 |
| CHF 73 | CHF 93 |
Option for the medal in the half marathon + CHF 5
The additional costs for registrations with payment by invoice is CHF 2.00 per registration.
*(Subject to change)
The association SwissCityMarathon – Lucerne voluntarily opted for the VAT. The association is registered with the number CHE-112.487.804 VAT. The entry fees include the VAT of 2.5%.
You will receive your race number at the race number distribution (expo) upon presentation of the registration/payment confirmation or the start card, which you will receive by e-mail in mid-October. The race number distribution and Marathon Expo at the Hotel Schweizerhof will only take place on Friday and Saturday. Please allow enough time for picking up your race number. A collection on Friday or Saturday is strongly recommended.
On Sunday race number can be picked up before the race in the Swiss Museeum of Transport at latest until 8.30 am
Important : The registration confirmation or start card can be shown on the smartphone or tablet in a digital way. A printout of the start card is not necessary. Together we can avoid over 20,000 printouts and make a further, ecologically valuable contribution.
The start numbers are not sent by post you need to pick them up personally.
Friday, 29.10.2021: 4.00 – 8.00 pm @ Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern
Saturday, 30.10.2021: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm @ Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern
Sunday, 31.10.2021: 6.30 – 8.30 am @ Finish area Swiss Museeum of Transport (only Marathon and Half marathon)
Find out more about the expo here.
The start for the half marathon (as well as marathon) is located in Haldenstrasse a few metres from the Swiss Museum of Transport (Lidostrasse 5, 6006 Lucerne). The start is at 9.00 am. For the exact start times see starting times above.
The finish for all is in the Swiss Museum of Transport (Lidostrasse 5, 6006 Lucerne).
The easiest way is to take the free ship shuttle from Lucerne main station (bridge 5). The shuttle ships operate all day long between Lucerne and the Swiss Museum of Transport. Alternatively, you can take the train "S3" or "Voralpenexpress (VAE)" to the station "Luzern Verkehrshaus". Last but not least, the Swiss Museum of Transport can also be reached by foot from Lucerne main station within 30 minutes – taking a wonderful walk along Lake Lucerne.
Ticket with personal promo code: SBB.CH/SWISSRUNNERS
The finish is closing at 12.15 am for half marathon runners.
Runners who do not cross the finish line within the time limit will not be classified. The end of the official competition is determined by the follow-up vehicle, which is passing the kilometers on time, so that it arrives at the finish within the set time limit. Overtaken runners have to end the race and are no longer part of the official competition.
The chip for the time measurement is integrated in your bib. The time chip don't have to be returned at the end of the race. The race number must be worn visibly and unfolded on the front.
Half marathon: 11.00 am (Finish area Swiss Museeum of Transport)
Only overall winners will be awarded on stage.
All other prizes will be sent by post after the event.
Category winners receive a free starting place for the next year, 2nd placed a 50% voucher and 3rd placed a 30% voucher.
The award ceremonies will take place in the finish area, please note the speaker announcements.
Instructions given by the race course personnel must be followed. Private escort of runners by all type of vehicles, especially by bicycles or inline skates, is not allowed. Also to run with a dog, a pram, etc. is not permitted. A general ban on driving applies to the whole race course except for the official vehicles of the organisers. Any short cut from the race path and other illegal aids are forbidden.
Participation in a wheelchair is not possible because of security reasons. The technical directors of the organising committee will make final decisions for disqualifications.
All Marathon Finishers will receive a Finisher-Shirt which is included in the registration fee.
The Finisher-Shirt pick up is in the the finish arena in the Swiss Museeum of Transport.
Half marathon participants can buy a Finisher-Medal when they register + CHF 5.-.
The Finisher-Medal will be handed over directly after the finish line.
The digital starterbag offers you informations, exciting promotions and great competitions in the form of so-called "coupons" (vouchers).
You will receive your personal access to the digital starterbag by mail.
Thanks to the SwissRunners-Ticket, you can travel free of charge to the SwissCityMarathon - Lucerne by public transport from all over Switzerland.
The code for your SwissRunners-Ticket will be sent to you by e-mail at least 10 days before the event.
