196 Kilometers Around Lake Balaton – Outstanding R&R Results at the Supermarathon

This year’s Balaton Supermarathon was held earlier than usual, during the last weekend of February, yet runners were accompanied by truly spring-like weather between February 26 and March 1. Over the course of the four-day race, participants could run around Lake Balaton in four stages, covering a total distance of 196 kilometers either individually or as part of a relay team. The 16th edition was also a special one, as it marked the final Balaton Supermarathon in this format.

The weather conditions were particularly favorable this year. “We were able to run in beautiful weather throughout, which made completing the distance an even greater pleasure,” said István Lipusz. The pleasant, almost late-spring atmosphere also shaped the overall mood of the race, and many runners experienced memorable moments at the starts and along the lakeside sections.

This year a new team was formed, so our colleagues represented the company with two relay teams as well as an individual runner.

The team of István Lipusz, Péter Nadrai and Zsolt Szabó (R&R – Hosszútávon) once again improved on their time from last year: they finished with a time of 16:07:46, nearly three-quarters of an hour faster than their previous result. Out of 81 teams, 77 completed the race, and they finished in 11th place, missing the top 10 by just 17 seconds. The improvement is particularly remarkable: compared to their 2020 time, the team completed the distance around Lake Balaton almost two hours faster. “Last year we thought we had run a time that would be difficult to beat, yet this year we lined up at the start just as determined—especially knowing that this was the last BSZM in this format,” said István.

The other relay team (R&R – Run&Run)—Máté Fekete, László Mórocz, Péter Pluhár and Balázs Várszegi—competed together in this lineup for the first time. Over the four days they finished with a total time of 17:44:59, placing in the top third of the field. For the team, the race was not only a sporting achievement but also a shared experience: the starts, relay points and the scenic stretches along Lake Balaton gave the weekend a special atmosphere. “It was a very long weekend—both literally and figuratively full of running and rushing—but it seemed to me that everyone enjoyed the momentum. I certainly did,” said László Mórocz.

During the four days, the teams covered the entire loop of Lake Balaton: from the mass start in Siófok, along the long southern shore sections, up to the climbs of the northern shore, and finally back to Siófok. According to participants, beyond the running itself, teamwork, encouraging one another, and organizing around the relay points were just as much a part of the experience as the kilometers themselves.