Marathon races near Beauvechain

The Brussels Ekiden is a 42-kilometer relay race held in Bruxelles each October. Rather than a single runner completing the entire distance, a team divides the race into segments, with runners taking turns. This format resembles a shared marathon more than an individual road race, drawing from the Japanese long-distance relay tradition of ekiden, which is centered on stage-to-stage running. The exchange of a cloth sash, known as a tasuki, between successive runners defines the ekiden. This practice originates from Japan's historical courier system, where messages were transported between stations. The modern racing adaptation traces its roots to an extended multi-day run between Kyoto and Tokyo. In Japan, ekiden is strongly associated with school, university, prefectural, and corporate teams, and the Brussels event reflects this team-racing culture over the typical mass-start marathon atmosphere.

The Leuven Marathon is an urban road race held in Leuven, Belgium, on a Sunday in April, starting and finishing at Sportoase. Participants can select from a marathon, half marathon, or 10 km race, catering to both full-distance athletes and those preferring a shorter city run. The course winds through central Leuven, with marathon participants completing an additional loop towards the Brabantse Wouden. Live music, DJs, and numerous spectators line the route, contributing to a city event atmosphere rather than a secluded road race. The inaugural event attracted 17,900 participants in total, comprising approximately 3,300 marathon runners and about 5,700 in the 10 km race. The organizers established the event following the success of the European Running Championships in Leuven, which contributed to its immediate large scale.