Göteborgsvarvet (Swedish:[jœtɛˈbɔ̂rjsˌvarːvɛt]) is an annual half marathonrunning competition in Gothenburg, Sweden (often called the Gothenburg Half Marathon in English).
It is the largest annual running competition in the world in terms of entries, with its 62,000 entries for the Göteborgsvarvet competition on 18 May 2013.[1] In 2016, 64,500 people entered the race. The youngest runner was 17 years old and the oldest female runner 83 and male runner 87.
Its name is a word play; the Swedish language-word "varv" has a double meaning and can mean both lap and shipyard ("[skepps]varv"), as Gothenburg historically has been known as a shipyard town (Gothenburgers also particularly enjoy word-play-humour). [citation needed]
The race takes place in May, and has been organised annually since 1980. It starts outside, and finishes in, the old athletics arena Slottsskogsvallen in the Slottsskogen park. It takes off northwards over the large suspension bridge Älvsborg Bridge, follows the north bank to the Göta älv river, and returns over Hisingen Bridge, goes through the inner city, before reaching the finish.
The race has hosted the Swedish national championship race on five occasions (1995, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2016 and 2017).
