Copenhagen & Amsterdam
How I failed to sign-up for the Copenhagen Half Marathon and how I secured the Amsterdam one.
If you've been following along, you know I’m setting out to run five half marathons in 2025! If not, head over to the about page to get the full story behind this ambitious project. Choosing five different races in five unique cities (different countries) wasn’t easy. So far, I've locked in two spots: Lisbon and Seville. This means I still need to sign up for three more!
Copenhagen
My “shortlist” includes some of Europe’s most popular, scenic, and vibrant half marathons. I’ve already failed to secure places in Berlin and Paris. Berlin has always been a dream race for me, but with 50,000 spots filling up within minutes, snagging a place was a bit of a nail-biter! Paris is the same day which my Lisbon race so naturally I had to drop it. Copenhagen is another race I’ve heard, read, watched great things about – a fast route, breathtaking city views, a lively crowd, and an impressive Expo. Plus, I timed it perfectly with the registration window opening for the 2025 edition just after I started planning this challenge.
The official website announced that registration would open on October 22nd. As soon as I found out, I set a reminder in my calendar - giving me about two weeks to be back. When the day finally arrived, I stayed up to register right at midnight, CET. But an hour later, nothing had changed on the site. Frustrated, I decided to try again in the morning, hoping I wouldn’t miss my chance to secure a spot.
Around 9AM I’ve entered the race website, and saw this:
What!? Over 43,000 peps waiting in line? 😧 OMG, that’s insane! To put it in perspective, the race only allows a maximum of 29,000 participants. But, given my IT background, I figured the queue system might be inflating the count a bit to manage the flow and keep the site stable - we (programmers) tend to do such tricks. Maybe scaring away the artificial crowd. Since I was working, I had time to wait it out, but I could feel my hopes sinking fast.
After about an hour, the queue dropped to around 30K people, but a new message appeared: “Very few spots left.” Not a good sign. I kept waiting, trying to stay optimistic, but just a few minutes later, this banner popped up.
And that was it. My chance to run in Copenhagen was buried. Oh well, that’s how it goes sometimes. The funniest part? I’d read beforehand that last year it took about a month to fill all the spots - pretty outrageous compared to this year’s process, and the instant rush as I can admit. So, my main takeaway for next time: be ready to register the moment it opens, even if it’s the middle of the night. Maybe they’re favoring international attendees? Who knows.
Amsterdam
A similar situation arose with the Amsterdam race (Mizuno Amsterdam Half Marathon) - meaning the registration process. Well, I had timed it perfectly, right before the 2024 edition and just ahead of registration for 2025. Since it’s held toward the end of the European running season, it fits my plan perfectly, aligning with my goal to race every two months or so. Amsterdam would be the final race on my list, where I aim to hit my ultimate goal: a 1 hour and 30 minute finish. The course is known for being fast and super scenic, winding through the heart of beautiful Amsterdam. This time, I can’t miss this!
After my experience with Copenhagen, I made sure to be ready for registration on October 27 at 9 AM, sharp. At least this time they provided an exact opening hour, so I could be prepared and waiting. As expected, the situation was intense – they had a queuing system in place to manage the heavy traffic, given that the Amsterdam Half Marathon runs alongside the main event, the Amsterdam Marathon. Additionally, this year will be extra special as it marks the 50th anniversary of the event, adding to the excitement and prestige of the race weekend. Yiaks!
The registration process went smoothly. I joined the queue, and within moments, I was completing my registration without any issues. I opted for the technical bib, which cost €77.50, leaving out the extra add-ons. It’s not a small fee, but for an event of this scale, it was about what I expected. There’s also a basic race entry option at half the cost, which excludes the technical gear.
As for additional amenities, there were options to reserve a spot at the pasta party, get magnetic holders for the race number, or add a photo package. Nice perks, but none of them felt essential for me. I was focused on securing my place in the race above all.
Once you’re registered, you can still add these extras later from your account panel, which the organizers set up for each runner/user. Handy, in case I decide to upgrade closer to race day! But hey, as I write this post, the Amsterdam Half Marathon has already sold out. It filled up gradually over the past few days, and now it’s officially at capacity. That’s it – no more spots.
Mizuno Amsterdam Half Marathon - Sold Out.
It’s clear that big races like these sell out fast, so you’ve got to act quickly, be consistent, and stay patient. And if you’re aiming to complete all of the “Super Halfs” you’ll need even more persistence. The good news? You have six years (60 months) to collect them all, so there’s still time. I’ll keep working toward filling up my own list, and someday, I’ll be holding that ultimate Super Medal in my hands. If I will achieve my ultimate goal I’ll have the Lisbon on my list, and right now I’m super up for Prague. Be here, wait for updates.
It’s official - I’ve secured my third race for 2025! With three down, I’m now on the hunt for two more to complete my goal of running five half marathons next year. Time to start researching, registering, and planning the logistics to bring it all together. Again, be here, I’ll be writing about the whole experience, along with my preparations.
Cheers, Lukas.