Although the temperature might not agree, the calendar says it's spring, which means the number of runners hitting the track at Margaret Island is about to skyrocket. Of course some hardcore runners have not forgotten their beloved 5300m rubberised track in winter, but many more will be pounding the pavement once it's no longer hovering around 0 degrees.
If we were to conduct a spontaneous, non-representative survey about the most popular running tracks in Budapest, the one around Margaret Island would probably take a podium spot. This is, of course, by no means an accident - the track offers a chance to stay fit in one of the most pleasant spots in Budapest. Who wouldn't get a rush of energy from the sight of the Danube at sunset (or sunrise!) or that of the Buda's hills towards the end of the run?
The feeling was summed up perfectly by one of the most avid fans of the run, who returns almost every day.
Kvázibárki's Zsófi says "for the runners, Margaret Island means daily training, old friends and new faces, stress relief, freedom and the grounds of becoming a hero - all in one. 100 or 500 metres, one round or eight? It's all the same, no one tests you here. On this island, you can become whoever you want to. What else is astonishingly great here? The spread-out image of the island from Jászai Mari Square, the stone stairs on the Pest-side, the storks at the zoo, who stand there even in snow and ice, the tower blocks by Árpád Bridge, the "bike cars" that cut you off, the noise of the Palatinus Waterpark in the summer, the smell of food from the buffet at the Hajós Alfréd Swimming Pool, the river that surrounds you, and the unparalleled view that greets you at the tip of the island under Margaret Bridge. There hasn't been a better running track built anywhere else."
As of March, joggers, enthusiasts and professionals will be overtaking one another on the rubberised running track in increased numbers. The section on the Pest-side was retouched last autumn so it is now wider and boasts a joint-friendly surface that complies with international regulations. Just note that part of the track is still closed.
The service facilities were recently renovated, and the works on the Buda-side section will be completed in time for summer. There will also be a new information system.
All you have to do now is dust off your running gear, pocket your public transport tickets or pass, hop on tram 4 or 6, hop off at Margaret Island, do a thorough warm-up, and head out for this year's first run!
