Seeding system

This is how your start wave is determined

To create balanced starting groups and improve the flow and accessibility along the race, we are currently reviewing our seeding rules. Each start wave will have a maximum limit on the number of runners. We base the seeding on registered and approved qualifying results, with the fastest runners starting first, and the field filling up accordingly — see the image description below.

Runners will not receive their final start wave until we close the seeding process in spring 2025, after the last qualifying race. Your start wave will be presented in your start certificate, which will be sent out 1-2 weeks before Göteborgsvarvet.

Like most major marathons around the world, we uses a seeding system to stagger the start. The start lasts for three hours - in 22 waves - where each wave starts every few minutes.

Which starting wave a runner is placed in is determined by various factors described below.

  • Seeding rules - Göteborgsvarvet 2025


    Start field and start waves
    Runners with results from a qualifying race are given priority and start in the first part of the field. They are placed in order of their results, meaning the better the result, the earlier the starting wave. Runners without results from qualifying races start in the later part of the field.

    Start certificate
    The final starting wave for Göteborgsvarvet 2025 will be announced to all runners about 1-2 weeks before the race. The start certificate will then be sent via email.

  • Races approved for seeding Qualifying races - organized by Göteborgsvarvet

    Below list contains all races approved for seeding arranged by Göteborgsvarvet, which are valid for Göteborgsvarvet 2025. Runners who successfully completed one of these races automatically qualify for a start wave based on the result, no other registration is needed.

    • Göteborgsvarvet 2023
    • Göteborgsvarvet 2024
    • Göteborgsvarvet Marathon 2023
    • WMAC Open 10k - 18 Aug 2024
    • Varvetmilen Malmö 2025 - 5 April
    • Varvetmilen Göteborg 2025 - 12 April
    • Varvetmilen Jönköping 2025 - 21 April
    • Varvetmilen Sollentuna 2025 - 1 Maj
    • Digitala Varvetmilen 2025 - 13 April-23 April

  • Races approved for seeding Qualifying results – races organized by external organizers

    If you have a result from another externally sanctioned* race that you would like to use, please provide this information in your registration at latest 20/4 2025, and it will also be considered. To be seeded in Göteborgsvarvet 2025, a result from an external race conducted between 20/4 2023 - 20/4 2025 is required, with the following maximum limits:

    Men:

    • 38:00 min - 10k
    • 1:46:00 h - half marathon
    • 3:55:00 h - marathon


    Women:

    • 41:00 min - 10k
    • 1:50:00 h - half marathon
    • 4:02:00 h - marathon


    *A sanctioned half marathon/marathon/10k is a race approved by the Swedish Athletics Association (or another national association), which ensures that approved timing methods have been used and the course has been accurately measured.

    Digital races not organized by Göteborgsvarvet are not eligible for qualifying.

  • Previous races Qualifying result


    Multiple qualifying results
    If you have two or more registered results from races approved for qualifying, it is always the best time that counts. You can never be placed in a start group further back.

    Without qualifying results
    If you do not have a qualifying result, you will be placed in the later part of the starting field. When you register, you will provide an estimated finish time and will be assigned a starting wave based on that in the later part of the field.

    How to get a qualifying result?
    By participating in Varvetmilen in the spring of 2025.
    If you complete Varvetmilen 2025, your result will serve as a qualifying time for Göteborgsvarvet 2025, and you will be automatically seeded. Your start wave will be presented in the start certificate, which will be sent out 1-2 weeks before Göteborgsvarvet.

Final seeding 2025

The table below shows the outcome of the 2025 seeding. Start waves 1–15 include runners with qualifying results, corporate packages, and charity run participants. Runners without a qualifying result are placed in start waves 16–22. Once final seeding is completed (May 5), runners with a new registration from a transfer who do not have a qualifying result will be assigned to a start wave with available space.

  • Seeding for Start wave Elite

    Competitors who have achieved one of the below result limits at a sanctioned race during the period 1 January 2024 – 7 May 2025 can apply for a free registration to the race and be seeded to the elite start wave. Send a certificate of your result to elite@goteborgsvarvet.se latest May 7, 2025. (Your certificate will be processed in the spring.)

    Result limits
    Men:     Marathon 2:35:00, Half marathon 1:11:00, 10 000 m 32:00.
    Women:     Marathon 3:02:00, Half Marathon 1:25:00, 10 000 m 37:00.

    The marathon/half-marathon times must be done on measured road courses, while the time of 10 000 m, in addition to a measured road course, also can be done on arena.

    More info about start wave Elite

  • Maximal time

    You need to pass Frihamnspiren no later than 5:50 PM (13.3 km), Packhusplatsen at 6:05 PM (15 km), and Götaplatsen at 6:25 PM (17 km). The start takes place between 1:00 PM and 4:10 PM, so the maximum time allowed depends on which starting group you are placed in. You will need to maintain an approximate average pace of 7:30 min/km if you start in the last starting group. The finish line closes at 7:10 PM.

    Runners who are not expected to meet the time limits must leave the course. Transport back to the finish area is provided, or you may continue on the pedestrian path. If you choose to proceed outside the official race, it is at your own risk. This is to allow traffic to resume as planned.

  • Disqualification

    A runner who starts in an earlier start group than what has been assigned to them for Göteborgsvarvet Half Marathon 2025 will be disqualified. Since 2018, all runners have their first name printed on their race bibs. A runner with another runner’s race bib is an issue of disqualification.

  • Running with a friend

    If you want to run with a friend, it is always allowed to move to a start group further back. You can do this without contacting us and it will affect your results. Note that this only applies when moving to a start group further back, moving to an earlier start group will lead to disqualification.

FAQ