Celebratory Comeback: After 11 Years, the Budapest Marathon’s Legendary Record Holder Returns to the Start LineA milestone birthday and the jubilee of a legendary race—these are what drew back Judit Földingné Nagy, an iconic figure in Hungarian long-distance running. The seven-time winner of the Budapest Marathon, who held the Hungarian marathon record for 26 years, is returning to the start line at age 60 after an eleven-year break. She will run the 40th SPAR Budapest Marathon Festival to make the anniversary complete with a memorable race.
Judit Földingné Nagy’s name is intertwined with the history of the Budapest Marathon. She is the most successful female competitor in the event and even took part in the very first edition in 1984 as a member of a school relay. Over her professional career, she started the capital’s marathon 11 times and won it seven. Her long hiatus dates back to a race in 2014: “Because of an unfortunate sports injury I couldn’t finish the race; I had to have surgery on my leg. I was already 49 then—we took it as a sign. Since then I haven’t run a distance this long,” the champion recalls.
Now, eleven years later, her return is a true celebration. “Last year we decided to prepare, to run this distance once more, to finish what I couldn’t 11 years ago because of the injury,” says Földingné, whose run will be made even more memorable by special anniversaries. In the 40th year of the marathon she is celebrating her 60th birthday, and she’ll be accompanied by a real family team: her husband, Ottó, their 20-year-old son Peti, and their 40-year-old son-in-law will all line up with her. “Round anniversaries in the year of a round-number marathon,” she sums up.
The seven-time champion has many memories of racing in Budapest, but the most memorable for her was the 2006 race, which she ran a year after her son was born. “I ran a little faster than I could handle at the time. I stopped at 32 km—I was completely spent. It’s incredible how long even a single kilometer can feel like that. In the end I ‘scraped’ in under three hours,” she says, proving that even the greatest champions have to battle the distance.
Over the years, Judit Földingné Nagy has witnessed the evolution of the Budapest Marathon from a smaller, elite-focused race into an international running festival. While she looks back fondly on the old course along Andrássy Avenue, she also appreciates the beauty of the current route.
To the starters of the 40th SPAR Budapest Marathon Festival, the legend offers advice drawn from her own experience: “Don’t let the atmosphere carry you away at the start! A marathon requires patience and smart pacing. Set realistic goals and ration your energy wisely. The shared aim is a happy finish.” Her personal goal is to finish in under four hours.
Judit Földingné Nagy’s comeback is one of the most beautiful stories of the jubilee marathon—one about perseverance, humility toward the sport, and a lifelong love of running.