Balatonfüred is a popular resort town in Veszprém county, Hungary. Balatonfüred has a population of around thirteen thousand people and is situated on the north shore of Lake Balaton.

Balatonfüred is considered to be the capital of the Northern lake shore. The temperature of the water is above 20 degrees C. from May to September. The quality of the water is excellent.

The town has two marinas, a string of carbonated mineral water springs, beautiful listed buildings from the middle of the 18th and the 19th centuries and fine restaurants. It has modern hotels and guest-houses to accommodate about fifty thousand visitors in the summer. The town has a pier, a harbour, a large camping site (next to where the UNIX 6-Day race is being held) and several private marinas.

Apart from ultra-distance runners visiting the area to compete in multi-day races, people visit Balatonfüred the mild micro-climate, beautiful scenery, the local wine (made from Olaszrizling grapes), and sailing and swimming facilities – as well as to continue the two-century-old tradition of socialising around spas while bathing and vacationing.

Balatonfüred’s micro-climate makes it an excellent venue for outdoor racing.

Many visitors to Balatonfüred go there to heal and recuperate at any time of the year thanks to the carbonated springs and baths, which which have been famous since the 17th century. The town was officially declared a spa in 1772. The Kossuth Spring and other springs near the state hospital for cardiology supply water containing free and bound carbon dioxide as well as iron, magnesium, potassium, hydrocarbonate, calcium, sodium, sulfur and other minerals. The temperature of the spring waters is 14 to 15 °C; they are collected into a large basin and conducted to the spa building. Then the carbonated water is warmed up to 32 to 34 °C and used for treatment.

I wonder how many ultra-runners will end up recovering at the spa after their races….?