Sportisimo Half Marathon: Running season is starting!
The marathon is a race over a distance of 42.195 km. The same name is however also used to refer to other lengths of endurance events. Competitors in the popular half marathon will already be running through the streets of Prague tomorrow.
A running atmosphere in the centre of Prague
The Sportisimo Half Marathon spring run marks the start of the running season and if you don’t want to compete, why not at least set out into the luxury streets in the centre of Prague as fans and spectators. For a few hours, the heart of the city close to the River Vltava will be open to running, music and most certainly a luxury atmosphere. Maybe this will inspire you to take part in the next Prague marathon which will already be held in May.
Great numbers participating for a luxury atmosphere
A total of 11,5000 runners will be running in this year’s 19th year, of which 800 will be running in team competitions. The streets of Prague will thus welcome experienced competitors, for example from places as far away as Ethiopia, as well as the citizens of Prague or other cities who like to put on their running shoes.
The record in the men’s category is held by Atsedu Tsegay from Ethiopia who completed the half marathon in 2012 with a time of 0:58:47. The women’s record is held by Violah Jepchumba from Kenya with a time of 1:05:51. You can support her in competitions this year too.
Apart from her, the 10 km world record holder Leonard Komon will be getting ready in the starting blocks. From the ranks of Czech competitors, you can look forward to seeing the top runner Eva Vrabcová and elite athletes in the form of Jiří Homoláč or Jan Kreisinger. From the ranks of famous personalities showing off their running skills, we will be able to see the Olympic decathlon gold medal winner Roman Šebrle, the heart surgeon Jan Pirk, the actor and presenter Dalibor Gondík or the Mayor of Karlovy Vary Petr Kulhánek as well as many others.
Marathon Music Festival and party at the Exhibition Grounds
A party will be taking place at the Exhibition Grounds after the race, where the names of the winners will be announced and where a concert will be given by the band Prague Conspiracy. This will not however be the only music to be heard throughout the day. This is to say that the Marathon Music Festival is also part of the marathon, in terms of which 25 bands and DJs will be playing along the route.
What route will the race take?
The total length of the half marathon is 21.0975 km and it starts and ends at Náměstí Jana Palacha. The starter pistol will be fired at 10:00 a.m. The route leads along the Vltava, over Palacký Bridge all the way to Svornosti and then back via Hořejší nábřeží and Legion Bridge to Náměstí Jana Palacha. From there, runners cross the Mánes Bridge to Klárov and run via Nábřeží Edvarda Beneše and Kapitána Jaroše all the way to Libeň Bridge. They cross this to reach the Karlín side and again run along the Vltava back to Náměstí Jana Palacha with a small detour via the Čech Bridge and Mánes Bridge.
Other Prague marathons
Volkswagen Marathon Weekend 2017: Staroměstské náměstí, 6.5. - 7.5.
O2 Prague Relay 4x5 2017: Stromovka, 14. 6. - 15.6.
Birrel Grand Prix: evening race, 9. 9.
