Prague has been a preferred pitstop for stag and hen events over time. This weekend, although, town is ready to be dominated by runners as an alternative.
Overlook the booze and the bars, the one factor that issues this weekend for a lot of are isotonic drinks and half-marathon medals as hundreds of individuals flood into the capital of the Czech Republic for considered one of Europe’s fastest-growing street races.
The Prague Half Marathon begins on Saturday (April 6) at 10am native time and options 15,500 runners. Due to the creation of a brand new begin and end space, this has risen impressively from 11,600 final 12 months and the organisers, RunCzech, needed to shut the entries a few months in the past because of the overwhelming demand.
Curiously, nearly 60% of the sector is from outdoors the Czech Republic. Virtually 1000 Brits have made the journey, for instance, which implies they make up 8% of the sector. Solely Germany and naturally the Czech Republic can have a mightier presence.
That is the twenty fourth version of the race and adidas has remained a trustworthy companion for the reason that starting. “We each believed in one another from the beginning,” stated Krzysztof Łuczakowski of adidas on the pre-event press convention. “Even throughout the Covid pandemic, Carlo (Capaldo, the president of RunCzech) all the time discovered a approach.”
READ MORE: Sabastian Sawe leads elite entries
Libor Varhaník, president of the Czech athletics federation, agreed: “After arduous Covid occasions the runners have returned. It’s an awesome message for Czech athletics federation.”
The elite line-ups are led by Sabastian Sawe, the reigning world half-marathon champion from Kenya. He has gained 5 of the seven half-marathons he’s run previously and his slowest time is 59:23. This implies the occasion document of 58:47 is unquestionably below menace below what are anticipated to be sunny spring-like circumstances on Saturday.
The race, which has a prestigious Elite World Athletics label, additionally consists of Martin Fiz, the evergreen Spanish marathon runner who gained a world title in 1995 however remains to be operating amazingly properly aged 61 and aiming to win the entire Superhalfs occasions so as to add to the World Marathon Majors sweep of victories he loved when he was in his 50s.
READ MORE: Interview with evergreen runner Martín Fiz
Who is aware of, if their half-marathon goes properly then possibly a number of runners may be part of the party-goers within the metropolis centre for a post-race drink too.
The occasion is on Czech TV. Or watch the stay stream to the occasion right here…
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