“I am pleased, and it just goes to show the superior quality of our work” said Carlo Capalbo, President of the organisation committee organising the Prague International Marathon. “Not only have we filled the pole positions so early on but also proven that we can attract a further two thousand runners compared to last year. It’s a fantastic success story”.
The last numbers will be available at a one-off event taking place at a chosen Hervis store in Prague. “Once online registrations have been closed, it is still possible to sign up via our partner non-profit organisation and, as such, contribute to a good cause by running” adds Martina Kozáková from PIM.
The Hervis Prague Half Marathon ranks among the world elite in running. Already for the third year now it has earned the Gold Label from the International Athletics Federation (IAAF), which only six half-marathons in the world can pride themselves on. Once again this year the event has attracted top Kenyan runners, at the helm of which is Philemon Limo along with Lydia Cheromei. Last year Limo became the first to run the half-marathon on Czech soil in under one hour. He will also be taking part in the first year of the RunCzech.com running series.
The first ever half-marathon race took place back in 1999 in Stromovka Park with 950 runners participating. Two years later the start was moved to Charles Bridge. In 2006 the number of competing runners in the half-marathon (4207) surpassed the number of marathon runners for the first time ever in Prague. Over the course of four years the number of participants doubled. Last year the figure reached 9614 and the event was sold out for the first time in history. “We are coming close to reaching the maximum in terms of capacity and possibilities. After consulting with the police, magistrate and television, for safety reasons we know that a maximum of twelve thousand people can run the half-marathon in the centre of Prague” Capalbo says, knowingly.