Magical city returns to its roots

Half the places for this year’s 8th Night PKO Wrocław Half Marathon were sold on the opening day or registration – and all within two weeks. Registration opens for the 38th PKO Wrocław Marathon soon – and with a cap of 3000 runners.

It is the magic of the city itself which makes the races so popular, says race director Wojciech Gęstwa. Some of the runners tick off events in which they have participated and then look further afield for their next targets. But people come back to Wrocław; everyone talks about the unique climate of our events which cannot be replicated elsewhere.

This year Wrocław Marathon returns to its roots. As for the first 10 editions (of the predecessor event, the Silesian Marathon, run from 1983–1992) part of the Marathon route will be run outside the city limits. Runners start from the Market Square in Kąty Wrocławskie at 09.00 and finish on the speedway track of the Olympic Stadium. About half of the route will be run within the Kąty Wrocławskie Commune. It will be a city running event organised in cooperation with the surrounding administrative area – unique within Poland.

Runners will see not only the unique monuments of Wrocław’s 1000-year history but also the landscape and smaller towns located along the race route. Local products and delicacies and regional folk bands await them. Runners come from about 30 countries of Europe and around the world so the new course will allow them a way of better getting to know Poland.

For anyone wanting to see Wrocław at a more leisurely pace the third edition of the WrocWalk Marathon will be held the day before the running version. In previous editions of the ‘Walk for a Medal’ event a total of 3100 participants of all ages marched the route.

On registration and payment of a very modest entry fee participants collect the event map showing marked points to visit. At each place they get a stamp and have the chance of a guided visit. There will be two routes to choose from, both finishing at the Olympic Stadium where, after presentation of the stamped sheet, the ‘walkers’ will be decorated with commemorative medals. The wandering time and the exact route will not be measured.