Six weeks until Košice Marathon

Together, 17,000 runners from 60 countries around the world will take part in the streets of the Košice city on October 5 and 6. The rich program, which we will present in upcoming newsletters is awaiting all of them.

Speaking numbers, let us remind you that in 1924 there were only eight runners on the start. In fact, 17 of them signed up, but only eight had the courage to actually show up at the start. And let’s add one more fun fact. In 1947, when 72 Košice marathon finishers conquered this marathon it became “the largest in the world” because nowhere else in that year more runners competed on the marathon course.

1924 was the year of the Olympic Games in Paris, during which Vojtech Bukovský was inspired to organize a marathon in his hometown. And now, when the Olympics returned to Paris, the marathon in Košice is celebrating its 100th birthday.

That is why several interesting guests met on Friday, August 9, at the Slovak Olympic House in Paris. President of European Athletics Dobromir Karamanov, Deputy Mayor of Paris Christophe Najdovski, IOC member Danka Barteková, Mark Milde representing the marathon in Berlin but also legendary athletes Kipchoge Keino and Tegla Loroupe. At this commemorative meeting, the following words came from the mouth of the director of the Košice Marathon, Branislav Koniar:

“Over the last Olympic weekend we got to know the names of the new Olympic winners in the marathon. We paid tribute to them in the same way as Vojtech Bukovský, the founder of the marathon in Košice, did here in Paris on 13 July 1924, when he stood up at the Colombes stadium to greet the Finnish runner Albin Stenroos and all his rivals in the finish line. 100 years have passed since then. We witnessed battles under the Eiffel Tower with enthusiasm filled with pride that we can stand here and tell the story of the centenary of the marathon in Košice to the whole world. It is a story filled with courage, friendship, perseverance and the desire for peace and comfort. Vojtech Bukovský was enchanted by the Paris Olympics 100 years ago and also by the ideas of Baron Pierre de Coubertin who once said that the most important thing in life is not to win, but to compete. And these words of his fully capture one of the basic philosophies of the modern marathon today. Let’s stay true to it,”

The last 6 weeks remain until the start of the marathon in Košice.

The names of the biggest favorites are gradually being confirmed. We will keep them to ourselves for now, but we can reveal that three of them have already run the marathon in 2:04. The legendary Peter Polák, who will run this race for the 48th time, will also be present. Free worldwide live streaming of the Sunday race will be available on the website of the Slovak national TV.