Beneath the mountains

In 2026 Almaty Marathon marks its 15th anniversary. Over that time it has grown into the largest running event in Central Asia and into an important platform bringing together sport, wellbeing, urban culture, sustainability initiatives and charity.

Almaty Marathon is organised by the Corporate Fund “Courage to Be First,” which has been developing mass-participation running in Kazakhstan since 2012. In that time the event has grown into an international race that brings together participants from 60 countries. The foundation’s races remain the only events in Kazakhstan included in the AIMS calendar, while their courses are certified in line with World Athletics standards.

Almaty Marathon is also part of TAN – the Turkic Alliance of Long Runs, which connects races across the Turkic world and creates new opportunities for international running cooperation. Together, these elements have helped establish Almaty Marathon as an important fixture on the region’s running calendar and offers the chance to discover a new country through running.

What defines Almaty Marathon most is its setting and atmosphere. On one side are green neighbourhoods, wide boulevards and the rhythm of Kazakhstan’s southern capital. On the other are the mountains, almost always visible in the distance. Just 30 minutes from the city centre lie Medeu and Shymbulak – two of Almaty’s best-known landmarks. For international runners, the event becomes part of a wider travel experience. For local runners it is a chance to rediscover their own city from a different perspective.

Almaty Marathon is also defined by the values behind the event. The foundation continues to build a more open and accessible running environment, while the city’s running community keeps growing through annual races, free open training sessions and Community Almaty Run gatherings. As a result the marathon has become part of everyday life in the city.

Another defining feature of the event is its charitable mission. Part of the registration fees and additional donations support social and medical projects for children with special needs. That is why the Almaty Marathon is remembered not only as a beautiful race beneath the mountains, but as an event where running becomes part of a culture of participation, support and community.