Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon on April 5, 2014 – Highlights

The first event of the RunCzech running season 2014 might be a perfect test race before the Marathon in May!

Also it gives you a perfect opportunity to visit Prague in spring, just when the city is booming will music festivals and spring markets.

Take a look at accompanying program during Prague Half Marathon.

Important information for runners

How to pick up start number?

Highlights

• 16th edition of the Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon.
• The RunCzech season begins with one of the largest running events in Central Europe.
• This spring Half Marathon is famous for its beautiful course leading runners through the historic heart of Prague along the Vltava River and crossing five bridges. The Prague Castle and Charles Bridge are only a few of the many monuments seen along the half marathon route.
• Running is the third most widespread sport in the Czech Republic. This was clearly demonstrated as race capacity was reached by the end of last year, four months before race day.  12,500 runners will participate this year in the 16th Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon.
• The Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon is a part of the RunCzech Running League, which consists of a total of 7 races held in 5 cities of the Czech Republic.  In 2013 a total of 61,306 runners took part in RunCzech events.
• Due to its world-class Elite field and high quality service for the sixth consecutive year the Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon has been granted the highest award from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) – the Road Race Gold Label. 
• In the world of athletics the Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon is considered to be one of the fastest half marathon courses. In 2012, this was proven by Atsedu Tsegay, who ran a fantastic time of 58:47. Since then, no one has succeeded in completing a half marathon faster. Even Zersenay Tadese, the world record holder in the half marathon, did not beat Tsegay's time in his visit to Prague last year.
• In 2013 the Prague Half Marathon achieved the fourth fastest time in the world amongst women with Gladys Cherono of Kenya running a course record 1:06:48.
• This year the starting field is strongest in the history of the RunCzech Running League and in the athletic world. Five elite athletes demonstrate their personal best below one hour, including the record holder Atsedu Tsegay. Seven athletes have times under 1:09 mark.
• In addition to the elite athletes the race also included celebrities in the last years: the world-famous footballer Pavel Nedvěd, Michal Malátný (Chinaski band singer) Vavrinec Hradilek (canoeist), Dalibor Gondík (actor and presenter), Michal Vieweg (writer) and many others.
• The Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon can be completed in several categories. The race will include 9,500 individuals, more than 450 four person relay teams and 200 plus four person teams.
• The Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon offers viewers not only an interesting sporting spectacle, but also a rich accompanying program. The Marathon Music Festival will feature 21 musical groups.
• RunCzech works with 14 charities, which in 2013 managed to collect over 100,000 EUR.
• RunCzech races are greatly popular among the runners. 90 % of the participants would recommend the events to their acquaintances and friends.
• The Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon is greatly appreciated by runners from abroad. 19 % of the total entrants will be foreigners from 80 different nations participating in this year's race.
• As has been traditional, men will make up the majority of entrants with 69% of all race participants, but at 31% the percentage of women is increasing every year at least partially due to the adidas Women's Challenge project.
• The vast majority of runners are university-educated people (58%), followed by those with a secondary school education (34%) and the remaining 8% of participants who have a primary school education.
• The RunCzech Running League TV coverage exceeds 381 hours of foreign and domestic programming in 117 countries.
• Each year RunCzech running events are assisted by over 4,500 volunteers.

Records

• Men:
  • World record: 0:58:23 (2010), Zersenay Tadese (ERI), Lisabon (POR)
  • Event record: 0:58:47 (2012), Atsedu Tsegay (ETH)
  • Fastest Czech man for Prague Half Marathon: 1:03:34 (2005), Róbert Štefko
  • Women
    • World record: 1:05:12 (2014) Florence Kiplagat KEN), Barcelona (ESP)
    • Event record: 1:06:48 (2013), Gladys Cherono (KEN)
    • Fastest Czech women for Prague Half Marathon: 1:14:17 (2000), Jana Klimešová

Interesting facts

• The oldest participant among men in 2014: Jiří Engliš (CZE), 76 let
• The oldest participant among women in 2014: Anna Maria Lomo Portela (ESP), 70 let
• During the race were used:
  • 61 280 safety pins
  • 165 000 cups
  • 60 000 sponges
  • 15 000 thermo blankets
  • 12 500 medals
  • 6 015 m of fences
  • 73 mobile toilets
• Has been drunken:
  • 15 876 l of Mattoni water
  • 7 560 l  of isotonic drink Nutrend
• Has been eaten:
  • 2 800 kg of bananas
  • 2 100 kg of oranges
  • 1 250 of baguette
  • 26 kg of salt
  • 99 kg sugar

Zdeňka Pecková