Volkswagen Prague Marathon celebrates millionth runner

A million – that’s how many runners have competed in RunCzech races since the foundation of the Prague International Marathon back in 1995. And the 24^th ever Volkswagen Prague Marathon got to play host to this important milestone.

Jakub P. has been unveiled as the millionth runner. As he crossed the finish, he was presented with a special T-shirt and a lifetime guarantee of free start numbers to all RunCzech races.  “It was really well organised and I thoroughly enjoyed the celebration,” said the runner who manages to train for marathons while also carrying out his demanding role as a bank manager.

Back in 1995 Carlo Capalbo and Gelindo Bordin, an Italian Olympic gold marathon medalist, came up with the idea of establishing a marathon in Prague and contacted Emil Zátopek to give his support to this project. At that time only few could envisage that one day thousands of runners would take to the streets of not only Prague, but also other major Czech cities to compete in races. That dream did indeed come true and participation at RunCzech races – spanning competitive, non-competitive family runs to the Junior Marathon – has grown year on year.

The organisation’s millionth runner was finally registered at this year’s Volkswagen Prague Marathon. “This essentially means we’ve managed to change the lives of ten percent of the Czech population. We really value their support and will do our utmost to continue to earn their trust and respect in the years to come,” RunCzech Organising Committee President and Chairman of the IAAF Road Running Commission Carlo Capalbo revealed.

The jubilee millionth runner Jakub P. has been running for four years. “I started out running short relays with my company but then I got hooked and now I have three marathons under my belt. I’ve run once in New York and twice in Prague,” said the happy runner who was presented by a special T-shirt as a lifetime guarantee of free start numbers as he crossed the finish line. “I’d like to say a huge thank-you to RunCzech and hope they continue to appeal to loads of satisfied runners in the years to come,” the millionth runner concluded.

The next 2018 RunCzech races are:

• Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half Marathon – 19^th May 2018
• Mattoni České Budějovice Half Marathon – 2^nd June 2018
• O2 Prague Relay – 13^th and 14^th June 2018
• Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon – 23^rd June 2018
• Birell Prague Grand Prix – 8^th September 2018
• Mattoni Ústí nad Labem Half Marathon – 15^th September 2018

Tadeáš Mahel