Join the Excitement: Half Marathon Hits České Budějovice This Saturday

Mattoni 1/2Marathon České Budějovice is an important event in the RunCzech Running League. This race has received the top award for road running, the IAAF Gold Label, and it has achieved this recognition quickly for the thirteenth time.

The main race in České Budějovice is scheduled to begin on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 19:00, originating from Přemysl Otakar II Square, which is the second largest square in the Czech Republic. This square is adorned with beautiful buildings, including the town hall, so while you’re waiting in the starting area, you can enjoy the stunning local architecture. The half marathon will follow a single-lap route that starts in the heart of České Budějovice. According to local legend, there’s a stray stone with a cross in the square, and it’s said that anyone who crosses it may lose their way. However, with the clear race markings, you won’t have to worry about getting lost during the event! Alongside elite runners, you can also expect to see famous sports figures at the starting line.

Will the gold medal stay local, and will new track records be set?

This year’s event is part of the RunCzech series, featuring a 21-kilometer run. There is a participant limit set at 3,000 runners, each with a three-hour time frame to finish. The route winds through the charming, historic city center and has minimal elevation, making it ideal for achieving fast times. Current records stand at 59:49 set by Daniel Chebii for men and 1:09:53 set by Agnes Jeruto for women. Last year, the top performers included German athlete Sebastian Hendel with a time of 1:03:38 and Ukrainian runner Maryna Nemchenko at 1:11:25.

Participants have the option to run the entire half marathon, team up to split the distance with another runner (2Run), or join a four-person relay team. While the main race starts at 19:00, there will also be an exciting race leading into the center of České Budějovice starting at 17:00, featuring a new distance of 1.6 km called the dm family mile. Additionally, from 17:45, a race for young kids called the dm bambini run will take place! These events are open to everyone. If you can’t participate, you are welcome to cheer on the runners, and for those unable to make it to the South Bohemian metropolis, you can catch all the action online via the CT Sport Plus platform.