Marathon de Prague (Orlen)

“La bohème, la bohème, ça voulait dire, on est heureux”... 🎶

It’s our French chanson god 🇫🇷, Charles Aznavour 🎤 who kicks off this Prague Marathon presentation Marathon de Prague🏃‍♀️. "But why?", you wonder. Well, because Prague, the capital and the largest city of the Czech Republic 🇨🇿, is located in Bohemia, a historic region of Central Europe ! 🇪🇺 Want another fun fact? The race takes place in the month of May, a time when course conditions are at their best 🌞. So lace up your sneakers and get ready to experience one of the most unforgettable sports events of your life! 🔥

Expect to see thousands of runners in "the City of a Hundred Towers", if you decide to join this international event 🌍. Last year there were more than 10,000 participants and over 300 relay teams! 🤝 So you can imagine the vibe is totally wild! 🎉 A lot of entertainment is planned along the route with, as a backdrop, the labyrinth of streets that bear witness to the city’s rich past of the city 🌇. On the program, there’s a single distance queen 👑: the distance of 42,195 km, to be tackled in solo, in duo 🔗 or in two-person relay. More than fifty nationalities will come together for this marathon increasingly popular, especially since the 1.6 km race arrived, drawing in families! 👦🏼

With start and finish lines at the Old Town Square 👵, located in the heart of Prague's historic center 📍, the loop will take you through Prague and along the banks of the Vltava 💦. The longest river in the country will be at the center of attention as the route often heads along its banks. The race will notably pass over the Charles Bridge, see the St. Vitus Cathedral or the Prague Castle 🏰. These medieval and Gothic architectural masterpieces are bound to leave you spellbound, just like the magnificent gardens of the imperial castle in the historic center. A true hub of Old Europe, "the magical capital of Europe" 🧙‍♂️ (as André Breton wroteAndré Breton 📝), will transport you through different eras and cultures that have marked the city thanks to its monuments grandiose ✨.

The marathon route will also win you over with its low elevation, and this despite the city’s hilly profile ⛰️. The race is accessible to all levels. Beginners as well as pros will find joy here, even though you’ll need plenty of courage and training 🏋️‍♀️ to beat the records of Alexander Muyao Mutiso (2 hours 5 minutes and 09 seconds) and Lonah Chemtai Salpeter (2 hours 19 minutes and 46 seconds)! 🥵 Despite the apparent ease of the event, note that 1.5 km of the course will run on the cobbles of the medieval centre (watch your joints on this hard surface! 😮‍💨). That said, the payoff is worth it 🕯️, as you could witness one of the most beautiful starts and finishes of your running career 😍. Alone 👤 (thanks to the marathon), in family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 (thanks to the kids runs) or with friends (relays 🤝), you have the chance to experience an unforgettable moment!

We also recommend seizing the weekend to extend your stay and add a few discoveries ✔️ to your stash (even if the race has already started its work 😜). Animal friends 🦁 can head to the Prague Zoo which covers 45 hectares and houses about 4,600 animals. For history, there are plenty of options too! Besides the monuments mentioned above, you can visit the Old Town Hall, which houses the third-oldest medieval clock in the world 🕰️ and the only one still in operation. Looking for a Czech neighborhood vibe? Lesser Town, as its name suggests, is one of the most picturesque areas in the city. Crossing the old kings' road 🤴, it’s the historic soul of Prague. You’ll find shops 🛍️ and restaurants... 🍴 And on the culinary side, the country doesn’t lag! In the Czech Republic, it’s customary to start with a hearty soup 🥣, notably the goulash, a beef-based dish. The svíčková na smetaně (bless you 😅) is another specialty, as is the vepřoknedlozelo (for hearty stomachs 😂).

Okay, we’re not travel guides either 🙅. But we are running specialists! And this time, trust our pragmatism and believe us when we say: this race is a must-have ! 🏆