The Warsaw Marathon (Polish: Maraton Warszawski pronounced: [maˈratɔn varˈʂafskʲi], also referred to as the PZU Warsaw Marathon[a]) is an annual marathon event which takes place on the streets of Warsaw, Poland. It is the oldest annual marathon in Poland, held since 1979. The marathon is organized by the non-governmental organization Fundacja Maraton Warszawski. The race usually takes place on the last Sunday of September.

Warsaw Marathon
DateLate September or early October
LocationWarsaw, Poland
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon
Primary sponsorNationale-Nederlanden
Established30 September 1979
(45 years ago)
 (1979-09-30)
Course recordsMen's: 2:08:17 (2011)
Kenya John Kibet
Women's: 2:28:35 (2022)
Ethiopia Demissie Ayantu
Official siteOfficial website
Participants2,734 finishers (2021)[1]
854 finishers (2020)
4,557 (2019)

It is one of two marathons hosted in the city, alongside the Orlen Warsaw Marathon, generally held in April. The marathon is one of five in the Crown of Polish Marathons program, along with the Dębno, Kraków, Poznań, and Wrocław Marathons.[2][3]

Polish competitors have traditionally triumphed in the early editions of the event both in the men's and women's competitions. However, since the fall of communism in 1989, the race has attracted more international participants who started to dominate the race. The current course records are 2:08:17 hours for men, set by John Kibet of Kenya in 2011, while Ethiopian Demissie Ayantu's run of 2:28:35 in 2022 is the fastest by a woman on the course.

History

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The marathon was first held on 30 September 1979 under the original name "1st Marathon of Peace" (to convince socialistic regime about the idea of "run for health, run for all"). It happened thanks to the three brave people: Tomasz Hopfer (TVP journalist and runner), Józef Węgrzyn (journalist and runner) and Zbigniew Zaremba (1st director of the Warsaw Marathon; and running coach). In the inaugural race, the length of the course was just 40.6 kilometres (25.2 mi), and not the normal, classic distance of 42.195 km (26.219 mi).

In 2000 the men's race and in 2012 the women's race had the status of Polish Marathon National Championships.[4]

From 2013, the Polish insurance company Powszechny Zakład Ubezpieczeń (PZU) became a title sponsor, and the marathon was renamed "PZU Warsaw Marathon".[5]

External image
  Course map of full marathon in 2020[6]

In 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic, organizers rescheduled the marathon to take place over four separate heats during the weekend, with each heat having a maximum of 250 runners.[7][b] In addition, the course was changed to a loop of 5 km (3.1 mi) in the center of the city.[6][c] Since nearly 2000 runners had already registered for the race, a lottery was held to determine who was allowed to participate, with those denied a spot allowed to transfer their entry to 2021 or obtain a refund.[7][8][d]

 
Participants passing the 27th kilometre mark in 2013
 
Runners entering the district of Ursynów during the 35th edition of the marathon.
Schedule of heats in 2020[9]
Heat Date Time Time limit
1 26 September 2020 16:00 6.5 hours
2 27 September 2020 00:00 6.5 hours
3 27 September 2020 08:00 4.0 hours
4 27 September 2020 13:00 6.0 hours

Other races

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Although the main attraction is the marathon, there is also a handbike marathon and a "High Five Race" (5 km race). Since 2022, a 10-kilometre race aimed at beginners known as the Pekao SA Warszawska Dycha has also been organized as part of the event.[10]

Other activities

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During the marathon weekend, additional activities take place, such as a sport and fitness expo, running seminars, and activities for children.

Results

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Key:   Course record

Year Finishers Men's winner Country Time Women's winner Country Time Rf.
2024 5,555 Levente Szemerei   Hungary 2:10:43 Olga Nyzhnyk   Ukraine 2:31:24 [11]
2023 5,555 Levente Szemerei   Hungary 2:15:29 Ewa Jagielska   Poland 2:34:41 [12]
2022 3,707 Joseph Munywoki   Kenya 2:10:07 Demissie Ayantu   Ethiopia 2:28:35 [13]
2021 2,734 Yared Shegumo   Poland 2:14:38 Monika Andrzejczak   Poland 2:31:11 [1]
2020 854[e] Paweł Kosek   Poland 2:23:14 Dominika Stelmach-Stawczyk   Poland 2:41:57 [14][15]
2019 4,557 Dadi Yami   Ethiopia 2:11:39 Rebecca Korir   Kenya 2:29:04
2018 7,528 David Metto   Kenya 2:12:44 Beatrice Cherop   Kenya 2:35:22
2017 5,460 Błażej Brzeziński   Poland 2:11:27 Bekelu Beji   Ethiopia 2:35:09
2016 5,921 Ezekiel Omullo   Kenya 2:08:55 Gladys Kibiwot   Bahrain 2:36:34
2015 5,491 Ezekiel Omullo   Kenya 2:09:19 Ruth Wanjiru   Kenya 2:29:39
2014 6,679 Victor Kipchirchir   Kenya 2:09:59 Svitlana Stanko   Ukraine 2:33:04
2013 8,506 Yared Shegumo   Poland 2:10:34 Goitetom Haftu   Ethiopia 2:29:32 [16][17]
2012 6,796 James Mutua   Kenya 2:15:02 Agnieszka Ciołek   Poland 2:34:15
2011 4,061 John Kibet   Kenya 2:08:17 Svitlana Stanko   Ukraine 2:31:28
2010 3,322 Tola Bane   Ethiopia 2:13:10 Tetyana Holovchenko   Ukraine 2:31:37
2009 3,164 Teshome Gelana   Ethiopia 2:12:03 Anastasiya Padalinskaya   Belarus 2:44:55
2008 2,640 Alemayehu Shumye   Ethiopia 2:11:50 Małgorzata Sobańska   Poland 2:31:20
2007 2,119 Paweł Ochal   Poland 2:12:20 Valentina Poltavska   Ukraine 2:40:18
2006 1,860 Vitalij Shafar   Ukraine 2:12:29 Nina Podnebesnowa   Russia 2:42:43
2005 1,689 Grzegorz Gajdus   Poland 2:14:50 Nina Kolyasewa   Russia 2:34:53
2004 937 Radosław Dudycz   Poland 2:17:21 Janina Malska   Poland 2:48:41
2003 1,063 Artur Pelo   Poland 2:20:41 Karina Szymańska   Poland 2:42:04
2002 307 Dmitrijs Šlesarenoks   Latvia 2:30:02 Marlena Żołnowska   Poland 3:36:19
2001 564 Bartosz Mazerski   Poland 2:24:45 Maria Bąk   Germany 2:48:31
2000 587 Mirosław Plawgo   Poland 2:15:57 Ewa Fliegert   Poland 2:51:02
1999 693 David Ngetich   Kenya 2:16:31 Karina Szymańska   Poland 2:45:44
1998 867 Grzegorz Głogosz   Poland 2:17:06 Karina Szymańska   Poland 2:36:24
1997 700 Wiesław Lenda   Poland 2:25:39 Karina Szymańska   Poland 2:42:18
1996 658 Artur Ociepa   Poland 2:18:14 Yelena Tsukhlo   Belarus 2:37:48
1995 779 Christo Stefanov   Bulgaria 2:15:37 Yelena Tsukhlo   Belarus 2:37:21
1994 788 Wiesław Lenda   Poland 2:17:50 Yelena Tsukhlo   Belarus 2:42:36
1993 520 Julius Mitibani   Tanzania 2:20:26 Polina Grigorenko   Russia 2:55:25
1992 794 Jacek Kasprzyk   Poland 2:17:38 Aniela Nikiel   Poland 2:42:27
1991 852 Ryszard Misiewicz   Poland 2:19:50 Małgorzata Birbach   Poland 2:47:21
1990 1,129 Krzysztof Niedziółka   Poland 2:20:08 Ewa Olas   Poland 2:42:48
1989 1,222 Jerzy Skarżyński   Poland 2:22:19 Ewa Bober   Poland 3:01:14
1988 1,596 Paweł Tarasiuk   Poland 2:17:37 Stefania Kozik   Poland 2:55:34
1987 1,398 Wiesław Lenda   Poland 2:24:47 Renata Walendziak   Poland 2:38:24
1986 1,505 Józef Mitka   Poland 2:19:48 Maria Kawiorska   Poland 2:46:48
1985 1,607 Andrzej Malicki   Poland 2:20:29 Irina Hulanicka   Soviet Union 2:46:21
1984 1,914 Miroslaw Rudnik   Poland 2:25:15 Stefania Kozik   Poland 3:06:02
1983 1,919 Stanimir Nenov   Bulgaria 2:23:55 Irena Maliborska   Poland 2:59:38
1982 1,727 Zbigniew Pierzynka   Poland 2:24:09 Helena Kozioryńska   Poland 3:08:52
1981 2,015 Jerzy Finster   Poland 2:17:06 Cindy Wuss   United States 2:51:22
1980 2,289 Jerzy Gros   Poland 2:22:12 Anna Bełtowska   Poland 3:05:14
1979 1,861 Kazimierz Pawlik   Poland 2:11:34[f] Renata Pentlinowska   Poland 2:51:38[f]

Multiple wins

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Athlete Wins Years
  Karina Szymańska (POL) 4 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003
  Wiesław Lenda (POL) 3 1987, 1994, 1997
  Yelena Tsukhlo (BLR) 3 1994, 1995, 1996
  Stefania Kozik (POL) 2 1984, 1988
  Ezekiel Omullo (KEN) 2 2015, 2016
  Yared Shegumo (POL) 2 2013, 2021
  Svitlana Stanko (UKR) 2 2011, 2014

By country

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Country Total Men's Women's
  Poland 51 27 24
  Kenya 11 8 3
  Ethiopia 7 4 3
  Ukraine 6 1 5
  Belarus 4 0 4
  Russia 3 0 3
  Bulgaria 2 2 0
  Hungary 2 2 0
  Bahrain 1 0 1
  Germany 1 0 1
  Soviet Union 1 0 1
  Tanzania 1 1 0
  United States 1 0 1

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ This name may be used for sponsorship reasons or to distinguish it from the Orlen Warsaw Marathon.
  2. ^ Restrictions due to the pandemic limited the number of people that could simultaneously compete in a race to 250 people.[7]
  3. ^ The start and finish was located on Senator Street [pl] in front of Theatre Square, and the majority of the loop was located on the Krakowskie Przedmieście and Miodowa Streets.[6]
  4. ^ Before the lottery was held, all registrants were given the option of transferring their entry to 2021 in case any were uninterested in participating.[7]
  5. ^ Limited due to restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.[7]
  6. ^ a b Shorter distance (about 40.6 km)

References

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  1. ^ a b "43. Maraton Warszawski" (PDF). 2021-09-26. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  2. ^ "ZIS Kraków".
  3. ^ "Crown of Polish marathons | Poznań Marathon".
  4. ^ "Warsaw Marathon". Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  5. ^ "PZU became a title sponsor for Warsaw Marathon". pzu.pl (in Polish). 2013-08-28. Retrieved 2015-02-28.
  6. ^ a b c "Course – Maraton Warszawski". maratonwarszawski.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e "42nd Warsaw Marathon will take place on September 26th and 27th 2020! - Maraton Warszawski". Archived from the original on 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  8. ^ "Ballot results – Maraton Warszawski". Archived from the original on 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  9. ^ "Distribution of slots in the 42nd PZU ORLENWarsaw Marathon – the rules". Retrieved 2023-11-18.
  10. ^ "44. Maraton Warszawski przeszedł do historii. Rekord imprezy wśród kobiet" (in Polish). 25 September 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  11. ^ "2024 Warsaw Marathon results". sts-timing.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  12. ^ "45. Maraton Warszawski – Warszawa 2023 info, trasa, wyniki". aktywer.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Live.sts-timing.pl. 2022. STS-TIMING.PL – WYNIKI". Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  14. ^ "STS-Timing.pl – Wyniki". Archived from the original on 2020-09-27.
  15. ^ "Kto wygrał 42. PZU ORLEN Maraton Warszawski? 854 zawodników na mecie biegu stacjonarnego". 27 September 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-09-28.
  16. ^ September 2013 AIMS results Archived 2016-03-17 at the Wayback Machine. AIMS. Retrieved on 2013-10-05.
  17. ^ Wyniki online. 35mw (2013-09-29). Retrieved on 2013-10-05.
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