TEAM UP! – the mass equivalent of professional team competition – is an offer for running fans from all over Europe.
The 2023 edition of the marathon event in the Polish capital was unique for several reasons. One of the reasons was TEAM UP! – a teams contest different than before, exceptionally motivating for runners and fans.
Warsaw Marathon gathers a growing number of participants from all over Poland, as well as from other European countries. Marathoners need an event that will show the most attractive sides of long-distance running. It will emphasize the emotions surrounding great races – no less than in team games or in Formula 1.
The new shape of the teams ranking
Team classification has been present at many marathons in Poland and around the world for years. Often, however, its potential was not fully realised. The individual ranking – that was the place for records, valuable prizes and high emotions – as a result, only individual competitors used to strive for the best times. The team spirit of struggle and cooperation, well known from many sports disciplines, was not properly reflected in street running.
In 2023, the “Warsaw Marathon” Foundation opened two projects devised to change that landscape. TEAM UP! Europe is a competition of professional, specially invited marathon teams. TEAM UP! Everyone is the equivalent addressed to amateurs from all over Europe. The only conditions for the team to start are the age of 18 and acceptance of the simple rules of the competition.
– For years, we have been looking for ways that will attract new runners, and at the same time enable the use of the key phenomenon in sport, which is the “team spirit”: the feeling of fighting and cooperation as a team – says Marek Tronina, director of the “Warsaw Marathon” Foundation. – We also want to increasingly highlight the outstanding potential of Warsaw – a modern, European city that cares about excellent conditions for sports and fitness. We want to show what world-class races can look like.
New course and new opportunities – Warsaw is special for runners!
It is worth noting that the competition took place on a new, very fast route. The 45th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Marathon featured a new loop that combines special visual attractions and a new, flat profile – from the point of view of the fastest athletes, as well as from the perspective of amateurs who want to experience an attractive adventure, Warsaw offers extremely friendly conditions this year.
Another novelty was the start and finish in the immediate city center – right outside the Palace of Culture and Science. Such placing makes it easier for many people to reach the start, but also shows special venues for the country and city history to competitors, their fans and tourists. The organizers traditionally invite runners at the last weekend of September. The event is accompanied by an Expo exhibition with industry special events, as well as accompanying runs – Nice to Fit You Warsaw 10k, Bridgestone Marathon Relay and Nationale-Nederlanden Mini Marathon (children’s runs on September 23).
