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5,000 people on the start list of the jubilee 45th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Marathon. Running is back in great style – The Big Race coming on September 24!

Running is back in great style! More than a month before the jubilee 45th edition of the Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Marathon, there are over 5,000 athletes on the start list! Registration is under way for all runs held as part of the Marathon Weekend!

On September 24, Warsaw will turn into the running capital of Europe – exciting TEAM UP! Europe and TEAM UP! Everyone, the finale of the #RunningGood charity campaign, a new, fast course and a stunning start and finish area for all races – Emilii Plater Street. The opportunity to finish at the foot of the Palace of Culture and Science may not happen again!

The Big Race – tradition unbroken since 1979

The Warsaw Marathon – the largest sports event in Poland, is a unique run. Every year since 1979 its start line brings together thousands of participants sharing one goal and a common passion. Each edition of the Marathon is unique, and for every runner, the start is a great celebration and the climax of a long preparatory training period.

The royal distance, the accompanying runs, EXPO as well as the bustling finish area provide chances to follow the development of Poles’ passion for sports and admire the general growth of running. The opportunity to start at the very centre of the capital and run through the city’s biggest streets is a feast for runners. Such a blockbuster event is also a great chance to promote the city’s tourist attractions.

Breathtaking start/finish location and brand new courses

By tradition, the race office will be hosted by the Palace of Culture and Science. The start and finish lines mark a novelty – both straight on the central Emilii Plater street. The finish area with special stalls and attractions is being designed at Plac Defilad – that’s what brings the centre of emotions to the very heart of Warsaw.

This year, in addition to the stunning central location of the finish line, the runners will also enjoy the completely new courses – both the royal distance (including the relay race), and the accompanying Nice To Fit You Warsaw 10k, got new routes. The courses are both fast and spectacular – the marathon runs through as many as six districts of the capital, including the picturesque Radiowo. Runners will also move along the main Warsaw artery, Aleje Jerozolimskie, in both races.

Little Big Race

This year, for the first time in history, the youngest runners will start in the very centre of Warsaw. The Nationale-Nederlanden Mini Marathon will take place on Saturday, September 23, right on the spot from where adults will set off the next day. Registration for the event for children and youth is on, with nearly 300 participants on the list!

– Our involvement in the 45th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Marathon is supported by the idea of #długodystansZDROWIA. Caring for one’s health is a marathon, not a sprint race, which is why healthy lifestyles and physical activity should also be promoted among children. The Nationale-Nederlanden Mini Marathon is a great opportunity to show children the beauty of sport and to spend special family moments in an active and interesting way – says Marta Maszewska-Danielewicz, director of marketing communications and of the Nationale-Nederlanden brand.

The Mini Marathon is divided into age categories, with a different distance for each. The youngest – children up to the age of three, can take part with a guardian. The upper age limit is 16 years. Everyone will receive special medals at the finish line, and winners’ cups will be awarded to the best ones in each category. The route will be closed to car traffic, and the youngsters will enjoy a unique street run setting.

More about the Little Big Race: https://nnmaratonwarszawski.com/en/mini-marathon/

Nice To Fit You Warsaw 10k and Bridgestone Marathon Relay

In addition to the kids’ races and to the royal distance for adults, the last weekend of September will also see a 10 km run – Nice To Fit You Warsaw 10k – and the Bridgestone Marathon Relay. Therefore, each running buff will have a chance to start – if the marathon is still too much of a challenge, it is worth considering a shorter distance and give yourself a chance to celebrate the jubilee 45th edition of the Warsaw Marathon as part of a huge field.

The big return of running – start lists are filling up

All this year’s street races taking place in Warsaw – starting with the 17th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Half Marathon – have recorded an increase in popular interest. At the moment, there are over 5,000 people on the start list of the Big Race – almost 2,000 more than in the same period of 2022. Nice To Fit You Warsaw 10k, in turn, is already booked by almost 2,000 runners, which is also an impressive number.

We’re coming back for good – the fashion for running is back! Poles practice sport, enjoy it, understand it – they cheer, engage in volunteering work and more and more often take part in competitions. Setting your own goals to achieve, planned training and simply a healthy lifestyle – all that is in our brand’s DNA – says Marek Tronina, director of the “Warsaw Marathon” Foundation. – I am glad that we can observe the emotions of amateur runners and the development of the whole industry. Although there is still a bit to go before we reach the pre-pandemic results, one can now safely say that the popularity of running is back. Health and active lifestyle are in fashion again, as a crucial part of our lives.

#RunningGood – a new charity on board!

The largest running charity event in Poland allows you to do good things by taking part in the competition. Running and helping is the domain of almost six hundred participants – that’s how many runners registered for the event via the charity track. In total, they have already collected a remarkable amount of almost PLN 200,000, which will be credited to several NGO accounts. The fundraiser will go on till October 4.

The campaign was recently joined by “Faces of Depression” Foundation. The funds collected will be used for a program of free, remote psychological and psychiatric help for children and youth, unique on a national scale.

– I am very happy that the “Faces of Depression” joins the group of project beneficiaries. Depression, especially among young people, is so common. We hardly talk enough about mental health problems, says Magda Skrocka, deputy director at the Warsaw Marathon Foundation. – I believe that together we will contribute to improving awareness and helping those in need. We also have many common educational ideas that will soon be disclosed – she adds.

Welcome to the Big Race – volunteering, cheering, running!

Registration for all races is open. Everyone will find something for themselves. And for those who are not yet ready to start: you are welcome to actively join us as a volunteer. We invite Varsovians and all the athletes’ relatives to cheer – every person cheering along the route is a huge motivator for runners.

Let’s be together and experience those special emotions. A street race is a social event, not just a sporting one. Let’s give ourselves a chance to take part in something unique, let’s feel this difference and get a boost for action in the coming weeks – adds Magda Skrocka, deputy director of the “Warsaw Marathon” Foundation.

Registration continues at https://rejestracja.maratonwarszawski.com/en/

Get free photos from the marathon!

Running a marathon is no mean feat, whether you do it alone or sharing with your team in a relay race. The unique emotions of the royal distance are surely worth recording.

Bridgestone, a Global Olympic Partner, is also sponsor of the 45th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Marathon and the Title Sponsor of the Bridgestone Marathon Relay.

The company is proud to support all runners on their way to the finish and – in cooperation with Pic2Go – provides photos from the course to participants of the 45th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Marathon and of the Bridgestone Marathon Relay.

Check how it works!

1. After getting the bib number, activate it in the field provided.

2. Before the race, place the bib number with the pictag in a clearly visible place on the front of your T-shirt, (always horizontally!). Only then will it be possible to correctly identify and obtain photos.

3. Feel the emotions, focus on your goal and run to the finish!

4. Once the run is over, go to nnmaratonwarszawski.com/pic2go and enter your bib number in the indicated field to gain access to your pics, which were taken during the run.

5. Browse through your photos shared on the Pic2Go platform, choose the best ones and post them on your Facebook profile to capture your running emotions!

6. Return to the platform and check if your new photos have appeared, as more get published after the end of the event.

7. On the dedicated photo page you will also find your run stats, a 3D virtual map and a poster.

Activate your bib number in the field of the pic2go order form to get complimentary photos from the route of the 45th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Marathon or Bridgestone Marathon Relay.

Free photos from Pic2Go are courtesy of the titular sponsor of the Bridgestone Marathon Relay and a sponsor of the 45th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Marathon – the Bridgestone brand.

Sport faces enormous challenges, and the need to adapt to a fast-paced world is among them. Fewer and fewer people have the time and patience to watch sports events lasting several hours. Even football keeps looking for ways to constantly refresh its image. Is the running world immune to this situation? It surely isn’t. Can marathons afford sticking stubbornly to the rules that were established in 1912 and have remained practically unchanged since then?

This year’s 45th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Marathon will show that changes are not just possible, but also that they have a positive impact on the media coverage of the event. On September 24 we shall witness the debut of a completely new format of marathon competition. The “Warsaw Marathon” Foundation launches a project that can revolutionise European distance running and make it no less exciting than cycling tours.

A new format for the Marathon’s jubilee

TEAM UP! EUROPE is a competition of marathon teams. The team competition in the marathon is of course nothing new – let’s just recall that Polish female marathoners are the current bronze medalists of the European team championships. However, Team Up! Europe goes a few steps further. First of all – the teams taking part are mixed ones. Secondly, managers from all over Europe were invited to cooperate in developing the project, and they, not the organizer, are fully responsible for the set-up of individual teams. Thirdly – the teams will only include athletes from Europe. What does this mean in practice?

– For many years we have wanted to propose a formula that, on the one hand, would attract top European runners to Warsaw, and, on the other hand, would give our event a whole new dimension – says Marek Tronina, director of the “Warsaw Marathon” Foundation. – This year we celebrate 45 years of the Big Race. This is a great time for innovative and robust ideas. After exploring many options, we are confident that Team Up! Europe will change the face of our event forever.

Team Up! Europe – innovative rules of the game

What will the competition look like? At the start of this year’s run, we will see 6 teams of four, with each team observing a statutory requirement to represent both genders. The final result of each team includes the three best results at the finish line, where – which is very important – the basis is not the time itself, but its point equivalent calculated as per  World Athletics conversion factors. In practice, this means that thanks to the Team Up! Europe, the sports effort of men and women will be comparable.

Prizes worth fighting for!

In Team Up! Europe, the prizes are impressive. The winning team will receive €20,000, followed by €12,000, €9,000, €6,000, €5,000 and €4,000 respectively.

– We take this competition extremely seriously, because we are aware of how innovative this step is – adds Marek Tronina. “But we are ready and determined to start making some serious changes to the world of distance running.

In Team Up! Europe the main prize is 20,000 euros, while in the individual marathon classification it is only 1,000 euros. Does this mean that individual ranking is now less important?

– Absolutely not, the individual classification will be no less important. – says Magdalena Skrocka, deputy director of the run. – The best runner will win anyway, because he, like every member of the team, will want to get the best result. The only thing that’s changing is that the leader will pull his team along, and the team will, in turn, try not to spoil the hard-earned lead.

Importantly, a factor absent in individual competition – the team spirit – will play a huge role. And it’s not just runners have a common goal, but that each team member shares a collective responsibility. Even in the face of the greatest crisis, an athlete will remember their attitude can affect the entire team’s final result.

Hungary on full alert

The first crew to present is Synergy Team Hungary. The manager of the team is a two-time Olympian (London and Rio), winner of the Las Vegas and Dusseldorf marathons, Zsófia Erdelyi. She will be a running manager, as she is one of the Hungarian team members.

• Hungary may not be associated with a marathon, but as soon as I heard about the project, I immediately decided that my country’s team must appear in Warsaw – says Zsófia Erdelyi. – Some of the top runners were excluses, because they are focused on the world championships, to be held in Budapest this year. Instead, I focused on athletes from the second line and worked on building a team spirit with them, because this will be crucial in the competition. Warsaw is going to see a Hungarian team of four, ready to fight for every second.

In addition to captain Zsófi Erdelyi, Synergy Team Hungary will be represented by Katalin Kovacs-Garami, Levente Szemerei and Peter Jenkei.

TEAM UP – not just for professionals?

Almost in parallel with team presentations, we shall soon start registration for Team Up! Everyone. Its rules are almost identical to those for professionals. The difference is that while the registration for the former is already closed, amateur runners will be able to sign up from the beginning of August until almost mid-September. Who is Team Up! Everyone for? Every runner who wants to start in the 45th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Marathon! It is enough to have a bib number assigned, find two or three more people who also have their bib numbers and sign up via a dedicated form in August. Come along then – be part of the premiere edition of Team Up! Everyone.

Huge changes and great emotions in the very centre of Warsaw

Will Team Up! Europe revolutionize European running? Will the new emotions appeal to running fans and to participants? This year’s competition will really be worth watching. The “Warsaw Marathon” Foundation has shown many times that it is not afraid of new solutions. Running fans will again have a chance to closely observe what happens on the streets of Warsaw on September 24th. Especially that the start and finish of the race are located (for the first time in history) in the immediate vicinity of the legendary and symbolic Palace of Culture – in Emilia Plater street.

For details of the competition, please visit www.teamupeurope.eu. The next teams will be presented every Tuesday. Registration for the jubilee edition of the marathon in Warsaw takes place at www.rejestracja.maratonwarszawski.com/.

The Big Race is less than 100 days away! 45th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Marathon – a running feast comes really close.

Warsaw Marathon Foundation is 20 years young. This year also marks the 45th edition of the Warsaw Marathon. The Big Race, with its fantastic history and heaps of emotions, is going to hit the streets of Warsaw in less than 100 days! Let us start with big news – there will be a complete new course and an exceptional surprise, attractions for the audience, children’s runs and the add-on 10 k race, all coupled with competitive spirit and unforgettable emotions.

Both the 45th Warsaw Marathon and the Nice To Fit You Warsaw 10k will be held on 24th September. No running fan can miss those events. Each runner and each spectator will get their share of competition thrills, embellished with the great historical background and our trademark charity project of #BiegamDobrze (#RunningGood).

A race with loads of history

The Warsaw Marathon has been a feast for runners, year after year. As one of the few global marathons, we’ve been on for an unbroken period of 45 years, since 1979. Each of the Warsaw Marathon annual editions has a unique story. In the early 1980-ies, the race carried on under the watchful eye of the army and special police forces. The 1990-ies saw the first marathon editions with “Warsaw” as part of the brand. And in 2020 the event was held in an unprecedented pandemic formula, sticking to the highest sanitary rigour. Each Marathon year is special, and for each runner, the marathon is a fiesta crowning a rather lengthy path. Being part of the running crowd, who write the unique marathon story in Poland’s capital, being able to watch other runners – it all offers a chance to ponder the passion and hard work, and to celebrate the running season’s highlight.

– Marathon is an exceptional distance – says Magda Skrocka of the “Warsaw Marathon” Foundation. The more so, that our event has been going on since 1979, without a break. That means long years of running, celebrating the passion, living through social and historical changes. The race is a witness of our everyday lives – and the superb chronicler of emotions. The unique atmosphere, the feeling of unity and fulfilment, the finish line of many weeks’ preparation – words can hardly describe a marathoner’s feelings. The same impressions get through to running fans. This year, we want the whole of Warsaw to rejoice in the Big Race with us. The Warsaw fans know how to cheer and how to be a great audience  – just wait for 24th September and let’s write another chapter of our shared history.

Nice To Fit You Warsaw 10k – the accompanying race

No different from last year, the 45th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Marathon is to be complemented by a 10k race. The shorter distance is ideal for those not yet ready for the marathon, and for those who simply dream of a 10k PB. The Big Race vibes and the huge field, the loud, colourful event setting, finally – the new title sponsor, Nice To Fit You – all these factors make the race on September 24th really unique. 

A 10k race is an opportunity for street running first-timers, and for those seeking a personal best. But you can also simply indulge in a chance to run through the city centre free from the car traffic. Thanks to the Nice To Fit You Warsaw 10k, you can get the Big Race feeling. On Sunday, September 24th, thousands of runners will have a chance to build the beautiful history of running in Warsaw!

New courses and the surprise that can truly move the capital

Some important formal announcements are coming – both the marathon and the 10k race get complete new courses. 

– We are preparing a surprise both for our runners and for the Warsaw running fans – Magda Skrocka says. Apart from the new routes, which are being developed right now, we are also going to announce another change, adding a symbolic dimension to the whole event. We are waiting impatiently for the runners’ reactions, we know that the race course and setting are important to them. The news will be unveiled step by step, until the race day. But the route itself will be shown much sooner, at the turn of June and July.

#RunningGood – another chapter, another chance to help

One can sign up for the September races through the biggest charity running project in Poland  –  #BiegamDobrze (#RunningGood). In our charity path, helping is easy! Through the project carried out with several NGO’s, we facilitate fundraising for such causes as oncological therapies, supporting prematurely born infants or disease prevention.

Having raised the minimum amount in the virtual piggybank set up at registration, the runner gets a special gift – an exceptional orange bib number, which identifies the Charity Heroes. Running feels lighter, when you run for a cause!

– Social engagement and supporting local charities is a key area of our activity – says Marta Pokutycka-Mądrala, spokesperson at Nationale-Nederlanden and corporate communications director. – We really appreciate the effort of #RunningGood charity marathoners. As Nationale-Nederlanden we will add extra funding to the leading fundraisers. Along with the base collection, the fundraiser will pass our extra amounts on to the foundation they had chosen. 

Registration for 45th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Marathon and the Nice To Fit You Warsaw 10k is under way! Other races at the event weekend include Bridgestone Marathon Relays (registration to start in late June) and children’s races. On September 24, Warsaw becomes each runner’s capital. It’s a great chance for everyone to rejoice in the Big Race mood – runners adult and younger, the local audience and fans around the world!  Thousands of runners will come along, fighting for their dreams. Time to write another chapter in Warsaw’s street running history!

Sign up here >>> https://rejestracja.maratonwarszawski.com

Celebration of Running with Nice To Fit You

Remember to keep the holy day! Every runner’s fiesta is coming on June 7, 2023 – it’s the World Running Day!

Rejoice on this special holiday. Dress up your best starters, recharge your watch, put on your headphones and make it your day! This is your special time!

Are you training before a race? Take care of a proper, balanced diet. Which can also mean – delicious! 💛

Using the BIEGANIE10 code, you can order catering with menu selection, up to 10% off regular price!

⏰ Code valid until 7/06, cannot be combined with the loyalty program.

CHECK here: ntfy.pl/catering-item

Nice To Fit You is once again the official sponsor of the 45th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Marathon and for the first time the title sponsor of the accompanying 10km run, Nice To Fit You Warsaw 10k. We choose to support runners. You too have a choice. Go ahead and choose your menu conveniently in the mobile application.

Check the route – click to enlarge.

32nd Warsaw Uprising Race – registration open!

31-05-2023 13:05

Registration has now started for the second stage of the famous Warsaw Running Triad. Runners will set off on Saturday, July 29th, to commemorate the special days of 1944 and pay homage to the Warsaw Heroes. Apart from the traditional version – you can also take part in the virtual edition of the race!

The mood of the 32nd Warsaw Uprising Race will as always be something special – we want to remember the special moments from Polish history. It makes sense to hurry with signing up a bit – the first batch of 1,000 bibs is available at a lower price.

Learn more Dowiedz się więcej >>>

Sign up here Zapisz się >>>

Zdrofit to close ranks with the Warsaw Marathon foundation as the fitness partner

09-05-2023 11:05

Poland’s biggest fitness club chain has become the exclusive fitness partner of both Ekiden – Marathon of Relays and the 45th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Marathon.

Zdrofit supports their customers and educates them in using physical activity to make the most positive impact on general condition, health and body shape, as well as psychological well-being, which all leads to maintaining good life quality.

A team of Zdrofit personal coaches will run the warm-up before the Ekiden – the Marathon of Relays, preparing the runners for a safe start and cheering them up for healthy competition and great fun.

– Zdrofit joining the mass running events organised by the Warsaw Marathon Foundation is another opportunity for promoting physical activity, which we believe pumps life up with a completely new energy – says Daniel Biegaj, marketing and e-commerce director,  marketing head of the fitness chain owned by Benefit Systems. We want to inspire both those people who have a high awareness of fitness issues, and all those who are just beginning their adventure with physical exercises. That is why we encourage everyone to exercise at their own pace, as they like and want, adjusting effort to own condition.

Compare to Western European countries and to the very active north of the continent, Polish population still has a low proportion of physically active citizens. This leads to the growing amount of medical problems – obesity, cardiovascular hypertension, diabetes, oncological diseases and mental heaths issues.

We are glad Zdrofit is going to support an event that is so important for passionate runners. Our clubs are an excellent base for their strength and coordination practice – Biegaj adds.

The Zdrofit fitness chain is made up of 84 clubs located in Warsaw (city and greater area), the Tricity, Szczecin, Kielce and Włocławek. The clubs offer highest quality equipment to assure member safety. Zdrofit provides its guests with cardio zones, free weights, cross training and recovery areas.

Zdrofit is distinguished by the largest offer of group fitness classes. Almost 100 practice formats allow for adjusting the classes to the diverse customer needs – from beginners, through dance practice, preventive practice like pilates or “healthy spine”, to intensive metabolic training like intervals or hugely popular bike practice.

– Institutions of amateur sports must support one another and aim at popularising a whole range of activities. Each physical activity is good and their variety impacts our physical and mental development. Zdrofit with their fitness clubs are surely well known to amateur runners. I am really happy we are teaming up. Running should be healthy and passionate, but also wise – and that often calls for more than work on outdoor mileage. We believe that with relentless work and common engagement we will promote sports and healthy lifestyle, encouraging a growing percentage of the population to take up physical activity. Healthy mind in a healthy body! – says Marek Tronina, president of the Warsaw Marathon Foundation.