Cracovia Maraton

Description

Organized since 2002, the Cracovia Marathon is the most important running event in Kraków and the largest spring run at the royal distance in Poland. Since 2014, the start and finish line of the Cracovia Marathon have been located on the Main Market Square. According to the slogan of the event: "Through history” participants of the marathon run alongside many great monuments of Kraków.

The Cracovia Marathon attracts runners from around the world, being the most international of the Polish marathons, with the highest attendance of participants from abroad. We hosted runners from 55 countries during the previous editions of the Cracovia Marathon.

In December 2019, the British Sole Supplier website service evaluated the IAAF-certified marathons (currently the World Athletics). 81 events from around the world were analysed. The Kraków race was included in this selection group as the only Polish representative. Many organizational factors as well as environmental conditions were considered. In the final ranking, the Cracovia Marathon took third place!

During the 18th Cracovia Marathon, route records were set for both men and women. Currently, these are: 2:09:18 (Cyprian Kotut from Kenya) and 2:28:03 (Victoriya Khapilina from Ukraine).

The organizer of the Cracovia Marathon, the Sports Infrastructure Management Board of Kraków, runs the project of the most prestigious prize for marathon runners – the Crown of Polish Marathons. In order to get the title of the winner of the Crown of Polish Marathons, a runner must complete five marathons: Dębno Marathon, Cracovia Marathon, Wrocław Marathon, Warsaw Marathon and Poznań Marathon within 24 months from the date of the first completed marathon.

The 42-kilometre and 195-metre competition is the culmination of a two-day running festival in Kraków.

During the marathon weekend (on the Saturday) the following events are organised: the Piotr Gladki Mini Cracovia Marathon (4.2 km), and the Cracovia Inline Skating Marathon (full marathon distance).

On the occasion of the Krakow marathon, a 10-kilometre Night Run is also organised on the Saturday, and since 2018, the participants of this event start and finish in the same place as the marathon runners – on the Main Market Square.

Since 2016, the Sports Infrastructure Management Board of Kraków, organizing the Cracovia Marathon, as well as the Cracovia Royal Half Marathon and the Three Mounds’ Run on behalf of the Municipality of Kraków, grants special prizes to persons who manage to complete all three of the aforementioned events during the running season. The initiative joining these running events is called the Royal Running Triad.

The next, jubilee - 20th edition of Cracovia Marathon will be held on April 23, 2023.