In the last few years, no major running event took place in Katowice. We remember that it was along the paths of the Three Ponds Valley that the route of the first half marathon was marked out in 2005.

The Silesia Marathon passes through four Silesian cities. On May 1st, in homage to history, the entire route of the 19th edition of the Silesia Half Marathon was set along the streets of Katowice.

It wasn’t the only race that day. Runners also competed in a shorter distance of over 5 km. The start and finish lines of both races were set in the Katowice Culture Zone. Today, it can be said that it was a proverbial “bullseye.” A well-known location, yet undiscovered in terms of running, turned out to be a great venue for a large running event. It combined two races and started on the 20th anniversary of Poland’s accession to the European Union.

“Not without reason, at the start there were blue and yellow colors. These are the colors of the European Union, but also the colors of Upper Silesia,” said Bohdan Witwicki, the race director, during the event. “Thanks to the involvement of the Silesian Voivodeship, the main event partner, and Katowice – the Host City, we were able to celebrate this important anniversary in a sporty manner and show that Katowice can host a pleasant running event that attracts not only runners but also city residents to join in the fun,” emphasized B. Witwicki.

The weather was favorable for spectators, unfortunately at noon the temperature rose to 26 degrees Celsius, which combined with clear skies did not make it easier to complete the half marathon distance. Today, none of us should have any doubts – we all feel the effects of climate change, which increasingly affects running events, making it crucial to prepare adequately for the race. Not only physically and mentally, but also ensuring proper hydration.

The event was attended by many marathoners who will decide to compete in the royal 42 km distance this autumn.

We hope that among those starting on May 1 in the shortest distance, there are many runners who, starting their running journey, will take on the challenge in October and compete in the 20th edition of the Silesia Half Marathon.

From a chronicle’s duty, it’s worth reminding that in the 4th edition of the Heroes’ Run, the winners were Bartosz Jarczok and Sylwia Indeka. The fastest on the course in the 19th edition of the Silesia Half Marathon were David Nilsson SWE (1:09:07) and Anna Pawlikowska POL (1:24:06).

We invite you to watch the event coverage: