Gdańsk Half-Marathon 2026: Record Attendance & Race Highlights

The beautiful city of Gdańsk hosted the 13th edition of its half-marathon on September 27. The most striking takeaway this year? The massive explosion in participants. With a 250% growth compared to the previous year, jumping from 5,000 finishers in 2025 to a massive 12,600 this year, it perfectly reflects the huge surge in running … Continue reading Gdańsk Half-Marathon 2026: Record Attendance & Race Highlights →

Wroclaw Half-Marathon: A Night Race Experience

This year, my spring running season wrapped up at the 12th Wrocław Half-Marathon. The organizers tried to break Poland's record for the highest number of finishers in a long-distance running event. The standing record, set earlier this year in Warsaw, was 22,494 finishers. With 26,066 registered runners, Wrocław officially became one of the largest night … Continue reading Wroclaw Half-Marathon: A Night Race Experience →

Personal Biathlon: 10K Running and Grand Prix Chess Tournament in one day

I recently repeated my ultimate personal challenge: participating in a major running competition and a high-stakes chess tournament on the exact same day. Taking advantage of the fact that the OMV Bucharest 10K and the Bucharest Chess Grand Prix lined up once again, I signed up for both, determined to beat my 2025 results. Part … Continue reading Personal Biathlon: 10K Running and Grand Prix Chess Tournament in one day →

Poznan half-marathon

2026 is officially the year of the record-breaker. Following massive turnouts at the Warsaw Half Marathon  and the Grenke Chess Open , Poznań kept the momentum alive. The 18th edition of the Poznań Half Marathon set its own milestone with a record 13,500 participants finishing the race.  If you’re hunting for speed in Poland, Poznań is a top contender. Compared to Warsaw, the route is … Continue reading Poznan half-marathon →

Inside the World’s Largest Open Chess Tournament

The GRENKE Chess Festival is easily my favorite event on the calendar, and returning for my third time this year only confirms it. With 3,658 participants in 2026, it has solidified its spot as the world's largest open tournament. Beyond the scale, what keeps me coming back is the impeccable organization and a vibe you … Continue reading Inside the World’s Largest Open Chess Tournament →

Italy’s East Coast – from Venice to Rimini

Over two decades of traveling through Italy, I’ve seen the country evolve through a tourist’s eyes. While most flock to the West Coast, the Adriatic side offers a deep dive into history that is often less crowded but just as breathtaking. My experiences here are personal and subjective, focusing on the layers of art, music, and architecture … Continue reading Italy’s East Coast – from Venice to Rimini →

Half-marathons circuits in Europe

Lately, the challenge in the running world has evolved. It’s becoming more popular to finish not just a single race, but a "circuit" of grouped events. The Abbott World Marathon Majors is the most famous global series. It now features seven iconic marathons. Meanwhile, regional circuits are gaining incredible traction. In Europe the SuperHalfs series, … Continue reading Half-marathons circuits in Europe →

Tallinn half-marathon

The Tallinn running festival in September attracts thousands, featuring distances from 5 km to a marathon. The author participated in the half-marathon for enjoyment, but faced challenges due to poor timing and pacing. Despite a slow finish, the event was well-organized with a festive atmosphere, celebrating camaraderie and personal milestones.