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 flatter and built for pace. The local support was great, with many spectators, providing even more “cheer power” than I experienced in the capital.

The Highlights:

• The Stadium Loop: A major highlight occurs at kilometer 16, where the course takes you directly inside the ENEA Stadium. It’s an incredible atmosphere that gives you a huge mental boost for the final 5 km push.
• Logistics: The organization was top-tier, featuring pacers at 5-minute intervals, free public transport for runners, instant SMS results and enough hydration points on the route
• The Weather: We had near-perfect running conditions, with temperatures holding steady between 12-14°C during the race. 

My Race: 1:53:33 (Top 40%)

The scale of the record crowd brought one major challenge: early congestion. It took me 18 minutes just to reach the start line from the 1:50-1:59 block. Despite starting in the “right” place between the 1:50 and 1:55 pacers, the first 4km were a battle for space, making it very difficult to overtake.

I found my rhythm as the crowds thinned. I hit 10km in 54:34 and reached the stadium at 15km in 1:21:26. While I was about 3 seconds slower than my recent time in Warsaw, I finished strong, running the final 1.1km at a sub-5:00/km pace. I crossed the line in 1:53:33, placing in the top 40% of the field.

My friend Bogdan also put in a gutsy performance. Despite a lingering injury forcing him to dial back in the second half, he clocked a solid 1:47:02. Once he’s fully recovered, he’ll be back to his 1:40 form in no time.

As usual many thanks to Stefan Oprina, our coach who is helping us obtaining better results!

From 1:59 to 1:53: The Injury “Blessing”

I’ve been asked how I dropped from a 1:59+ last year to a 1:53 today. Ironically, it started with a sprained ankle in December. My orthopedist, a fellow runner, limited me to 4km treadmill sessions followed by 10 minutes of cycling.

I stuck with the bike routine even after I healed, eventually increasing it to 20 minutes after every run. That extra aerobic base, combined with the Nike Vaporfly 4, made a massive difference in my endurance. It goes to show that sometimes a hardship can lead to a breakthrough in your training.

Final Verdict

I highly recommend the PKO Poznań Half Marathon. It’s flat, fast, and the atmosphere is electric. Just be ready for a crowded start and make sure to enjoy that stadium loop at km 16!