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 →

Warsaw half-marathon

Running culture in Poland is booming, and the Warsaw Half Marathon 2026 proves it. With record participation, excellent organization, and a fast (but strategic) course, this race has quickly become one of the top half marathons in Europe. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the event attracted 25,000 registered runners and sold out two months in advance. … Continue reading Warsaw half-marathon →

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 →

Valencia half-marathon 2025

The best proof that what I wrote last year about the Valencia Half-Marathon was true is the fact that I decided to run it again this year. With limited race options, I have to choose carefully where to compete. The Valencia Half-Marathon makes that decision easy, it’s one of the best-organized and most enjoyable races … Continue reading Valencia half-marathon 2025 →

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.

10 Years of Running: My Journey through Two Cities

This May marks 10 years since I started running. A full decade of runs, finish lines, and the quiet rhythm of feet on pavement. One month earlier I crossed the 12,000 km distance. I’ve written before about other key milestones in this journey, crossing the 6,000 km and later the 10,000 km marks. Both were … Continue reading 10 Years of Running: My Journey through Two Cities →

A Personal Duathlon: Running and Chess in Bucharest

A traditional duathlon typically combines running and cycling. It’s less well-known than the triathlon, which includes swimming, cycling, and running—in that order. In both formats, the winner is the person who crosses the finish line first. While I was in Bucharest this May, I experienced a rare coincidence. Two major sporting events were scheduled for … Continue reading A Personal Duathlon: Running and Chess in Bucharest →

Reflections on the SuperHalfs Series: My Experience and Insights

The SuperHalfs program has gained immense popularity, evident in the surge of participation, with nearly 100,000 runners participating in at least one race. As of May 2025, only 1,113 have completed all six events, prompting organizers to lift the time limit for completing the series. Data analysis revealed Spain and Great Britain lead in finishers, likely due to their robust running cultures. The series features six races: three in spring and three in autumn, and increased demand has led to a lottery system for entries. Personal experiences highlight Valencia and Berlin as top races, emphasizing that running is a rewarding personal journey.