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 in Europe. For returning runners, registration is even smoother: the organizers give priority to those who ran in the previous edition.

If you’re trying to run Valencia for the first time, you’ll need to enter a ballot in November. If you don’t get in, there’s still hope. Several official travel agencies offer guaranteed race entries as part of their packages.

This post isn’t about repeating what I said last year. It’s about sharing what was new. I also want to share what I learned this time around.

What Was New This Year

The Wardrobe Service

This year, I paid 6 EUR to leave my luggage at the start area wardrobe. It was absolutely worth it. Not having to run with my phone or other items made the experience much more comfortable.

Slippery Grids on the Course

After kilometer 10, the route passes along a street full of metal grids covering subway vents. When it rains (as it did this year and last), these grids can get very slippery. Tip: stay on the left side of the road, where the surface is safer.

The Energy of the Drummers

One of the things I love most about Valencia is the number of live drumming bands along the course. The beat of the drums has an incredible effect. It pushes you forward in a way that no playlist ever could.

My Race

I learned from last year’s mistakes. This time, I didn’t eat too much before the race. I made sure to finish my breakfast more than two hours before the start.

I started in wave 7 at 9:01 a.m. and took it easy at first, running the first 5 km at around 6:00 min/km. I planned to pick up the pace later. However, by kilometer 15, I realized I wasn’t going to finish under two hours. At that point, I decided not to push too hard. Whether it’s 2:02 or 2:03 doesn’t make a huge difference. I crossed the finish line in 2:04:11, an average result, but still 22 minutes faster than in Tallinn!

Our Team – “Trupa lui Fane” in Valencia

This year, five of us from Trupa lui Fane ran in Valencia. That made the whole experience even better. We shared the excitement, compared strategies, and celebrated together after the race.

Everyone had a strong performance, close to their personal bests:

🥇 Mihai – 1:24:54, our fastest runner, finishing among the first 2,000 participants
💪 Andreea – 1:34:52, the only one to set a new personal best
👟 Bogdan – 1:44:24, two minutes slower than last year
🔥 Sorin – 1:56:06, at his first SuperHalfs race, very close to his PB

Congratulations to all of them for their fantastic results!
And a big thank you to our coach, Ștefan Oprina, for helping us become better runners over time!

Valencia remains, without question, my favorite half-marathon in Europe.

Later that day in Valencia I met someone who didn’t look quite happy with his result.

Valencia 2025 reminded me once again why I love running. It’s the rhythm, the people, and the stories. These moments stay with you long after you cross the finish line.

PS.1 A Seagull and a Song

On race morning, I woke up early, opened the window, and saw a lonely seagull flying above the hotel. It reminded me of a Joe Dassin song I’ve always loved:

“Moi, de temps en temps, je me sens pareil
À cet éternel exilé
Lui, qui ne sait pas replier ses ailes
Moi, qui ne sais pas m’arrêter.”

A small, poetic moment before the adrenaline of the start line.

PS.2 Remembering the Floods of 2024

The day before the race, Valencia held a large protest. It was in memory of those who lost their lives during the 2024 floods. Last year, we left the city on Monday after the half-marathon. The next day, torrential rain caused devastating flooding that claimed 224 lives in the province. One year later, people are still unhappy with how the authorities responded.
It’s a sobering reminder that life is unpredictable. Every race, every trip, and every day, is something to be grateful for.

PS.3 Goodbye, Mihai Suba

On Sunday, October 26, the day of the race, Grandmaster Mihai Suba (1947–2025) died near Valencia in Spain. Before 1990, Romania had only three chess grandmasters — and Suba was one of them, a true original. He made significant contributions to chess, particularly in middlegame theory and the Hedgehog system. I’ve read a few of his books; Dynamic Chess Strategy was a particular favorite. He was admired worldwide for his creativity and deep understanding of the game. May he rest in peace — and may his ideas continue to inspire players for generations.

Tallinn half-marathon

Another autumn begins, and with it a new running season.

Every September, Tallinn hosts the largest running festival in the Baltic countries. Over one weekend, thousands of participants gather to run distances from 5 km to the full marathon. It’s the biggest and most vibrant event of its kind in the region. If you count all the finishers the number is greater than 1% of the entire population of Estonia.

Choosing the Half-Marathon

As usual, I signed up for the half-marathon. My goal was simple: to enjoy the race without any pressure about results.

The course in Tallinn is flat. It is flatter than most half-marathons in Europe. This makes it a great choice for both beginners. It is also ideal for experienced runners chasing a personal best.

The Race Experience

The organization was excellent. Runners received free public transport for three days. Drinks were available every 4 km. At kilometer 12, energy gels were handed out. The atmosphere was festive: live bands played along the route, jugglers entertained, and spectators cheered with genuine warmth. There were no frustrating interruptions. No pedestrians suddenly crossed the track. At the finish, runners had the option to buy online their race photos.

The weather was perfect too: cool, dry, and comfortable for running.

Mistakes Along the Way

Still, I made several mistakes that cost me the race. The start was at 9 AM, and my hotel served breakfast only from 7:15. I ate too much, too late, finishing at 7:35, which left me no time for a proper warm-up.

The first kilometer is downhill, and I ran it too fast—5’08”, much quicker than my target pace. Almost immediately, I felt the food rising back up, and by kilometer 5 I was close to dropping out. From there until kilometer 12, every step was a struggle. Fortunately, gels and water helped me hold on.

I shifted my focus to simply finishing, ignoring the clock. In the end, I crossed the line in 2:26, my slowest half-marathon ever. But I accept full responsibility. The race was perfectly organized; the mistakes were mine alone.

As the Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen once said: “Have you not succeeded? Continue! Have you succeeded? Continue!” That’s what I intend to do.

For this race I chose a T-Shirt with Estonian flag colors on it

Running with Friends

My colleague Bogdan had an excellent performance, finishing in 1:44, a strong start to the season. Running alongside friends always makes the experience better, no matter the result.

Post-Race Joy

After the race, we headed to Tallinn’s beautiful city center for lunch and to share impressions. On one street, a singer was performing pop songs. Soon, a group of joyful runners joined him. They sang together, people from Sweden and other countries, united by music and the shared experience of the race.

It was a beautiful moment: strangers from across Europe celebrating together, voices blending in the heart of Tallinn. That’s the Europe I love.

A Personal Milestone

On a personal note, this race also marked a symbolic milestone for me. I’ve now run the equivalent of 300 marathons. This is a total of 12,660 km since I started running ten years ago. It has been an incredible journey so far, and despite setbacks like this race, I’m excited to continue.

Tallinn half-marathon is a race I highly recommend. The course, the atmosphere, and the city itself make it unforgettable, even if this time, it wasn’t my best day.

Reflections on the SuperHalfs Series: My Experience and Insights

The SuperHalfs program has grown rapidly in popularity. With increasing demand and limited slots available for each race, the organizers have removed the time limit to complete all six events in the series. This move allows more runners to gradually work toward finishing the series over time.

As of May 2025, only 1,113 runners have completed the entire series. This is an impressively small number. Nearly 100,000 people have participated in at least one of the six races. Given these numbers, I thought it might be helpful to share my personal journey and offer some insights for aspiring SuperHalfs finishers.

While you can find the list of finishers on the official SuperHalfs website, gathering deeper data requires some effort. I used ChatGPT to generate code that helped me analyze the number of finishers by country. Here are the results:

Country	Number of finishers
Spain	193
Great Britain	185
Germany	136
Denmark	100
Portugal	92
Italy	74
Czechia	42
France	38
Poland	28
Netherlands	26
Brazil	22

The numbers are interesting. Not a surprise that Spain and Great Britain are on top. In Spain people run fast, they have half-marathons with 2.5 hours time limit to finish, while in the rest of Europe is 3 hours. The UK, meanwhile, has a rich running culture and offers wonderfully organized races. I highly recommend racing in the UK for an unforgettable experience. The first 5 countries from the list are also organizing races from series. Italy is the first country that has many finishers but doesn’t have a race in the program. Interesting Brazil is the only non European country that has many finishers.

Before the Berlin Half-Marathon this spring, only about 480 people had completed the series. Berlin added nearly 700 new finishers in one go, largely because it was newly included in the program just last year.

The SuperHalfs calendar includes three spring races—Lisbon, Prague, and Berlin—and three autumn races—Copenhagen, Cardiff, and Valencia. Since 2025, demand has surged, and most events now use a lottery system to allocate entries.

If you’re not lucky in the lottery, there’s an alternative: official travel agencies offer guaranteed race entries. I used one of these agencies—Germany’s Interair—for the Cardiff Half-Marathon when I joined the event late and couldn’t find an open spot. Their service was excellent.

If you are not lucky winning the lottery, you can use one official travel agency. This agency will guarantee your participation in the race. I had used a travel agency only once during my campaign for the Cardiff half-marathon. I decided to join this race too late and there were no available spots. I used the services of the German travel agency Interair and I was very happy with them.

I’ve written posts about my experiences in each of the six races. Here are a few personal impressions:

Top Picks: For me, the best races are Valencia and Berlin. Both offer outstanding organization and scenic, fast courses—ideal races to conclude your series on a high note.
Cardiff: A very well-organized race with amazing crowd support. However, the course is not flat. It is less ideal if you’re chasing a personal best.
Copenhagen: The course is flat, but I had some concerns when I ran it in 2022. The start was chaotic because there were no wave starts. The course became crowded. Pedestrians were crossing in front of runners, especially in the city center. The finish area was also quite congested. Hopefully, these issues have since improved.
Lisbon: Be mindful of the weather—it can get hot. The course begins with a downhill section, then transitions into rolling terrain before flattening out from kilometer 7 onward.
Prague: My least favorite race. The course includes cobblestone sections in the city center, which can be tough on the legs. Weather can also be unpredictable. A simple way to improve the course would be to extend the riverside sections and avoid the city center altogether. Interestingly, Prague also has the smallest field of runners among the six races.

Here are some highlights of Superhalfs races. Best finish is in Berlin. Valencia has the best atmosphere. It also has the best organization at the start. Cardiff boasts the best public. The best routes are in Valencia and Berlin.

The SuperHalfs program is a fantastic way to combine travel, fitness, and personal achievement. Running a half-marathon isn’t about proving anything to others – it’s a personal journey. And this series makes that journey unforgettable.

If you’re considering joining, act fast. As the series continues to gain traction, getting a spot will only become more challenging.

Rome-Ostia half-marathon

For those passionate about running, Rome hosts two major half-marathons each year. The first is the Rome-Ostia Half Marathon, held at the beginning of March, and the second is the Wizz Air Rome Half Marathon, which takes place in October. These races offer distinct experiences: Rome-Ostia takes runners from the city to the sea along a highway, while the Wizz Air Rome route winds through the city’s iconic tourist attractions.

This year marked the 50th edition of the Rome-Ostia Half Marathon. The race was first organized in 1974 by a group of young Romans with a passion for exploring the sea. Over the years, it has grown into a major international running event, attracting around 12,000 participants, with 38% being international runners in 2025.

Over five decades, the average age of participants has increased from 30 to 50 years, reflecting a shift in society’s approach to running and fitness. Notably, the first edition had only six female runners, whereas today, one in three participants is a woman—a remarkable sign of progress in gender participation.

At the start of Roma-Ostia Half Marathon

Rome-Ostia is a race I truly enjoyed. The wide streets ensure a smooth run, with no pedestrians crossing your path. After an initial section with a few turns, the rest of the race follows a straight-line route toward the sea. The finish line, set against the backdrop of the coast, is spectacular. The race is well-organized, with plenty of volunteers and excellent medical assistance. It’s clear that the organizers have perfected the event over the years.

If you’re planning to run the Rome-Ostia Half Marathon in the future, here are a few key things to keep in mind:

Baggage drop-off: You must leave your bag before 7:45 AM so it can be transported to the finish line in Ostia. Some runners missed this deadline and had to run with their backpacks.
Course conditions: The entire race is on asphalt, with two key climbs—one at km 6 and a longer incline between km 10 and 12. Be sure to conserve energy for the second climb.
Water stations: There are only three hydration points, so make sure to use them wisely.
Return to Rome: After the race, you can take a bus or train back to Rome, but expect long queues. If you’re in a hurry, consider taking a taxi instead.

My race was almost in jeopardy due to a pulled hamstring injury I sustained in January while training on a treadmill. My recovery attempts weren’t successful until I started physiotherapy, which finally helped me get back on track. To protect my leg, I ran cautiously at 6’30” per km at the start. However, in the second half, I picked up the pace so my teammates wouldn’t have to wait too long for me. In the end, I finished in 2:11:29, far better than my 2:25 pre-race estimate.

This year, four of us from “Trupa lui Fane” participated in the race: Lucian, Andrei, Bogdan, and myself. Andrei and Lucian are serious runners with good performances. With a time of 1:16:44 Andrei was in top 100 of 10500 finishers. Lucian also had a good race finishing in 1:23:11. Bogdan started fast but struggled on the hills, finishing in 1:46:46, a solid result, especially at the start of the racing season. He has time to improve in upcoming events.

One of the best parts of Rome-Ostia is its breathtaking seaside finish. Crossing the line under the spring sun, with waves crashing nearby, is an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend this race to anyone looking for a scenic, well-organized, and historic event. Here’s to many more anniversaries of the Rome-Ostia Half Marathon!

PS. History section. The Rome Ostia half-marathon finishes just two kilometers south of the place where the legendary poet and film director Pier Paolo Pasolini was killed 50 years ago. His voice, bold and unyielding, stood against the tide of extremism – until extremism took his life. In today’s world, where radicalism and division rise once more, his story is one we cannot afford to forget.

A song by Fabrizio de Andre dedicated to Pier Paolo Pasolini

Milano 21 half-marathon

Running becomes increasing popular in Europe. Milano has two important half-marathons, Stramilano in March and Milano21 in November. Both are flat, fast courses and are considered among the best routes in Italy. This year, Milano21 saw over 6,000 finishers, a 33% increase compared to the previous edition.

For years, Italy wasn’t a top destination for foreign runners due to a law requiring all participants in long-distance races to present a medical certificate. This rule was introduced after studies showed that improperly trained runners had a higher risk of heart attacks during long-distance events. However, since last year, foreign runners are no longer required to provide a medical certificate. Unfortunately, they aren’t included in the official rankings, which seems unfair, given they run under the same conditions as everyone else.

The race organization was solid, offering everything needed for a good half-marathon experience. However, the atmosphere was quite relaxed, with relatively few spectators lining the streets. On race day, temperatures ranged between 3°C and 5°C, cold but manageable for running.

Galeria Vittorio Emanuele, Dom of Milan, Szorza Castle are on the route of Milano 21

The Milano21 route showcases some of Milan’s most iconic landmarks, including Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the Duomo, and Sforza Castle. While the course design highlights the city’s attractions, about three kilometers are on cobblestones, which can be challenging, especially if wet. Personally, I prefer running on flat asphalt rather than uneven cobblestones. If you want to visit the attractions you have time to do that before of after the race.

The race’s start and finish were conveniently located near a shopping mall, allowing runners to store their belongings securely. My colleague Bobo and I stayed at a hotel just one kilometer from the starting line, making it easy to arrive on time. Although the November morning was colder than expected, we had ample space and time to warm up.

I started the race too fast, keeping pace with the 1:55 pacers for the first five kilometers. My optimism got the better of me, and I paid the price in the second half of the race. This time, I experimented with a new strategy, using three Maurten gels at kilometers 6, 12, and 18, and drinking water at kilometers 5 and 10. While the gels helped reduce discomfort, they weren’t miracle workers. Towards the end, I slowed down and finished in 2:04:30.

The race itself was quite fast; I finished around 5000th out of 6000 runners. As mentioned earlier, I wasn’t included in the official rankings, but the organizers provided a list of all finishers’ times, so you can calculate your position if you’re curious. Although my time wasn’t exceptional, I was relieved to complete the race without any health issues. This autumn, I discovered I have lactose intolerance and took steps to avoid complications during the race, which paid off.

My colleague Bobo had an excellent performance after setting a personal best in Valencia. He completed the race in 1:44:15, a great result for him. A funny moment occurred during the race when a tram turned onto the course, and the police briefly stopped runners to let it pass. Similarly, a police car crossed paths with the runners, adding an unexpected twist to the race!

Milano21 was my final race of 2024, marking a personal milestone of completing six half-marathons in one year. From an organizational perspective, if you’re considering running a European race, here’s my ranking from best to worst: Valencia, Cardiff, Milan, Lisbon, Helsinki, and Prague. Keep in mind that the growing popularity of these events means you need to register months in advance. Even Milano21 was sold out before race day.

For now I am back to running on the treadmill until spring when I’ll run in Rome and Berlin. Traveling for races is such a rewarding experience, it not only boosts physical fitness but also significantly improves mental well-being. Running and visiting Milano was fun!

Valencia half-marathon

This year edition of Valencia half-marathon was a real success. It was a perfect organization, the best from all the races I ever ran. During the race a new world record was established by Yomif Kejelcha from Ethiopia with 57:30. The weather and environment were perfect for running.

There are countless positive aspects to highlight about this event. I recommend that every major marathon organizer send a representative to run in Valencia and take notes. For runners, the course is flat with ample space for warm-ups, and it never felt overcrowded. Organizers provided water in bottles, gels, and isotonic drinks along the route. If you’re aiming for a personal best, Valencia is the place to be, the true city of running.

I traveled from Bucharest to Valencia with my colleague Bobo, and we stayed in a hotel conveniently located near the start and finish lines. We warmed up before the race began and started together.

My race was going well until the 15-kilometer mark. I clocked 10 km in 55:40 and 15 km in 1:23:17, maintaining a pace of 5:33/km. For context, I passed 15 km in Cardiff in 1:25:56. Unfortunately, I experienced stomach issues that slowed me down significantly, forcing me to walk the last kilometer, which took me a frustrating 10 minutes. My official finish time was 2:07:47- not ideal, but I persevered, received my medal, and added another super half-marathon to my list.
Over 24,000 participants finished the race, and the support along the route was phenomenal. I had heard before the event that they were aiming to break the world record and bring it back to Valencia, and I could feel the positive energy during the race. Light rain helped keep us cool as we ran.
Bobo had an outstanding race, running a negative split and gradually increasing his pace. He achieved his personal best of 1:42:05. Congratulations to him on a fantastic performance!

Bobo achieved a personal best in Valencia

Bobo’s achievement wasn’t a surprise; he dedicated a lot of time to training this year. I logged 1,200 km, while he ran a third more and incorporated various exercises. In running, results stem from hard work. There’s no substitute for proper training.

My T-shirt for this race was from “Trupa lui Fane”, a gift from Stefan just before leaving Bucharest. Runners from Trupa lui Fane have recently excelled, with four finishing under three hours at the Bucharest Marathon and winning multiple medals at the Balkan Championships. Bobo’s progress is another testament to the effectiveness of Stefan’s coaching. I also want to thank Stefan for training me remotely in the last years!

Valencia half-marathon is part of Superhalfs. You need to finish all six half-marathons to get the special medal. This was my 5th race with only Berlin left to finish the circuit. In Valencia the first Romanian to ever finish Superhalfs was Cosmin Gabinat. We congratulate him for this achievement! Here you can find a list with all Romanians participating in Superhalfs , 111 people registered at the end of 2024. Given the statistics, the next Romanians to finish Superhalfs circuit will be in Berlin.

Despite my challenges and results, I had an amazing time in Valencia and highly recommend this race to anyone looking to achieve great results!

Cardiff half-marathon

Cardiff half-marathon is part of Superhalfs which makes it one of the most attractive races in England. Initially my thought was to run there because it’s one of the 6 half-marathons you need to finish to complete the Superhalfs series. I didn’t know much about Cardiff or the race before going there; hence, this half marathon was a pleasant surprise for me.

By the time I wanted to register for the event in Cardiff, the registration was already closed. Generally, such races sell out more than six months before the event date, so you need to plan your participation well ahead of time. For example, by October 10, 2024, the Cardiff Half Marathon for 2025 was sold out. According to the organizers, all spots were sold within 12 hours of the registration opening.

If you are late and still want to run there, you can get help from a sports travel agency. Such agencies guarantee your participation and accommodation for a fee. They may also organize training sessions and a pasta party for their clients. This time, I went with Interair, a German sports travel agency, and I was happy with their services; everything was great.

On October 6th, it was a good time to run in Cardiff, with temperatures around 12 degrees Celsius and light drizzle at the start. There was enough space to warm up before the race. The runners were organized in waves, as is normal for a half marathon with 28,000 participants.

The start is at Cardiff Castle, and the route winds through the city, including the bay area, before returning to the center and the castle. The first part of the race is either descending or flat; from kilometer 15, it starts to ascend, with some hills around kilometer 18, and towards the end, there is a significant difference in altitude.

I started with a pace of around 5:40 per kilometer and maintained that until kilometer 10 when the two-hour pacers went ahead of me. I made an effort to keep them in sight for as long as I could. By the 18th kilometer, I was confident that I could finish in under two hours. Then the small hills came, and I thought there was no way I would finish in less than two hours. Fortunately, with a final burst of energy, I finished in 1:59:58!

During the race, I used two GU gels and drank water twice, at kilometers 10 and 15. Water stations were available every 5 kilometers and also at kilometer 18.

One must remember that in England, races are marked in miles—13.1 miles as opposed to 21.1 kilometers in the rest of Europe. In this context, it’s useful to have an accurate GPS watch or to keep pace with the pacers if achieving a specific time is important to you.

As you can see, I’ve run many races in Europe, and I have never seen so many supporters encouraging runners as I did in Cardiff. The respect for runners is high in the UK compared to elsewhere. There were thousands of people spread over the half marathon distance, showing support for the runners. This can significantly boost one’s motivation to finish the race. I believe this played an important role in my success in finishing under two hours for the first time this year.

The other pleasant surprise was the city of Cardiff. The capital of Wales has a beautiful, typical British castle worth visiting. You can explore the bay area, the old market, and the city center. There is a village museum outside the city and a cathedral, but I did not have time to see them. There are nice restaurants and many people partying during the weekend.

The weekend after Cardiff, I traveled to Bucharest to watch the Bucharest Marathon and encourage my colleagues from “Trupa Lui Fane”. They achieved great results, with four of them finishing the marathon in less than three hours! That reflects a lot of hard work and training. There were also good results in the 10K, half marathon, and relay races. Many thanks to our coach, Stefan Oprina, who has been training me remotely for the last four years!

With colleagues and coach after their race in Bucharest

Cardiff was a great experience, and I encourage you to try it; it will be fun!

Summer traditions from Krakow

Krakow is the most popular tourist destination in Poland. Summer in Krakow is gorgeous, with perfect weather and some fun traditions. If you are in the city in June when these events occur, you should not miss them.

The Great Dragon Weekend

Parade of Dragons 2024

One of Kraków’s most unique and enjoyable annual events, the Great Dragon Weekend, is organized by Groteska Theatre and inspired by the city’s most famous legend. The Dragon story is about the foundation of Krakow. In 2024, on June 9th, the 24th edition of the show was organized.

Children created dragons in a parade. Kids have a lot of imagination

Over two days of colorful pageantry, large-scale puppetry, and family fun, the weekend consists of two main events: Saturday night’s light and sound spectacular, in which giant dragons float down the Wisła, followed by Sunday afternoon’s parade of colorful beasts created by children. It was a diverse parade, with lots of dragons designed by kids. I attended both events this year for the first time since I have been in Krakow. I found two video clips on YouTube covering both events and shared them here.

Wianki

Wianki is not a Krakow tradition but a Warsaw custom that came to Krakow in the mid-19th century. In its modern form, as a cyclical mass event, Krakow’s Wianki has existed since 1992, when the Krakow City Hall took patronage over this event. In Poland, summer starts at the summer solstice on June 22nd. The summer solstice, known as Kupala Night, is a crucial moment of the year in Slavic tradition when all of nature – and the humans who are part of it – fully bloom. Ancient rituals and customs were intended to provide participants with purification, fertility, and happiness. Kupala Night is associated with several activities and rituals, such as collecting herbs and flowers and decorating people, animals, and houses with them, entering water, bathing, pouring water on it, sending wreaths on water, lighting bonfires, dancing, singing, jumping through fire.

Wianki in Krakow

In Polish, wianki means wreath. The wreath was an obligatory attribute of games. It was made before the holiday from wild herbs and flowers. The ceremonial use of the merchant wreath is also associated with a magical understanding of its shape.

Lajkonik

The Lajkonik is a man dressed as a warrior from the East. He rides a prancing white hobbyhorse through the city streets and, with his mace, deals out good luck blows.

There are some theories about the origin of this tradition. The most reliable is that in 1287, Mongol armies arrived close to the city. They decided to spend the night by the Vistula, close to the village of Zwierzyniec, and to attack the town in the morning. They were discovered there by raftsmen, who overpowered the sleeping army, thus saving the city from ruin and plunder. They soon changed into Mongol costumes and rode into the town on the horses they had seized as trophies. They scared the whole city with fear, yet more quickly, the townsfolk came to rejoice.

This show has been happening in Krakow for over 700 years, a long tradition. Every year, it is celebrated on Thursday, one week after Corpus Christi. It is a parade of people costumed in Mongols or Polish clothes from the Middle Ages accompanied by bands playing traditional music.

Fascinating traditions take place in Krakow in June. If you’re here, be sure not to miss them.

PS. All the videos above I found on Youtube, they are not made by me.

Helsinki

From the cities where I ran this year, it was my first time in Helsinki. To my surprise, Helsinki is not a classical European city with an old center and historic buildings. Initially, I thought that Suomenlinna Island offered military protection to the city of Helsinki until I learned that the fortress on the island had been developed before the city.

Before becoming the capital of Finland in 1812, Helsinki had 3000 inhabitants at the beginning of the XIX century. The country gained its independence from Russia in 1917.

Helsinki has monuments reminding people of its time as a Russian gubernia. Compared with the rest of Europe, Finland was occupied before 1917. It had no influence later, while in the former communist countries (part of the European Union today), the Soviet occupation happened after World War II. Finland had the Winter War with the Soviet Union, so keeping these monuments is surprising.

The Helsinki Cathedral is a Lutheran church built in 1852 during the Russian leadership. It is built in the shape of a Greek cross, and the pediment rests on six Corinthian pillars. In front of the church is the statue of Alexander II, the Russian Tsar.

At the same time, another symbol of Helsinki is the Uspenski Cathedral, a Christian Orthodox cathedral built in 1868. It is the largest Greek Orthodox church in Northern Europe.

For me, the most impressive church in the city is Temppeliaukio Church, or Church of the Rock, which dates from 1969. The interior was excavated and built directly out of solid rock, and natural light enters through the skylight surrounding the center copper dome. I liked this combination of modern architecture and rocks, reminiscence of the ancient Christian churches.

Compared to other significant European cities, Helsinki has few cars and people on the streets. It has low pollution and an excellent life index. In the harbor, a typical Scandinavian marketplace has served customers since 1889. Here, you can find a lot of food, mostly fish but also sweets and beverages, and many shops with traditional products on sale.

Of course, there are many blocks and buildings like in any European city, but I couldn’t find any relevant or interesting images to post here.

The next stop is on Somenlinna islands, once a solid military fortress and now a place for tourists. Suomenlinna is now one of Helsinki’s most popular tourist attractions and a popular picnicking spot for the city’s inhabitants. The island is reachable on a 15-minute boat trip from Helsinki, and you can use a regular tram or bus ticket to travel. The island has many houses and museums on the island’s history, as well as a military museum. I would say that the entire island is a museum of life in the XIX century. From here you have lovely views of the sea and Helsinki.

In the above picture, you can see a ferry going from Helsinki to Tallinn. The trip takes about two hours. During weekends, the ferry is full of people traveling from Helsinki to Tallinn to buy cheaper alcohol. In Finland, beer costs around 8 EUR in restaurants and 3-4 EUR in supermarkets.

Helsinki has many parks. One of them is Sibelius Park, a memorial to the great Finnish composer. In the center of the park is a Sibelius monument, reminding of the organ pipes. It consists of more than 600 hollow steel pipes welded together in a wave-like pattern. The park is closed and in restoration until the end of 2024.

Helsinki is different from other cities due to its many islands, lakes, and trees, which make it look like a vast area of wild nature. The city is beautiful, and late spring and summer are perfect times to visit it.

Lakes and trees are a common view in Helsinki

Based on the above, I recommend Helsinki as a lovely city to visit during a two-to-three-day city break.

Helsinki half-marathon

Helsinki offers three half-marathons over the summer, but the most interesting is the one during City Running Day. The main attraction of this half-marathon is finishing inside the stadium that hosted the 1952 Summer Olympic Games. There are not many races in the world inside an Olympic stadium. Another attraction is that most of the route is on the seaside of Helsinki, in nature, around lakes, and inside forests. It is not a typical city marathon.

The event was very well organized and had many positive aspects. Many volunteers were on the route, ensuring things were okay—this was a record number of volunteers for a race. They served water and isotonic every 4-5 km. People started in waves every 10 minutes, so it was not crowded at the start, and you could run faster if you wanted to and were able to.

I would have preferred that they don’t have hills. Also, about 5 km of the total distance is not on asphalt but on gravel. You will definitely end up with pebbles inside your shoes. These are not good conditions for me, but they might be suitable for other runners. For people who like to run in the mountains, this is much better than running only on asphalt.

The race day was perfect, with temperatures of about 13 degrees Celsius. The only problem was the wind. The Marathon started at 9:30 AM, and the half-marathon was held in the afternoon from 2:20 PM, similar to in Gothenburg.

My race went according to plan for the first 3 km until I stopped to drink isotonic water. The hills came, and I went from a race mindset to a mood of enjoying nature and the moment and not focusing on the time to finish the race. I stopped and drank isotonic water at each post. Running on pebbles was also not fun.

Upon entering the stadium, I removed my cap as a sign of respect for the history of this temple of athletics. The finish was lovely, with many spectators encouraging the runners in the Olympic stadium. The organizers made the most of this attraction by charging a 50 euro entry fee for the Half-marathon and a 60 euro price for the pictures.

My friend Bogdan had an interesting number at the start. Compared with me, he is better trained and was able to focus on the race and finish in 1:47. If it wasn’t for the climbing and descending, he would have achieved a personal best at this race.

My main reason for choosing this race was the finish at the Olympic stadium. It was in this place, at the 1952 Olympic Games, that Emil Zatopek won gold at 5000m, 10000m and Marathon. No other athlete ever done that and very likely no one else will ever be able to achieve the triple win at an Olympics Game. I consider Zatopek the most remarkable human in athletics, not only for his results but also for the courage to always do what is right. In Czechia, they recently made a movie about his sports career.

Footage from the 1952 Olympic Marathon