The Warsaw Half Marathon ( Polish: Półmaraton Warszawski) is a city race with a distance of 21.0975 km (13.1094 miles) taking place every year since 2006 along the streets of Polish capital - Warsaw . It is the biggest annual run of this length taking place in Poland, reaching almost 13 000 runners in 2016 (11. PZU Półmaraton Warszawski).

The Warsaw Half Marathon is organized by Fundacja “Maraton Warszawski” ^[1], a non-governmental organization. For the first five years the run was sponsored by Carrefour ^[2] as a titular patron. In 2011 the main sponsorship as well as the name of the race changed when Powszechny Zakład Ubezpieczeń, Polish insurance company, became a title sponsor. ^[3]

The event takes place on the last Sunday of March (if it is not possible, because of the date’s collision with Easter, than in the first Sunday of April).

Certification

The Warsaw Half Marathon has been awarded a Bronze Label ^[4] by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), giving it a status of one of the leading road races around the world.
In order to meet the criteria for the label ^[5], there have to be at least four nations and both genders represented by contestants with times faster than the IAAF’s guidelines (Maximum of 1:04:00 for men and 1:15:00 for women on the elite level.); the course must be measured in accordance with the standards set by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) using full electronic timing to generate the results, and cannot be open to vehicular traffic. Moreover, the run must be organized in a manner that minimizes ecological damage to the surrounding areas, a specified number of doping tests must be conducted, and rewarding (namely prize money) should be equal, irrespective of gender or nationality, though additional rewards can be given to runners from the host nation. By awarding the race the Bronze Label the IAAF also regulates other aspects such as pacing, refreshment stations, advertising, and broadcasting, as well as many others.

Course

The track of the race has to undergo several tests in order to be approved as safe and valid to compete on. The Warsaw Half Marathon track meets the standards of AIMS/IAAF’s among others. The participants compete on road-like surface of the streets of the city. The track is precisely measured to ensure its desired length of exactly 21.0975 km (13.1094 miles). The course of the track slightly changes through the years according to the conditions required by the City Council. There have not been any major route changes in the history of the race as the organizers take special measures to keep the competition as interesting and city-promoting as possible and making sure the runners are able to bypass Warsaw’s most important and recognizable sights.

Participation

In order to be allowed to participate in the run, one has to be at least 18 years old (or turn 18) on the day of the event. ^[6] Before the run, each registered participant is required to undergo an identity check in the race office, and receives a starting number and a time measuring chip, without which one cannot take part in the race. ^[7]
As stated in the race regulations the organizer also allows contestants on wheelchairs as long as they operate on a direct manual drive.

Classifications

There are many different categories within which one may compete. ^[8] Apart from the general classification which includes every contestant who finishes the race, there are many others including general rating, separately for men and women, team classification or classification of participants using wheelchairs.

The most commonly known and widely used system is dividing runners into age groups. In the case of The Warsaw Half Marathon there are 14 classes – 7 for men and 7 for women, each with 10 years spread. What is distinctive for The Warsaw Half Marathon is branch classification (again with the division according to gender). There are 12 categories involving academic (students), academic (lecturers), bank employees or journalists.

Contestants competing on wheelchairs are only classified in the dedicated category, meaning they are excluded from other classifications. Additionally, in order to be classified, participants have to meet the time limit of 3 hours 30 minutes counted from the start signal.

Volunteers

The event could not take place without hundreds of volunteers willing to help every year. At least one thousand people varying in age, sex, and occupation help 12 foundation’s year-round-employees making it possible for nearly 14 000 runners to successfully finish the race.

Their work is divided into 6 groups ^[9] alternating in tasks and challenges. Every group guides racers through a different step on their way:

• Deposits taking care of contestants’ belongings;
• Start/Finish helping with outset and finish, leading marathoners to their correct zones at the beginning and rewarding them with a medal after the finish line;
• Refreshment Points handing water, bananas and energy pills ;
• Info providing every pice of information one may need (traffic knowledge included);
• Race Office helping with registration and race kit collection;
• Extra described as ‘group for special tasks’ ensuring the smooth-running of the event.

Every group is managed by leaders who assist and supervise all volunteers from the moment they register on the website ^[10] till they leave their group after the event.

References

External links

• Official Website of the Warsaw Half Marathon
• Registration for the Warsaw Half Marathon
• Registration for volunteers