Warsaw. 19. Warsaw Half Marathon. Route

This Sunday, March 30, the Warsaw Half Marathon will start. Runners will start from the Poniatowski Bridge. Participants will end at the Błonia of the National Stadium.

6,500 people signed up for a 5 km run, and 16,500, although there were many more willing. In terms of the number of participants, it will be the largest half marathon in the history of Poland.

– I remember that 1666 people finished the first Warsaw Half Marathon. A lot has changed for 19 years. Running boom occurs all over Poland, Europe and probably even all over the world. We are glad that we are part of this phenomenon. Especially after the pandemic, people felt that first of all it is worth taking care of themselves and your health, and secondly, that life is not only used to work, but also fun – said Marek Tronina, president of the Warsaw Marathon Foundation.

The registration limit was exhausted at the beginning of March.

– It's hard to refuse. However, it is not about preventing someone from starting, but to create optimal conditions for those who start. I count on understanding those who did not manage to sign up – explained Tronina.

For people struggling with the mental crisis

This year, the Warsaw Half Marathon has a strong social message. The official name of the event is preceded by a telephone number of a blue line for people struggling with the mental crisis – 116 123.

– Reaching for help is most often associated with breaking the internal resistance about talking about myself and various difficult situations and breaking the shame associated with the fact that I am not able to manage and I am not able to control the emotions I experience. Contacting the blue line means that the conversation is anonymous. We don't have to introduce ourselves and show the face. A conversation with our consultant is the first step in which someone decides to talk about their difficulties and is looking for help – explained Agnieszka Matnowska, substantive manager of the 116sos.pl aid platform.

– Crises are something natural and at every stage of life each of us can experience them: the death of a loved one, betrayal from a partner, divorce or illness. The moment of painful collision with reality will be associated with the fact that we need an acceptable and supporting conversation. If we can't get it, it is the phone 116 123 ago – she added.

Aid platform 116SOS.pl may take life -saving interventions if necessary.

– When someone has the feeling that his life has lost its meaning and has black thoughts, we are from supporting such a person, and if necessary, even intervene in cooperation with the services that are to locate such a person. Our team of 70 consultants works around the clock. Most often they are psychologists and therapists who are substantively prepared for this – said Matnowska.

A chat and contact form are also available on the 116sos.pl platform 24 hours a day.

– We also have a very large base of psychoeducational articles that are prepared by blue line experts and a personalized search engine for assistance centers, available to everyone – noted the project manager Katarzyna Skowyra.

The blue line 116 123 will be visible on all starting numbers.

– Physical activity is the best way to prevent mental problems. This is a very natural combination. I emphasize that this is not commercial cooperation – he said Tronina.

Half marathon route

The half marathon route has PZLA and World Athletics. It will be identical to last year. The first kilometers lead with Poniatowski Bridge and Aleja Jerozolimskie. Then the runners will head north along Marszałkowska, Królewska and Krakowskie Przedmieście. The rest of the route runs through the Old Town, Żoliborz and Bielany. After reaching Gwiaździsta Street, runners will reach the Gdynia coast and along the Vistula will head south. Then the Gdańsk Bridge will get to Praga North and head towards the finish located at the National Stadium.

– This year the Warsaw Half Marathon has the status of World Athletics Elite Label, which is higher than before. This means that sports expectations for players have been set above. Financial bonuses are also higher. Last year showed that the route is very fast. Great emotions promise – announced the president of the Warsaw Marathon Foundation.

The winner of last year's race was Belgian Dorian Boulvin, and Mateusz Kaczor was second. The fastest woman was German Fabienne Koenigstein, and the best of Polish women Monika Jackiewicz took sixth place.

Krystian Zalewski has been the Polish record holder in the half marathon – 1: 01.32. Adam Nowicki will want to improve this result on Sunday. The victory will also compete, among others Kenyan Edwin Soi, Moroccans Mohamed El Ghazouany and Soufian Bouquantar or Spaniard Ilias FIFA.

– We expect a run below 61 minutes and 30 seconds. We hope that Adam Nowicki will come in the leading group and we will witness the new Polish record. It will be a nice run. Great emotions promise – Tronina emphasized.

The 5 km competition will start at 9.30, and the half marathon will start at 11.