Prague Marathon

The Prague Marathon (also known as Prague International Marathon (PIM) and Volkswagen Prague Marathon) is held in the city of Prague in the Czech Republic each May. It was founded in 1995 and has grown to become a significant marathon event, being awarded IAAF Gold Label status.[1] According to media it is the world's most international marathon, with two-thirds of runners coming from 55 different countries. Prague's marathon course is also the seventh-fastest and has been voted one of the most beautiful in the world.[2]

Prague Marathon
Date	May
Location	Prague, Czech Republic
Event type	Road
Distance	Marathon
Primary sponsor	Volkswagen
Established	1995
Course records	Men's: 2:05:39 (2010) Eliud Kiptanui Women's: 2:19:46 (2019) Lonah Chemtai
Official site	Prague Marathon
Participants	7,290 (2019)

Finish line of the 2008 marathon

History

The Prague Marathon event takes place over a full weekend and comprises several events, including the Volkswagen Prague Marathon, the Volkswagen Family Minimarathon 4.2 km, the Allianz Eco Walk 2 km, and the In-line party 6.5 km - a skating event. The Hervis Prague Half Marathon, which is also awarded IAAF Gold Label status, is held each March or April.[3]

Since its inception in 1995, the men's race has been dominated by East African runners, with Kenyan athletes in particular winning 13 titles alone. Hélder Ornelas became the first and so far only European men's winner in 2007. The winners of the women's race have been mainly Russian and Kenyan. Elena Vinitskaya of Belarus is the most successful women's athlete however, with her three straight wins from 1996 to 1998. Eliud Kiptanui is the men's record holder with 2:05:39 hours while Lonah Chemtai Salpeter has the women's course best of 2:19:45 hours.[4]

The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all registrants given the options of transferring their entry to 2021 or 2022 and transferring their entry to another runner.[lower-alpha 1][6][7]

Winners

Taking on refreshment during the 2010 Prague Marathon

Key:   Course record   Czech Republic championship race

Edition	Year	Men's winner	Time (h:m:s)	Women's winner	Time (h:m:s)
1st	1995	Tumo Turbo (ETH)	2:12:44	Svetlana Tkach (MDA)	2:39:33
2nd	1996	William Musyoki (KEN)	2:12:21	Alena Vinnitskaya (BLR)	2:37:33
3rd	1997	John Kagwe (KEN)	2:09:07	Alena Vinnitskaya (BLR)	2:32:58
4th	1998	Elijah Lagat (KEN)	2:08:52	Alena Vinnitskaya (BLR)	2:34:25
5th	1999	Eliud Kering (KEN)	2:11:19	Franca Fiacconi (ITA)	2:28:33
6th	2000	Simon Chemoiywo (KEN)	2:10:35	Alina Ivanova (RUS)	2:27:42
7th	2001	Andrea Sipe (TAN)	2:10:14	Maura Viceconte (ITA)	2:26:33
8th	2002	Henry Kiprotich (KEN)	2:11:41	Alevtina Ivanova (RUS)	2:32:24
9th	2003	Willy Kipkirui (KEN)	2:11:56	Anne Jelagat (KEN)	2:31:10
10th	2004	Barnabas Kipkoech (KEN)	2:12:15	Leila Aman (ETH)	2:31:48
11th	2005	Steven Cheptot (KEN)	2:10:42	Salina Kosgei (KEN)	2:28:42
12th	2006	Mubarak Hassan Shami (QAT)	2:11:11	Alina Ivanova (RUS)	2:29:20
13th	2007	Hélder Ornelas (POR)	2:11:49	Nailiya Yulamanova (RUS)	2:33:10
14th	2008	Kenneth Mungara (KEN)	2:11:06	Nailiya Yulamanova (RUS)	2:31:43
15th	2009	Patrick Ivuti (KEN)	2:07:48	Olga Glok (RUS)	2:28:27
16th	2010	Eliud Kiptanui (KEN)	2:05:39	Helena Kirop (KEN)	2:25:29
17th	2011	Benson Barus (KEN)	2:07:07	Lydia Cheromei (KEN)	2:22:34
18th	2012	Deressa Chimsa (ETH)	2:06:25	Agnes Kiprop (KEN)	2:25:40
19th	2013	Nicholas Kemboi (QAT)	2:08:51	Caroline Rotich (KEN)	2:27:00
20th	2014	Patrick Terer (KEN)	2:08:07	Firehiwot Dado (ETH)	2:23:34
21st	2015	Felix Kandie (KEN)	2:08:32	Yebrgual Melese (ETH)	2:23:49
22nd	2016	Lawrence Cherono (KEN)	2:07:24	Lucy Karimi (KEN)	2:24:46
23rd	2017	Gebretsadik Abraha (ETH)	2:08:47	Valary Aiyabei (KEN)	2:21:57
24th	2018	Galen Rupp (USA)	2:06:07	Bornes Kitur (KEN)	2:24:19
25th	2019	Almahjoub Dazza (BHR)	2:05:58	Lonah Chemtai (ISR)	2:19:46
	2020	cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[6]

Multiple wins

Athlete	Wins	Category	Years
Alena Vinnitskaya (BLR)	3	Women's	1996, 1997, 1998
Alina Ivanova (RUS)	2	Women's	2000, 2006
Nailiya Yulamanova (RUS)	2	Women's	2007, 2008

By country

Country	Total	Men's	Women's
Kenya	25	16	9
Ethiopia	6	3	3
Russia	6	0	6
Belarus	3	0	3
Italy	2	0	2
Qatar	2	2	0
Moldova	1	0	1
Tanzania	1	1	0
Portugal	1	1	0
United States	1	1	0
Bahrain	1	1	0
Israel	1	0	1

Notes

1. It had initially been postponed before being cancelled.[5]

References

1. "Prague International Marathon - IAAF Gold Label for Volkswagen Prague Marathon!". www.praguemarathon.com. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
2. "Volkswagen Prague Marathon in Prague, Czech Republic, NA: Details at Runner's World.com". runnersworld.com. Archived from the original on 2010-04-28. Retrieved 2010-10-01.
3. "Prague International Marathon - Prague International Marathon receives the Prestigious IAAF Gold Label for its Hervis Prague Half Marathon". www.praguemarathon.com. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
4. Prague International Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2012-05-13.
5. www.fg.cz, 2013, FG Forrest, a s. "Volkswagen Prague Marathon 2020 is postponed | RunCzech". runczech.com.
6. https://www.runczech.com/en/for-you/for-runners/cancellation-and-new-race-dates/information/index.shtml
7. https://www.runczech.com/en/for-you/for-runners/cancellation-and-new-race-dates/faq/index.shtml

List of winners

• Prague International Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2012-05-13.

External links

• praguemarathon.com