Great results and satisfied participants marked the 2nd Subotica Half Marathon
After the end of the race and gathering impressions, it can safely be said that Subotica has got its new brand. Satisfied participants from all sides, congratulating the organisers, are sharing positive impressions with their friends on social networks, across the region and Europe. Comparing the figures, we have concluded that there were a fifth more participants in this race than last year, which is confirmed by the number of around 1,000 participants, including the children’s races.
The expansion of the Subotica Half Marathon is under way!
Already at the very start of the event, when the children set off, with smiles on their faces they hinted that this day would be something special in the lives of everyone present. The pushchair races will surely be talked about for a long time among the young parents who pushed their youngest children along a short but adorable course about 50 metres long. A little later, the youngest participants ran too, but without parents on the course. Those 100 metres of short, light steps and excited faces were accompanied by almost stadium-like cheering from parents and everyone present. Music cut through that pleasant din with the latest hits, adapted mostly to the children’s atmosphere, which went up another notch as the 300 m race started. Noticeably faster boys and girls showed their desire to win. The race took on its true sporting meaning, and then came the long but very fast 500 m, where it was clear that Subotica has young people who will one day win sporting and other successes. Life will take that in its own direction.
It goes without saying that for all participants of the children’s races the reward was a medal, as well as a starter pack full of happiness and a few more things in it, thanks to the sponsors. With addresses by the promoter of this year’s race, the Sydney Olympic gold medallist Gyula Mester, Mayor Bogdan Laban and President of the City Assembly Tivadar Bunford, the race was officially opened, and then the real show began. In that mood we reached the warm-up before the speciality that had been prepared all year, organised by the sports association Horizont. Girls came on stage and warmed up the competitors to the rhythms of world hits. All the sponsors with their promoters, the masseurs, the security, the whole team of people in charge of making the competitors feel comfortable, and the spectators themselves, who were there in great numbers, were in their places and up to the task. The DJ used music to direct everyone’s energy in one direction: the start/finish gate.
The satisfaction and happiness of the participants could be felt in the air!
It was already clear it would be a hot day, but nobody thought about that. The heated atmosphere had certainly long since conquered the centre of Subotica. Although 633 competitors had registered, after the countdown, when the siren marked the start of the race, many in the crowd had goosebumps, and a determined 596 participants ran towards their new wish, their new goal. The organisation on the course, the refreshments, the music and the volunteers showed that it is possible to be on the level of European races. Every runner gave their all, and many managed it thanks to the support they got from the music refreshment stations.
Some, however, did not manage to finish the race.
This is shown by a total of 13 withdrawals or disqualifications, mostly in the men’s category. So in the end 583 competitors finished the race. Cramps, fatigue, dehydration and injuries are the most common causes. It is not easy to be a runner. The judges on the course, in the checkpoint boxes, did not have many complaints during the race; everything went as it should. Very quickly the first man crossed the finish, Gellért Nagy Béla from Senta, running 5 km in 0:16:37, which is also a new course record in the men’s category. Hot on his heels came Katarina Pohlod from Belgrade, with a new course record in the women’s category of 0:18:27 over 5 km. Ovations and applause from the cheerful spectators greeted the first winners. Slowly the competitors of the 5 km race came in after them, one after another, with smiles on their faces. It was a pleasure to see them flushed but excited to be finishing the first race of their lives.
That is why we call it the pleasure race.
Different ages, but the same good energy and satisfaction. The Subotica Half Marathon has become yet another link between generations. And so on until the first half marathon finisher. It was young Aleksandar Adžić from Triogy Racing, with an incredible result and certainly a new course record of 1:15:47, which is almost 3 minutes faster than last year’s winner Ivan Miškeljin. Nora Trklja, a member of AK Crvena zvezda, who came to support her fellow citizens after a race in Bangkok, did so with an excellent run in the women’s category, taking victory in a time of 1:27:30. And so we got this year’s winners in the race through history. The brilliant presenting duo, made up of Subotica’s own Kristijan Takač, journalist and presenter at RTV, and the great connoisseur of the running scene, journalist and presenter at RTS Rale Simić, spoke in Serbian and Hungarian, among other things about the great results of runners around the world, thus accompanying every competitor who crossed the finish and giving a special flavour to the already great atmosphere. All this was backed up by very entertaining content in the competitors’ box, where everyone who finished the race refreshed themselves with water, various vitamins, supplements and even the odd stray beer. As the organisers say, everything was thought of.
The road to good is not always smooth!
That showed at the end when a participant from Hungary, although disqualified, struggling, reached the end after 3 hours had passed, which was the race limit. Nevertheless, persistence was rewarded, and his crossing of the finish line was accompanied by the whole organising team, with most of the volunteers, and with the support and ovations of everyone present. Another reward for his persistence is free entry to next year’s Subotica Half Marathon. With that the race was officially over. Every participant received a beautiful medal for their effort, and a multitude of prizes and trophies were handed out to the winners by category, as well as to the overall winners.
In the end, a new beginning after all!
New acquaintances and friendships, new impressions and feelings, and one and the same thought in everyone’s head: Subotica is a good host! A multicultural community where there is room for everyone and everyone is welcome. For the hosts the greatest reward is a smile and a kind word, and for the guests the great gratitude of this peaceful and beautiful city in the north of Serbia.
Thank you all for a wonderful weekend!
Sports association Horizont and the Subotica Half Marathon.