The 7th Subotica Half Marathon begins! Around 1,400 participants will run through the streets of Subotica
Everything is ready for the 7th Subotica Half Marathon, which is held on Sunday 25 August. This year around 1,400 participants from Serbia and abroad will have the chance to “run through history”, and everyone who decides to take part at the last moment will be able to register on Saturday 24 August, as well as on the day of the half marathon itself.
“We expect registrations tomorrow too, 24 August, from 5 pm at the Registration Centre, which will again be located in the premises of the Army Hall, as well as on race day itself, Sunday 25 August, when prospective runners can also register and collect their race packs. Participants who register this way will not have their name printed on their bib number, but they will be able to take part in the race without any problem,” stresses Žika Savin, member of the Subotica Half Marathon Board, adding that all the main races this year start at 8:00 to avoid the heat and will last until 11 o’clock, followed by the awards ceremony.
The Subotica Half Marathon will bring together numerous runners and sports lovers. So that all participants can run safely, certain streets in the inner and wider city centre will be closed to traffic during the morning. Street closures begin at 7:00, when, according to the organisers, all routes on which the race is held are closed in both directions.
“The streets will be closed from 7 to 11 o’clock, so we ask our fellow citizens for understanding and, if they have to travel then, to move their vehicle to one of the locations where the streets will be open to traffic. All information about the course and the parts of the city that will not be passable for cars can be found on our website www.subotickipolumaraton.com,” says Jovica Ilić on behalf of the Subotica Half Marathon Board. Ilić added that Bajnatska Street, from the direction of Beogradski put, as well as Gundulićeva Street and Ivana Antunovića Street will be open for everyone who wants to visit Bunarić. “The police and our marshals will let vehicles through on the course when possible, to reduce congestion, but our priority is the runners and their safety.”
Runners from 17 countries are coming to this year’s 7th Subotica Half Marathon, most of them from neighbouring Hungary. During this sporting event, friendly races will also be promoted: the Belgrade, Pula, Zemun and Čačak marathons. The youngest will again have the chance to be part of the half marathon. Their participation is free, and race packs are provided for them too. “We have around 700 registered, which is a record number compared to previous years. I think the reason lies in the fact that we moved the start of the race from 08:00 to 10:30. We start with the races in baby strollers and move up through the age groups to 10-year-olds. Every child who runs through the finish will get a medal and a race pack with rich gifts,” stresses Szabolcs Halasi, founder of the Aktiv Kids sports school, adding that the location of the children’s race is the same as last year, by the car park between the City Hall and the Music School.
The Organising Committee of the 7th Subotica Half Marathon wishes all runners every success on Sunday 25 August, that they achieve all their goals, but above all that they enjoy the beauty of the City of Subotica!
