The 7th Subotica Half Marathon starts on 25 August at 8 o’clock!

Listening to the wishes of participants, the organisers of the 7th Subotica Half Marathon have decided that this year the start of this sporting event, bigger year after year, will be at 8 o’clock. Although it will be hot on 25 August, competitors need not worry, because the number of refreshment stations will be increased, sprinklers will be set up, and members of the medical team will be available at all times.

“As for the course itself, we haven’t changed anything. We bear the title of the most beautiful city race in Serbia, also the most numerous, we mostly have the most beautiful medals and, very importantly, among these ‘mosts’ is also the hottest race, so for that reason we decided to move the start this year. The first race was at 11, then we changed it to start at 10, then 9, but we listened to the wishes of the people who come and want to come to the race. The aim is partly to finish the race as early as possible, but also because this year the end of the Interetno Festival coincides with the Subotica Half Marathon. This year the medal features the ‘Svetozar Marković’ Grammar School; we know the building was built in 1899 and belongs to the Art Nouveau style, so that is something we cover through the half marathon, and it is why our race bears the name ‘Run through History’. I am sure we could break the limit this year, because we expect around 1,700 runners,” pointed out Žika Savin, organiser of the Subotica Half Marathon.

Early registration is still under way, and there are currently 630 registered, which is more than in the same period last year, Savin stressed, adding that around 250 registrations have been completed so far. This year early registration runs until 30 June, until when the first prices also apply. For the 21-kilometre race they are 3,100 dinars, and from 1 to 31 July they will be 400 dinars more expensive. The third and most expensive will apply from 1 to 16 August, when registration closes, and the price will be 3,900 dinars. The price for the 10-kilometre race is 2,800 until the end of June, 3,200 until the end of July, and 3,600 dinars until mid-August, while the prices for the 5-kilometre race are 2,500, 2,900 and 3,300 dinars, depending on the period in which the competitor registers.

As part of the 7th Subotica Half Marathon, the “Active Kids Future Run” will also be held for our youngest fellow citizens, and its start time, as Csaba Nagy, the race organiser, said, will be moved slightly this year. “In previous years we started first and then the Subotica Half Marathon followed, but the intention this year is to move the start from that early slot to 10 or half past 10. Registration will open soon, in the same way as in previous years: anyone can register by filling in an online form, and it will also be possible to register on the day of the competition. Every year when a certain limit is set for the number of participants, it is reached and somehow exceeded, so we will leave the numbers for later. We hope that the trend of ever more participants registering will continue. There will be modest gifts this year too, every participant who runs the race will get a medal, and the venue will be the car park in front of the City Hall,” said Nagy.

So that all participants are safe during the Subotica Half Marathon, the runners will be under the watchful eye of the Emergency Medical Service and volunteers of the City Red Cross Organisation. Bearing in mind that high temperatures are expected on race day, Zsolt Szendi on behalf of the Emergency Service told participants that they need to start preparing for the half marathon. “We have created a system by which I think the health safety of all participants currently works best. That means that at various points, in cooperation with the City Red Cross Organisation, we have associates to act if needed, we have two ambulances, one will be at the start by the triage tent, and besides that there will be a small ambulance following the race and two technicians on bicycles. I have to say this is rarely seen at races and is at the maximum level. Those running 21 kilometres need to prepare well, but most such runners are, so to speak, professionals. For those running 5 or 10 kilometres, we must be aware that the body can give out despite the greatest desire to run, so I tell runners that it is very important to use those refreshment stations, take in as much fluid and isotonic drinks as possible, and prepare in advance for it being very hot,” Szendi noted.