19. Maraton Solidarności 2013

Gdynia - Gdańsk (Poland), Thursday 15 August 2013

The Maraton Solidarności is held annually on 15 August, on the feast of the Assumption of Mary, an important feast day in Poland.

Last year, 630 runners completed the undulating 42.2km course through the Tricity, a conurbation of three cities on the Baltic coast — the shipbuilding cities of Gdynia and Gdańsk, and the chic beach resort of Sopot in between.

The first half of the route takes runners from Gdynia through Sopot to Gdańsk.

Then, participants run out and back to the Westerplatte peninsula. The finish line is on Długi Targ ("Long Market"), a beautiful square in Gdańsk's historic centre.

The marathon commemorates the workers who were killed by Polish communist army and police during the strikes and riots of December 1970 in northern Poland.

In August 1980, after more strikes, the first independent trade union in a Warsaw Pact country was born at the Gdańsk shipyard — the Solidarność ("Solidarity").

Country: Poland

Venue (Map): Gdynia - Gdańsk (distance from Gdańsk: Poznań 300km, Warsaw 345km, Berlin 500km)

Date: 15 August 2013 (Thursday; Assumption of Mary - public holiday in Poland)

Distance: 42.2km (IAAF-certified)

Start: 10.00 in Gdynia, Aleja Piłsudskiego, near the "Pomnik Ofiar Grudnia 1970" ("Monument to the victims of December 1970")

Finish: in Gdańsk, ul. Długi Targ

Time limit: 5 hours 30 minutes

Entries: online or by post or phone (until 10 Aug 2013, 10.00) with payment by bank transfer (until 13 Aug 2013); late entries on the day

Entry fees: 60 PLN (circa 14.50 EUR) (until 13 Aug 2013); 120 PLN (until 15 Aug 2013); no entry fees for runners 60 years or over

Race centre: ul. Bema 33, Gdynia (near the start): 14 Aug 2013, 10.00-22.00; on the day 6.00-8.30

You get: T-shirt, medal, goodie bag, transport of personal clothing from start to finish, baggage storage, a meal after the race; free accommodation option in a sports hall in Gdynia (before the race, on reservation)

Prizes: to the first 10 finishers, to the first 6 women, and to the first 3 in each category

Award ceremony: 14.30

Number of finishers 2012: 630

Event website (in Polish and English): www.maratongdansk.home.pl

No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.