The Mattoni Running Festival Karlovy Vary is just around the corner, and excitement is building as this picturesque spa town prepares to welcome thousands of runners and spectators for one of the most anticipated events on the European running calendar. Taking place this Saturday, May 17, the event will launch the 2025 EuroHeroes series—a unique initiative developed by RunCzech in cooperation with European Athletics, aimed at showcasing and supporting European long-distance running talent.
“Our mission with EuroHeroes is to develop and celebrate European running champions—athletes the public can admire and draw inspiration from,” says Carlo Capalbo, founder of the EuroHeroes project and Chairman of the RunCzech Organizing Committee.
The elite field in Karlovy Vary—and in all upcoming RunCzech half marathons—will consist exclusively of European athletes. The EuroHeroes titles (male and female) will be awarded based on the best combined results from at least two of the four races in the series. Last year’s champions were Germany’s two-time national champion Sebastian Hendel, who secured the title for the second year in a row, and Ukraine’s two-time national champion Maryna Nemchenko.
In total, 16 nationalities will be represented in the elite fields throughout the EuroHeroes 2025 series—highlighting the project’s dedication to promoting top European talent.
In the men’s race, several strong contenders with sub-62-minute personal bests will line up at the start. The main battle is expected between athletes from the United Kingdom, Spain, and Belgium.
The women’s field also promises a highly competitive race. Four athletes have already broken the 71-minute barrier, with the rest of the elite lineup having run under 72 minutes—making this one of the most competitive women’s fields in the series. The key nations to watch are Spain, Hungary, Ukraine, and the Netherlands.
The Karlovy Vary race holds a proud tradition in European road racing, with the men’s record of 1:02:59 set by Italy’s Yassine Rachik in 2019, and the women’s record of 1:09:17 held by France’s Christelle Daunay since 2013.
As an exciting feature of this year’s event, fans around the world can follow the action with live commentary from renowned broadcaster and former Olympian Tim Hutchings, offering his insights and real-time coverage throughout the race.
The half marathon unfolds in the same iconic setting as Europe’s second-oldest film festival, founded in 1946. Both events share a central hub in the city’s legendary Hotel Thermal. This rich tradition is mirrored in the event’s title sponsor, Mattoni, a symbol of Karlovy Vary since the 1860s.
Recognized with the prestigious World Athletics Label, the Mattoni Half Marathon Karlovy Vary has held a prominent place in the European road racing calendar since 2013. It serves as the second stop in the five-part RunCzech Half Marathon series, which continues in České Budějovice, Olomouc, and concludes in Ústí nad Labem in September.
This year, 3,300 runners will take to the scenic course, running through the historic streets, colonnade, and spa promenades of Karlovy Vary—the most visited spa town in the Czech Republic and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2021, Karlovy Vary was inscribed as part of the transnational “Great Spa Towns of Europe” for its historic spa culture and architecture dating from the 18th to 20th centuries. The city’s well-preserved historic center and spa landscape are legally protected as an urban monument reservation and have hosted prominent figures such as Beethoven, Goethe, and Pope Leo XII.
Reflecting its growing international popularity, the event has seen a rise in diversity: from 53 nationalities last year to 64 represented this year. Women now account for 40% of all participants, highlighting the event’s inclusivity and appeal across the globe.
The 2025 edition also underscores RunCzech’s commitment to social impact. The official charity partner is the AuTalk Foundation, which supports children on the autism spectrum and their families.
Join us in Karlovy Vary, whether you’re there in person or watching live, don’t miss the chance to see Europe’s next generation of running talent in action.
Watch the EuroeHeroes Series 2024 HighlightsWatch live on runczech.com on Saturday, 17 May at 18:00
Mattoni Half Marathon Karlovy Vary 2024
Sebastian Hendel winning the Mattoni Half Marathon České Budějovice in 2024
Maryna Nemchenko finishing first in Mattoni Half Marathon České Budějovice in 2024
