At RunCzech, we believe that movement and a healthy lifestyle are things worth investing in. That is why, since 1997, we have been organizing a relay race for high schools, which thousands of students from all fourteen regions regularly enter.
Each school can register one or more teams, and each team must have 10 members, including at least 3 girls. Each runner covers a section 4.2 km long, so in total, it is a full-fledged marathon distance. Each team first participates in a school round, and if they succeed, they advance to the semi-final rounds. Fourteen semi-final races took place across the republic in every regional capital.
The best will head to the final round, which is part of the Vodafone Marathon Prague. This year, there is immense interest in the opportunity to start with world marathon stars in front of them, an eleven-thousand-strong crowd behind them, and a live broadcast aired to dozens of countries. For the first time in history, we were forced to stop registrations. In Prague alone, over 140 schools signed up, and we were also pleasantly surprised by the engagement in the Moravian-Silesian and Ústí nad Labem regions. Compared to the last edition, the turnout there was up to three times higher.
“Of course, we are delighted by the record participation. Supporting youth and a healthy lifestyle is very important to us, as is the prevention of substance abuse and education in the field of mental health, which are integral parts of the event again this year. We are proud to have long been among the largest supporters of the movement in our country,” noted Carlo Capalbo, founder of the Prague Marathon and the Junior Marathon, and chairman of the RunCzech organizing committee.
The semi-final rounds of this year’s 28th edition of the Junior Marathon welcomed a record 3,820 participants from thirty schools. The races kicked off on March 31 in the Pardubice region, and the last round took place on April 27 in Liberec. A total of 29 teams advanced to the final, which will take place on May 3, 2026, as part of the Vodafone Marathon Prague 2026. Defending last year’s top spots will be the winning Gymnázium Dr. Antona Randy (Jablonec nad Nisou), the silver Gymnázium, SOŠ a SZŠ Jilemnice, and the bronze Gymnázium Matyáše Lercha Brno.
“I ran for the third time this year, and for the third time we advanced to the final. We enjoyed the regional round; there’s a great atmosphere here and we didn’t have to go to school. I’m looking forward to Sunday’s final a lot; the atmosphere there is absolutely perfect. We want to defend our victory from last year, and if I run the first leg, I will again try to breathe down the necks of the elite group,” described a three-time Junior Marathon participant from the Jablonec gymnasium after his team won Monday’s semi-final at the Liberec stadium.
And since we believe that running and movement in general have no age limit, every year we organize the Teachers’ Relay alongside the Junior Marathon. It is a format with more flexible rules, primarily about the joy of movement, cohesion, and the ability to inspire. This year, over 180 teachers in 30 relays supported their students in running.
Who will win the title of the Fastest High School in the Czech Republic this year? Watch the Vodafone Marathon Prague 2026 on May 3, 2026! The event is organized in cooperation with the Representation of the European Commission in the Czech Republic, which supports not only young athletes across the entire European Union. In the Czech Republic, it significantly supports the modernization and development of sports facilities and creates new opportunities for all enthusiastic athletes. The European Week of Sport focuses on promoting movement across Europe. The European Commission also recognizes active organizations that help disadvantaged groups with inclusion (#BeInclusive EU Sport Awards) and facilitates dialogue between various groups of sports professionals at the European Sport Forum.
