The Mattoni Running Festival is underway! Nearly 9,000 runners are heading to Karlovy Vary to tackle the courses set in the unique scenery of this historic spa town. Will the race history books be rewritten? Who will kick off this year’s EuroHeroes project in the best shape? And how many new members will the RunCzech Halfs hall of fame welcome?
Karlovy Vary is currently transforming into the capital of European running. Tomorrow, Saturday, May 16, will mark the start of the 13th edition of the Mattoni Half Marathon Karlovy Vary. The race is tightly linked with the stunning backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage town and promises both an extraordinary sporting spectacle and powerful social stories this year. As the opening event of the EuroHeroes 2026 series, it has drawn Europe’s elite to the spa town to battle for the first points in the overall standings. Launched in 2018 by RunCzech in cooperation with European Athletics, the EuroHeroes project enters its sixth edition with an unchanged mission: to identify and nurture talent on the old continent, creating a platform where they can become true sporting heroes for European audiences.
The focal point for domestic fans will undoubtedly be the defending champion, Damián Vích. A year ago in Karlovy Vary, he claimed victory in a new Czech event record of 1:04:23. Vích returns to West Bohemia with great humility but also high ambitions, noting that he views last year’s triumph as major motivation for the future. Since that victory, he has pushed his limits significantly and will stand at the starting line with a personal best of 1:02:52, which he clocked in Berlin. However, his path to defending the title will be fiercely contested. He will face Germany’s Jan Lukas Becker, whose time of 1:01:20 in Barcelona this year makes him the fastest man on the start list. Another favorite is the experienced Dutch distance runner Khalid Choukoud, last year’s overall EuroHeroes champion, who also triumphed in Karlovy Vary back in 2024. Choukoud’s tactical experience on the undulating profile of the Karlovy Vary course could prove to be the deciding factor on Saturday evening.
A similarly dramatic battle is expected in the women’s category, where last year’s winner and reigning EuroHeroes champion Nóra Szabó of Hungary will line up. Her performance last year, when she broke away to lead solo for a large part of the race, commands immense respect. However, Szabó will face a strong Spanish contingent led by Meritxell Soler, the fastest woman in the field with a personal best of 1:09:30, who had to settle for second place in Karlovy Vary last year following an unfortunate fall right at the start. Leaving a Czech footprint in the elite field will be Michaela Čepová, who improved her personal best in Prague this year, and the legend of Czech endurance sports, Eva Vrabcová Nývltová. Nývltová still holds the historic Czech women’s course record in Karlovy Vary and returns this year in a dual role as the coach of Friday’s Shakeout Run and as an elite athlete ready to fight for the top spots.
The Mattoni Running Festival, however, is not just about professional duels; it is also about thousands of runners participating for the sheer joy of movement and, of course, the finisher medals. The mass participation in the main half marathon, which starts at 18:00 outside the Hotel Thermal, will be complemented by a 10K race and the popular family runs, making the event a true festival for all generations. Speaking of medals… an integral part of the Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half Marathon will be the highly anticipated expansion of the exclusive group of runners who have completed the RunCzech Halfs – a select group of athletes who successfully finish all five half marathons in the RunCzech series.
In addition, every registered runner can contribute to a good cause through their registration fee. This year, we have decided to support Nadační Fond AutTalk Kateřiny Sokolové, which provides long-term help to children with autism spectrum disorders and their families. „I don’t want our endowment fund to be perceived by the public as just another foundation started by a model, but as a fund that my father and I established based on our personal family experience,” says the project’s founder, Kateřina Sokolová.
The organizers place ultimate emphasis on the safety and health of all participants, as demonstrated by the unique Running Doctors project. Professional doctors and paramedics will blend in with the runners directly on the course in Karlovy Vary, ready to provide immediate assistance wherever it is needed most. Health is always our top priority and the presence of medical staff directly in the field significantly enhances the sense of security and comfort for all participants. This service is part of a robust medical system that RunCzech coordinates with the Emergency Medical Service of the Karlovy Vary Region. There will be 13 first aid stations positioned along the route, staffed by trained students from the local medical school, meaning medical supervision will be available on average every 1.5 kilometers. Ambulances will also be on standby directly on the course, alongside a dedicated crew for the supporting runs.
Knowing how much the atmosphere impacts performance and the overall runner experience, we have also lined up a high-quality musical program. Five professional DJs will be stationed at the start and along the course and you can also look forward to saxophonist Luboš Víšek, drummer Fanda or the Prague underground band Sunblind. The musical entertainment in the partner zone in front of the Hotel Thermal will be provided by the Couple of Sounds project, whose sets (at 13:00, 15:10, 17:00 and 20:30) will complement the finish line atmosphere and create a welcoming gathering spot for runners, fans and race partners alike.
With the weather forecast predicting cooler conditions for Saturday evening, organizers urge runners not to underestimate their clothing choices. The goal is to find a layering balance that prevents chilling before the start while allowing effective thermoregulation during the race itself. To help runners stay fueled over the 21-kilometer journey through the city, six refreshment and hydration stations will be placed at regular 2.5-kilometer intervals starting from kilometer 5, with an additional one waiting past the finish line. Mattoni water will be available at every station, while full refreshment points will also offer ionic drinks, bananas, oranges, salt and sugar.
The title partner of the half marathon is Mattoni, the official water of the RunCzech running series. „Mattoni has long supported a healthy lifestyle, the foundation of which is movement and proper hydration. We are therefore thrilled to offer quality hydration to the competitors and their fans at the half marathon and to create an unforgettable atmosphere together,” says Eva Straškrábová, senior brand manager at Mattoni. With its balanced ratio of calcium, magnesium and potassium, Mattoni mineral water is the ideal choice not just for everyday life, but also for natural hydration and mineral replenishment before, during and after athletic performance. That is also why it has been inherently linked with running for many years and this year’s half marathon is yet another opportunity to get mattonized and enjoy the race to the fullest.
Please note that the race will bring certain restrictions regarding parking, traffic and public transport. However, public transport is free on race day for anyone wearing a start number. Full details are available on the website and everything is set for Karlovy Vary to enjoy an unforgettable evening of sport tomorrow, blending elite athletics with the joy of movement for the general public.
Mattoni Running Festival Karlovy Vary 2026 program:
FRIDAY, May 15
- 12:00–20:00 Running Expo (Hotel Thermal)
- 17:00 Shakeout Run (Hotel Thermal)
SATURDAY, May 16
- 8:30–16:00 Running Expo (Hotel Thermal)
- 14:00 Varyáda 10k Run
- 16:00 dm family mile
- 17:00 dm bambini run
- 18:00 Mattoni Half Marathon Karlovy Vary
