On Saturday, September 19, the industrial heart of the north came alive with the sound of pounding pavement once again. This year’s competitive categories attracted over 6,500 runners representing 67 nationalities, while more than 2,000 additional participants took part in non-competitive events. In the day’s flagship event, the Mattoni Half Marathon Ústí nad Labem, German runner Simon Boch claimed victory, while local favorite Tereza Hrochová dominated the women’s field – setting a new Czech race record in the process. Damián Vích was the fastest Czech man, and the Spolchemie 10K Run was won by Šimon Koblížek and Nikola Baumová.
The festivities kicked off the day before the main event with an athlete meet-and-greet at Pod Vodojemem Primary School, followed by the traditional pre-race Shakeout Run, which set off at 6:00 PM from the Forum Shopping Center. Coaches from Mattoni FreeRun, alongside Czech distance-running legend Eva Vrabcová Nývltová, were on hand to help participants warm up. Saturday’s action started at 9:00 AM with the Spolchemie Czech Cup in para cycling, and by 11:00 AM, over 1,100 runners were lined up for the Spolchemie 10K Race. Šimon Koblížek mastered the course to break the tape in 30:47, while Nikola Baumová delivered the top performance among the women with a time of 35:20. The afternoon featured the popular dm family mile, followed by the half marathon at 2:30 PM, and 15 minutes later, the youngest runners took to the start line for the dm bambini run.
Nearly 5,500 runners from 67 countries registered for the Mattoni Half Marathon Ústí nad Labem, including 23 elite athletes from 7 nations. Thanks to a decisive surge in the closing kilometers, Germany’s Simon Boch took the win, marking his first appearance in both the RunCzech series and on Czech soil with a time of 1:06:33. Second place went to Damián Vích – winner of this year’s Karlovy Vary event – who clocked in at 1:06:38, moving up one spot from last year. Ukrainian distance runner Bohdan Ivan Hordynskyi rounded out the podium, taking third in 1:06:47.
In the women’s race, two-time Olympian (Tokyo and Paris) Tereza Hrochová took the lead right from the gun, leaving the rest of the field well behind. She benefited greatly from working with pacing partner Martin Edlman, who pulled her along to impressive split times. Although she fell just short of the European record and the overall EuroHeroes series title, Hrochová left Ústí as the undisputed women’s champion, setting a new national race record of 1:10:52. Norway’s Hanne Mjøen Maridal placed second in 1:12:54, while Czech runner Michaela Čepová secured the bronze.
The half marathon race holds the prestigious World Athletics Road Race Label, guaranteeing world-class event standards. Alongside seamless organization, RunCzech events are famous for their unique atmosphere, and this year was no exception. “We had tremendous support not only from the crowds but also from the back-of-the-pack runners we passed along the way. It was fantastic,” praised race winner Simon Boch. In addition to the cheering spectators, live music along the route and notable guest participants added to the vibrant energy. The half marathon course was completed by blind Paralympic swimmer David Kratochvíl as well as two-time ice hockey world champion, former NHL player, and hockey coach Václav Varaďa, who shaved nearly 2 minutes off his previous Olomouc time to finish in 1:47:05.
The enthusiastic crowd support was also praised by 26-year-old Prague runner Luboš: “The atmosphere was electric around the main square and at the intersections near the city center. On the outskirts – near the highway or at the furthest turnaround – you were alone with your thoughts for a moment, which is just part of running a half marathon. The event service, from the race village to the last aid station, was spot on. Someone handed me a cup directly every single time, and the volunteers and medical teams were visible and vocal everywhere.” Míša, a 30-year-old runner, felt the same way: “The energy was amazing. The fans were cheering at the top of their lungs, which gave me a huge mental push not to give up. I went into the race aiming for a personal best under 1:40, and I actually made it. But dealing with a lingering cold and a tough course – which had a bit too much elevation gain, potholes, and sharp U-turns for my liking – it was no walk in the park. Based on how I felt on the course, I almost gave up hope, but when I rounded the final turn and saw 1:38 on the clock, I dug deep and sprinted for the line.”
As for the most intriguing stretch of the race – running through the Spolchemie industrial complex? “The chemical plant felt like a world of its own, totally different from the rest of the city,” shared another young runner from Prague. “As we approached the final kilometers, everyone around me started pushing hard – yet what I remember most about that section was the silence. No spectators, no cheering, just the sound of heavy breathing from the runners beside me. Many were running on empty, but nobody backed down. That quiet, unyielding determination was almost tangible.”
Compared to last year, when runners faced scorching heat, weather conditions were much more forgiving this time around. Temperatures hovered around a comfortable 22°C, with wind being the only real obstacle. “I ran in a pack with the guys up to about the 8th kilometer, but after that, I was on my own and it got tough. The wind was pretty strong, but at least the lead motorbikes were there showing me the way,” explained Tereza Hrochová. The health and safety of participants were handled by the Regional Emergency Medical Services of Ústí nad Labem, which deployed several ambulances, medical posts, bicycle units equipped with AEDs, and a dedicated team of five medics running alongside participants, known as the Running Doctors. To prevent medical issues and keep runners fueled, 6 aid stations were stocked with nearly 2,800 kg of bananas and oranges, sugar, salt, 22,250 liters of Mattoni (the official water of RunCzech races), and an additional 2,210 liters of isotonic drinks.
The Mattoni Ústí nad Labem Half Marathon also offered participants another opportunity to earn the special finisher medal awarded to those who complete all five events in the RunCzech Halfs series. More than 200 runners joined the series hall of fame this weekend, bringing the total number of finishers close to 750. Among those who completed the challenge in Ústí was 42-year-old Roman. “I think RunCzech did a fantastic job with this initiative. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole series. The crowd in Olomouc was truly amazing – my personal favorite was Prague, and this last one in Ústí was definitely the toughest.” Runners have a 36-month window to complete the series. “A few people told me I was crazy, but I managed to complete the whole thing in a single year,” Roman added with a smile. The next opportunity to start, continue, or finish the series will be in March next year at the Generali Prague Half Marathon 2027.
