The start line of the Vodafone Prague Marathon on Sunday, 3 May, will feature not only leading international athletes, but also a strong Czech field. For Czech male and female runners, Prague will be one of the most important races of the spring season, as well as the event where the national marathon titles will be decided. The start list promises a contest between experienced marathon runners, athletes aiming to break the 2:20 barrier, and a strong women’s field bringing together personal bests, comebacks and marathon debuts.
One of the leading Czech names in the men’s race will be Yann Havlena, who arrives in Prague as last year’s national champion and with a personal best of 2:18:15 from Valencia 2025. During his preparations, he has significantly improved his personal bests over 10 kilometres and the half marathon, and current indicators suggest he may be capable of a major improvement. “My coach would like me to target a performance around 2:15, which I understand given the indicators of my current form. I am returning to Prague with the aim of defending my title, but I am focusing on the time and on executing everything I can control during the race as well as possible,” says Havlena. He will be running the Prague Marathon for the fourth time. According to him, it was here three years ago that his marathon journey began, and he goes into this year’s race with greater calm than before.
Experience will also be represented by Vít Pavlišta, whose personal best stands at 2:15:35 from Valencia 2020. He comes into the Prague race shortly after a demanding qualification race for the European Trail Championships, yet his ambition remains clear. “First and foremost, I would like to please and surprise myself. It is difficult to put that into a specific time or placing, but a medal or a time under 2:20 would probably be good in any circumstances,” says Pavlišta.
The 2:20 mark will certainly be one of the major themes of the men’s race. Matěj Zima, who has a personal best of 2:23:34 from Košice 2024, also wants to challenge it. He heads to Prague with confidence and without unnecessary tactical hesitation. “I want to fight for a time ideally well under 2:20, for the title, and at the very least to put pressure on my rivals,” says Zima. According to him, he wants to start the race according to his current capabilities and will not concern himself with whether he is running alone or in a group.
Martin Edlman, who ran 2:21:49 in Prague in 2025, will also be part of the Czech contest, alongside other experienced domestic marathon runners. Ondřej Fejfar, whose personal best is 2:19:54 from Prague 2023, wants to fight for a podium place this year. He describes the Prague Marathon as his key race of the spring and believes he has prepared better than in recent editions. Petr Pechek, whose personal best of 2:18:28 dates back to Prague 2011, would like to build on last year’s performance and run a similar time.
The women’s race will also feature a strong line-up. One of the notable names will be Eva Filipiová, who set a personal best of 2:43:26 in Prague in 2025. Kateřina Kašparová, whose marathon best is 2:44:43 from Prague 2023, will also be on the start line. After missing last year’s race for family reasons, she returns to Prague with gratitude as well as sporting ambition. “Of course I would be happy with a personal best, but I will already be grateful simply to be able to stand on the marathon start line again this year,” says Kašparová.
Another interesting storyline will be the start of Barbora Jíšová, who is returning to the marathon distance after the birth of her daughter. In Prague 2023, she ran her personal best of 2:45:25, and this year she would like to get close to a similar time again. “My ambition this year is to run around 2:45, and I hope I can achieve that. I dream of a medal, but the competition will be very strong,” says Jíšová. This year’s start will also be specific for her because, in addition to her own preparation, she has had to adapt to a new family routine before the race.
The marathon debutants also deserve attention. Laura Matulová will take on her first marathon in Prague with respect, but also with clear goals. She would like to finish in the TOP 5 of the national championships and at the same time target a time under 3:05, which would set a women’s record for Česká Lípa. “I have great respect for the marathon. I do not know what will happen after the thirtieth kilometre, when the crisis comes, but I am expecting it,” says Matulová. Another debutant in the field is Tereza Lajdová, who has a half marathon best of 1:17:21 from Prague 2026.
The Czech field therefore promises a race with several open questions. Who will be able to attack the 2:20 barrier, who will make the most of their marathon debut, and who will leave Prague with the national title? The answers will come on Sunday, 3 May.
Vodafone Prague Marathon 2026:
- Edition: 31st
- Date: Sunday, May 3, start at 8:00 AM
- Start and Finish: Old Town Square
- Capacity: 11,800 participants (full capacity)
- Men’s Race Record: 2:05:09 – Alexander Mutiso, KEN (2023)
- Women’s Race Record: 2:19:46 – Lonah Chemtai Salpeter, ISR (2019)
- Best Czech Performance – Men: 2:12:35 – Róbert Štefko (2004)
- Best Czech Performance – Women: 2:30:10 – Eva Vrabcová Nývltová (2016)
