Dear Journalists and Running Enthusiasts,
We’re excited to present the official Press Guide, and Elite Start List for the upcoming Mattoni Half Marathon Karlovy Vary. This year’s race promises an exciting lineup of athletes from across Europe, with standout contenders from the UK, Spain, Belgium, Hungary, and other European countries.
As part of the EuroHeroes initiative—developed by RunCzech in collaboration with European Athletics—the event will spotlight European talent and deliver thrilling competition, with the potential for record-breaking performances.
Everyone can follow the race live with English commentary, ensuring fans and media from around the world can stay connected to all the action.
Key Race Details
- Date: Saturday, 17 May 2025
- Start Time: 18:00 PM
- Official Name: Mattoni Half Marathon Karlovy Vary (CZ: Mattoni 1/2Marathon Karlovy Vary)
- Title Partner: Mattoni
- Main Charity Partner: AutTalk – The AutTalk Foundation was created with love, faith in cooperation and determination to improve the possibilities of children with ASD and their families.
- 12th Edition – First held in 2012
- Part of the EuroHeroes Series, in cooperation with European Athletics
- One of the events in the RunCzech Halfs project
- Holds a World Athletics Road Race Label
Time Table
- 14:00 – Varyáda 10K Race
- 16:00 – dm family mile
- 16:45 – dm bambini run
- 18:00 – Start of the Mattoni Half Marathon Karlovy Vary
- 19:02 – Estimated Finish of the First Man
- 19:10–19:15 – Estimated Finish of the First Woman
What is EuroHeroes?
EuroHeroes is an initiative by RunCzech, developed in cooperation with European Athletics, with the aim of identifying, developing, and promoting local athletic heroes while inspiring the public to lead a more active lifestyle. The project launched with a pilot phase in 2018, featuring two RunCzech races, and officially began in full in 2019.
Four Mattoni Half Marathons are dedicated to the EuroHeroes initiative:
- Karlovy Vary
- České Budějovice
- Olomouc
- Ústí nad Labem
The EuroHeroes Challenge is a special ranking system within the EuroHeroes series. It encourages athletes to compete in all four designated races. Participants have the opportunity to earn podium finishes at each event and accumulate points toward the overall Challenge standings. The top-performing athletes are honored at the final award ceremony, where they can earn the title of EuroHero.
Course Overview
The course has been slightly modified from 2024, with a shortened route due to technical adjustments. Both the start and finish are located near the iconic Thermal Hotel.
Runners will experience the charm of Karlovy Vary as the course winds through the famous colonnade, over the passarela, past stunning architecture, and alongside the Teplá River.
- Vřídelní kolonáda – Hot Spring Colonnade
- Kostel sv. Maří Magdalény – Church of St. Mary Magdalene
- Císařské lázně – Imperial Spa
- Grandhotel Pupp – (Grandhotel Pupp)
- Poštovní dvůr – Postal Court
Participation & Statistics
- 6 500 participants – SOLD OUT
- Runners from 65 different countries.
- Top participating countries:
- Slovakia 4.06%
- Germany 4.01%
- Ukainia 1.31%
- Poland 0.96%
- Austria 0.86%
Live Broadcast with English commentary by James Thie will be available on the runczech.com web site and YouTube channel.
Top Athletes at the Mattoni Half Marathon Karlovy Vary
Men
- Paulos Surafel (GBR) – PB 1:01:21
10 km PB: 28:26 (2024), finished 7th at the Prague Half Marathon in 2023 - Chakib Lachgar (ESP) – PB 1:01:45
Winner of Behobia–San Sebastián Road Race (2024) and Belgrade Marathon (2023) - Lahsene Bouchikhi (BEL) – PB 1:02:28
Belgian national champion in the 10,000 metres (2022) - Mykola Mevsha (UKR) – PB 1:04:44
3rd place at EuroHeroes (2024) - Dmitrijs Serjogins (LAT) – PB 1:04:43
2nd place at Riga Marathon (2024), winner of Kuldīga Half Marathon (2024)
Women
- Meritxell Soler (ESP) – PB 1:10:21
4th place at the European Running Championships (2025) - Jacelyn Gruppen (NED) – PB 1:10:35
Dutch national champion in the 10 km road race (2024) - Nóra Szabó (HUN) – PB 1:10:49
2nd place at Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half Marathon, winner of Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon (2024), 3rd place in overall EuroHeroes ranking - Maryna Nemchenko (UKR) – PB 1:11:13
EuroHeroes champion (2024), Ukrainian national champion - Viktoriia Kaliuzhna (UKR) – PB 1:11:16
Winner of Poznań Half Marathon (2025), 2nd place at Warsaw Half Marathon (2025)
Other Countries Represented at the Mattoni Half Marathon Karlovy Vary
- Romania
- Ștefan Iulius Gavril – PB 1:04:17 (Ústí nad Labem 2022)
- Poland
- Izabela Paszkiewicz – PB 1:10:13 (Poznań 2021)
- Czechia
- Jiří Homoláč – PB 1:03:23 (Prague 2017)
- Damián Vích – PB 1:06:10 (Ústí nad Labem 2023)
- Ondřej Fejfar – PB 1:07:13 (Pardubice 2015)
- Spain
- Abel Casalí – PB 1:06:09 (Barcelona 2022)
- Netherlands
- Paavo de Leng – PB 1:05:07 (Berlin 2025)
Start lists
