The historic city of Olomouc is set to come alive with energy and excitement as it welcomes the 15th edition of the Mattoni Running Festival Olomouc, the largest sporting event in Moravia, a historical region in the east of Czechia, and one of the top ten half marathons in Central Europe.
More than 10,000 participants of all ages are expected to join the event. The highlight of the festival, the Mattoni Half Marathon Olomouc, will once again guide runners through the picturesque streets of the historic city center, passing by the UNESCO-listed Holy Trinity Column. Taking place on Saturday evening, the main race will be complemented by a variety of family-friendly and competitive runs throughout the event.
“With thousands of runners and spectators, this event not only showcases elite European athletic talent but also builds strong community spirit across borders,” said Carlo Capalbo, Chairman of the RunCzech Organizing Committee. “Olomouc’s central location and the atmosphere make it a favorite among participants from Slovakia and Poland.”
Over 7,500 runners will take part in the competitive races – Mattoni Half Marathon and Šantovka 5k Run, while more than 3,000 children and families will join the popular dm family mile and dm bambini run.
EuroHeroes Spotlight
The half marathon also marks the third stage of the EuroHeroes series. This year’s elite men’s field includes EuroHeroes leaders Khalid Choukoud (NED), Bohdan Ivan Horodyskiy (UKR), and Czech champion Patrik Vebr, along with fellow Czech Martin Zajíc, who competed at the European Half Marathon Championships in Belgium this spring. Notably, six men in the field have personal bests faster than the fastest time ever recorded by a European at the Olomouc Half Marathon (1:02:12). Other favorites include two-time overall EuroHeroes champion Sebastian Hendel of Germany and former European U20 5000m silver medalist Tariku Novales from Spain.
In the women’s race, German star Deborah Schöneborn (PB 1:09:41) returns with her twin sister Rabea, joined by Nóra Szabó (HUN) and Mariia Mazurenko (UKR), athletes who won two previous EuroHeroes races this season. Czech Olympic marathoner and 10K record holder Tereza Hrochová will lead the Czech field, while Olomouc legend Petra Kamínková makes her 14th appearance.
About EuroHeroes
Created in 2018 through a collaboration between RunCzech and European Athletics, EuroHeroes was launched to spotlight European distance runners and build excitement around road racing on the continent. The series includes four certified half marathons across the Czech Republic—Karlovy Vary, České Budějovice, Olomouc, and Ústí nad Labem—and is open exclusively to elite European athletes.
Athletes’ two best performances are scored using the World Athletics Scoring Tables, and the top male and female athletes are crowned champions at the season’s finale in Ústí nad Labem. For example, a time of 1:04:50 in the men’s half marathon or 1:16:31 in the women’s earns 1,000 points.
A Race for Everyone
RunCzech races are renowned for their inclusivity and international appeal. This year’s Olomouc event features runners from 54 countries, with 58% of all foreign participants coming from neighboring countries such as Slovakia, Poland, and Austria, while the remaining 42% represent countries including Britain, Ukraine, France, the Americas, and the eighth-largest foreign delegation comes from Japan. Among the oldest competitors are 80-year-old Kokichi Arai from Japan and 73-year-old Wendy Wallinger from Great Britain.
A small course adjustment in the first third of the route is expected to improve race times, and the event will be officially started by Olomouc Mayor Miroslav Žbánek. The Mattoni Half Marathon Olomouc proudly holds the World Athletics Road Race Label, affirming its status as a high-quality international event.
Runners who complete all five RunCzech half marathons (Prague, Karlovy Vary, České Budějovice, Ústí nad Labem, Olomouc) within 36 months will receive a special medal which will be presented for the first time at the Moravia Sport EXPO.
The official charity partner of the Olomouc event is Trend vozíčkářů, a non-profit organization that has been providing personal assistance to individuals with disabilities for over 30 years. At the event, they will host an interactive booth where attendees can experience navigating in a wheelchair and learn more about their vital work. In collaboration with RunCzech, a special Wheelchair Relay will also take place, promoting inclusion and raising awareness in an engaging way.
Moravia Sport EXPO
The Moravia Sport Expo at Výstaviště Flora will serve as the central hub of the weekend. Open from Friday at 9:00 AM, the expo will feature bib pickup, the official race T-shirt, and more than 40 sports clubs and partners offering activities and entertainment for all visitors.
The race will once again be broadcast live online, featuring commentary in both English and Czech. Everyone can watch the live stream on race day at runczech.com.
Mattoni Running Festival Olomouc 2025 – Schedule
FRIDAY, JUNE 13
09:00 – 19:00 Moravia Sport EXPO
9:00–21:00 – Olomouc Wheelchair Relay
11:35 – Meet and greets with elite athletes EXPO
17:00 – Pre-race run Jiří Homoláč
SATURDAY, JUNE 14
9:00–17:00 – Moravia Sport Expo (Flora Exhibition Grounds, Olomouc)
15:00 – Šantovka 5K Run
15:00 – UP Rector’s Cup Race
17:00 – dm family mile
17:45 – dm bambini run
19:00 – Mattoni Half Marathon Olomouc
19:00 – 2Run 10 + 11 km Olomouc
19:00 – Olomouc Half Marathon Relay
