On Saturday, May 30, the Mattoni Running Festival České Budějovice will welcome 8,000 runners. Holding the prestigious World Athletics Road Race Label, the event promises an extraordinary experience featuring elite Czech and European athletes. However, with the weather forecast predicting a tropical 30°C (86°F), the races – and the half marathon in particular – will put a heavy strain on the human body.
„Not all participants come prepared for such conditions and the health of our runners is our top priority. That is why we decided to raise our long-standing high standards of medical care to the next level for the 2026 season. We introduced the Running Doctors project, which made its debut during the Napoli City Half Marathon in February,” said Carlo Capalbo, Running Director of RunCzech.
The specialized Running Doctors team consists of healthcare professionals who run alongside the participants, marked by highly visible flags. Their mission is to monitor the field and intervene immediately if necessary.„I see this initiative as highly meaningful because it emphasizes health, prevention and race safety. At the same time, it serves as a reminder that while running is a beautiful sport, it is crucial to focus not just on performance, but on the safety of the runners themselves,” says neurologist Zuzana Blichová, a member of the Running Doctors team at the Karlovy Vary Half Marathon.
The medical staff are strategically deployed along the course according to their individual physical fitness. They have a complete overview of the race’s medical organization and stay in touch with other teams, allowing them to significantly speed up the response process. „We are not a replacement for emergency medical services or medical points, as we don’t run with full medical equipment. Our advantage lies in being a direct part of the race. Running among the others allows us to use our clinical experience to quickly assess the severity of a situation, stay calm and take action,” Blichová explains.
According to Blichová, proper assessment and coordination play a critical role in certain situations.
„For common issues – like muscle cramps, nausea, or general weakness – it is usually enough to calm the runner down, replenish fluids or minerals and direct them to colleagues at a medical point if needed,” she says, describing the cooperation with first-aid stations along the course.„However, we are also there for more serious situations that can ultimately be life-threatening.”
One such situation occurred in Karlovy Vary. „During the Half Marathon Karlovy Vary, we responded to a case involving a young, otherwise healthy athlete. Other runners called us over. He was highly likely suffering an epileptic seizure. By the time we reached the scene, first aid had already been initiated and the situation was partially managed by a passing runner who happened to be a healthcare professional herself. Thanks to this, improper interventions – such as forcing the mouth open or trying to restrain the convulsions – were avoided. The runner was then handed over to the emergency medical services in stable condition,” the neurologist noted, adding that if necessary, the Running Doctors can also immediately call in a bike patrol equipped with an AED (automated external defibrillator).
Rapid professional assistance and situational coordination are the main safety benefits of the Running Doctors and they are absolutely vital, especially in severe cases. The doctors will be lacing up their running shoes for upcoming events as well. This weekend, despite the warm weather, they will work alongside the Emergency Medical Services of the South Bohemian Region to ensure a safe race.
