The historic city of Olomouc is set to come alive with energy and excitement as it hosts the 15th edition of the Mattoni Running Festival Olomouc — the largest sporting event in Moravia, a historic region in eastern Czechia, and one of the top ten half marathons in Central Europe.
More than 10,000 participants of all ages are expected to take part. The highlight of the festival, the Mattoni Half Marathon Olomouc, will once again guide runners through the picturesque streets of the historic city centre, passing 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 weekend.
“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 Organising Committee. “Olomouc’s central location and its atmosphere make it a favourite among participants from Slovakia and Poland.”
Over 7,500 runners will compete in the Mattoni Half Marathon and the Šantovka 5K Run, while more than 3,000 children and families are expected to take part in 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, alongside fellow Czech Martin Zajíc, who competed at the European Half Marathon Championships in Belgium this spring. Notably, six runners 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 favourites include two-time overall EuroHeroes champion Sebastian Hendel of Germany and former European U20 5000m silver medallist Tariku Novales from Spain.
In the women’s race, German star Deborah Schöneborn (PB 1:09:41) returns with her twin sister Rabea. They are joined by Nóra Szabó (HUN) and Mariia Mazurenko (UKR), both winners of two previous EuroHeroes races this season. Czech Olympic marathoner and 10K record holder Tereza Hrochová will lead the local field, while Olomouc legend Petra Kamínková makes her 14th appearance.
A Race for Everyone
RunCzech races are renowned for their inclusivity and international appeal. This year’s Olomouc event features runners from 54 countries. Of all foreign participants, 58% hail from neighbouring countries such as Slovakia, Poland and Austria, while the remaining 42% represent nations including the UK, Ukraine, France, the Americas, and Japan — the eighth-largest foreign delegation. Among the oldest competitors are 80-year-old Kokichi Arai from Japan and 73-year-old Wendy Wallinger from Great Britain.
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 a.m., the expo will feature race bib collection, the official race T-shirt, and more than 40 sports clubs and partners offering activities and entertainment for all visitors.
Mattoni Running Festival Olomouc 2025 – Schedule
FRIDAY, 13 JUNE
09:00–19:00 – Moravia Sport EXPO
09:00–21:00 – Olomouc Wheelchair Relay
11:35 – Meet & greet with elite athletes (EXPO)
17:00 – Pre-race run with Jiří Homoláč
SATURDAY, 14 JUNE
09:00–17:00 – 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
