After a two-year break, Gdańsk will again become the arena of one of the largest running events in Poland. During a recent press conference at Polsat Plus Arena Gdańsk, the return of the marathon to the streets of Gdańsk was announced as a Challenge Gdańsk event, making it the first standalone marathon in the Challenge Family series. The seventh edition of the Gdańsk Marathon, which will take place on April 6, 2025, will lead through the most characteristic places of the capital of Pomerania. The event will be held under the slogan “Run in the city of freedom!”
The Gdańsk Marathon returns in an extended formula, offering participants more than just the flagship 42.2km event. The programme also includes a four-person relay competition, a 5km run and the Junior Gdańsk Marathon for the youngest runners.
“Today we have some very joyful news to announce – the marathon is returning to Gdańsk! In just five months, on April 6, 2025, participants will run through the streets of Gdańsk on the royal distance of 42 km 195 m. The start and finish line of the race will be next to where we are now – Polsat Sport Arena Gdańsk, and the route will lead through the most famous streets of the city. The Gdańsk Marathon will be the pearl in the crown of our running events. Its organization also meets the goals we care about – it promotes physical activity and culture of residents, builds the city’s prestige and a sense of community,” said Piotr Borawski at the event’s recent launch.
“We had a short break in organising the marathon, but we are coming back and will continue to build the brand of the event. It is my dream that in the future the Gdańsk Marathon will join the most important marathons in the world. I will add that in addition to the main distance on Sunday, there will also be accompanying events on Saturday – a 5 km run and children’s runs. If someone is not yet well prepared to run these 42 km and 195 m, they will be able to run in a four-person relay, and each of its participants will have to cover a distance of exactly ¼ of a marathon,” said Adam Korol.
“This will be a great celebration of running, but not only for professional athletes and runners who will be taking on this distance in a more recreational way. We want it to also be a celebration of people who will not take part in the race, but will be an inseparable part of it, i.e. volunteers and fans. I am already inviting all volunteering organizations to cooperate, and Tricity residents to cheer on the route, because nothing gives a runner wings more than lively cheering. We also want to encourage young people to be physically active. By cheering or working in the running service, they may catch the running bug and start in the Gdańsk Marathon in the future,” said Łukasz Bejm.
Safe preparations for the marathon
The organisers pay special attention to the issue of safe and conscious preparation for the race. In January 2025, a 12-week training program “Brooks, Be Ready!” will start. Its aim is to provide participants with practical and theoretical knowledge necessary to complete a marathon. All registered competitors will be able to take advantage of free training. The classes will be led by Marek Jaroszewski, a Polish athlete, winner of the Houston Marathon in 2004.
History and statistics
The Gdańsk Marathon has a rich tradition dating back to May 2015. In the six editions so far, over 11,000 runners have crossed the finish line. The record attendance was recorded in 2017, when 2,375 marathon runners reached the finish line.
The undisputed dominator of the Gdańsk Marathon is Rafał Czarnecki, who has triumphed three times (2017-2019) and is also the current record holder of the route with a time of 2:23:14. Among women, the best result belongs to Lidia Czarnecka, who in 2019 covered the distance in a time of 2:49:05.
