Held since 2002, the Cracovia Marathon is the most important running event in Kraków and the largest spring run over the royal distance in Poland. It is exactly 42.195 km and attracts runners from all over the world to the foot of the Wawel Castle. The event is the most international one among Polish marathons, with the highest turnout of foreign participants in the country. So far, competitors from 70 countries have competed in the Cracovia Marathon.
The event is held under the motto ‘through history’. Since 2014, the start and finish line of the marathon have been located on the Main Market Square, one of the most recognisable places in Kraków. Participants run past the city's most important monuments, such as the Cloth Hall, Wawel Royal Castle and ‘Na Skałce’ church. They also pass modern buildings characteristic of the capital of Małopolska, such as the TAURON Arena Kraków, the ICE Kraków Congress Centre or the Father Bernatek footbridge. In 2005, the runners made their first appearance in Nowa Huta and returned there in 2018, after a five-year break.
The weekend of the Cracovia Marathon is a true celebration of sport. The Mini Cracovia Marathon (4.2 km) commemorating Piotr Gładki takes place on Saturday and is dedicated to the memory of the winner of the 4th edition of the Cracovia Marathon who was the first (and so far only) Pole to win the Cracovia Marathon. Two weeks later he tragically died in a traffic accident. Cracovia Inline Skating Marathon is a competition that has accompanied the marathon since 2006. The full-length marathon route goes around Błonia Park. It must be completed in a maximum of 3 hours.
A 10-kilometre Night Run has also been organized since 2014. The event takes place on the evening preceding the Cracovia Marathon. As of 2018, its participants start and finish on the Main Market Square. They have a time limit of 1.5 hours to cover the distance. In 2023, the event was held under the name European Games Night Run, heralding the celebration of sports that was to take place in Kraków and the Małopolska Region. The participants unanimously agree that the view of the Old Town at night from a runner's perspective is a unique experience.
Athletes with disabilities have also been competing in the Cracovia Marathon since the event began. Among them are wheelchair athletes. Before the runners take to the route, competitors in the categories of handbike, rim push and active wheelchair also take the legendary distance.
Since 2002, marathons have been organised regularly. Due to the Covid pandemic, the Cracovia Marathon could not take place in 2020-2021. The event returned, after a break of nearly three years, on April 24, 2022. A year later, more than 5,000 runners from 45 countries took part in the 20th anniversary edition. The most persistent runners, a group of 35 people who completed all 20 editions of the event, were invited on stage and given special thanks.
Until 2024, the Cracovia Marathon - along with the Dębno Marathon, the Warsaw Marathon, the Poznań Marathon and (as long as it was organized) the Wrocław Marathon - was part of the Crown of Polish Marathons. The title of the winner of this trophy was awarded since 2007. The originator of the project was Wieslaw Maczek, who was associated with the Cracovia Marathon from the very beginning.
The 22nd Cracovia Marathon will also be the first run as part of the Gold Series 42 cycle - a new project which connects the Cracovia Marathon, the Warsaw Marathon and the Poznań Marathon.
Since 2016, together with the Cracovia Royal Half Marathon and the Three Mounds' Run, the Cracovia Marathon also forms the unique Royal Triad of Running.
Cracovia Marathon is part of the city's ‘Krakow in a good climate’ campaign. During the marathon and accompanying events, solutions have been introduced to better care for the environment and form good habits for life. Plastic and paper in the start packages have been reduced to a minimum: plastic packaging has been abandoned, and participants' T-shirts are made of recycled materials. Cups, plates and cutlery made of eco-friendly plastics have appeared. Along the marathon route, drinking water from hydrants of the ‘Wodąciągi Miasta Krakowa’, a partner of the event, is served at most refreshment points. More activities in the spirit of #runningconsciously, including those inspired from the bottom up by the running community, are being successively implemented during Kraków's running events.
All previous editions of Cracovia Marathon have attracted more than 67,000 participants! Organising such a big undertaking is a huge challenge, which the City of Kraków successfully undertakes every year.
The 22nd Cracovia Marathon is scheduled for 6 April 2025. Registration has started on 6 November 2024.