80 years of marathon run in Kosice

By: Lucia Tarbajowska, Slovak Radio

---

Every year on first Sunday of October Kosice lives in unique atmosphere of The International Peace Marathon. It is the oldest marathon in Europe and second oldest in the whole world (right after The Boston Marathon founded 1897).

"In international athletics circles the Kosice Marathon has a superb reputation. It is without a doubt the biggest and most important marathon in Europe, if not in the whole world," claimed G. Kramer, a member of the Dutch Royal Light-Athletics Union, during the post-war era. "The Kosice Peace Marathon is the European Boston," added Konnonen, General Secretary of the Finnish Association.

In the year 2004 we celebrate its 80th anniversary and 110th anniversary of its founder Mr. Vojtech Bukovsky.

The 42,195 km run inspired Mr. Bukovsky during the Paris Olympics in August 1924, and three months later, on October 28 at noon, the first eight marathoners lined up at the start in Kosice. The winner was Karol Halla from Kosice. His time was 3:01:35. Marathon gradually gained its international reputation thanks to many famous runners from all continents. Among others there were olympic winners like Carlos Zabala from South Africa, or Abebe Bikila, member of the Imperial Guard of Haile Selassie (Ethiopia), to name a few.

The Run of Victory is symbolized by the bronze statue of Marathon runner placed at the Peace Marathon Square in Kosice, and which was sculpted by well known native sculptor and painter Mr.Arpad Racko. Naked runner holding the laurel is 3m 20cm high and stands on 3m base, where under the words "NENI KHAMEN"(greek for "We Won"), are placed the names of all the winners .

During its history, the marathon changed its name several times :

1924 Kosice Marathon
1925 - 1937 Slovak International Marathon
1939 - 1944 Kassay Marathon
1940 Marathon of Freedom
1946 - 1950 International Marathon of Freedom
1954 - 2004 International Peace Marathon

On October 3. 2004 there were 1207 athlets on a starting line. Between them several political celebrities. Besides Slovak prime minister Mikulas Dzurinda (3:28:13), there was foreign minister of Finland Erkki Tuomioja, who ran the halfmarathon (1:54:26). The winner - Adam Dobrzysky from Poland (2:12:35) said for radio Regina :"It was my dream, to win in Kosice. This is the only big world marathon, where they play the national anthem to a winner".

 

Marathon 2004 by numbers

Men 

1. Dobrzynsky (Poland) - 2:12:35
2. Kipruto (Kenya) - 2:15:44
3. Osadskij (Ukraina) - 2:15:50

Women

1. Tabashi (Japan) - 2:30:52
2. Harrison (UK) - 2:37:00
3. Kovacs (Hungary) - 2:40:42