Kraków - a city with a thousand-year tradition, the former seat of Polish kings and the capital of the country, and today an important European metropolis - is also an ideal place for running. It is here that Poland's most international running events take place - the Cracovia Marathon and the Cracovia Royal Half Marathon.
During the last editions, these events attracted almost a thousand foreign participants from all continents. Runners from all over the world like to combine their passion for sport with sightseeing and discovering new places. There is no shortage of opportunities to do so in Kraków.
Already the first edition of the Cracovia Royal Half Marathon was honoured with the Tomasz Hopfer (the great sports promoter) Event of the Year 2014 Award in the Debuts category at the Mass Running Gala in Warsaw. Today, in terms of attendance, the Cracovia Royal Half Marathon attracts the largest number of participants among the events of the Royal Running Triad, which also includes the Cracovia Marathon and the Three Mounds' Run.
Also on the map of Polish half marathons, the Kraków's event is a very important point for runners. The Cracovia Royal Half Marathon is included in the Crown of Polish Half Marathons, which consists of ten events from all over the country, including the Warsaw Half Marathon, the Lechitów Run and the Poznań Half Marathon.
Over a decade, the run has become a mass event with an international reputation. The event's characteristic finish line in the darkened largest sports and entertainment hall in Poland - the TAURON Arena Kraków - is a unique setting that remains in the memory for a long time! Runners who have already made their debut in the Kraków's half-marathon know, that such a finish, cheered on by fans gathered in the arena, is a real treat and an injection of endorphins.
The Cracovia Royal Half Marathon course records belong to African representatives. In 2024, with a time of 1:01:33, Kenyan Denis Chirchir improved by one second the previous record set in 2019 by Ethiopian Enyew Mekonnen. Also in 2019, Kenyan Betty Lembus covered the course in a time of 1:10:48, a record among women. The fastest Pole in the history of the Cracovia Royal Half Marathon is Szymon Kulka, who covered the course in 2016 in a time of 1:03:03, and the fastest Polish woman is Izabela Trzaskalska, who finished in the same year with a time of 1:11:33.
The 10th jubilee Cracovia Royal Half Marathon in 2024 attracted 10,753 starters from 50 countries, and 10,720 of them checked in at the finish line, setting a new attendance record. The previous one fell in 2018, when the 5th edition of the run was completed by 8758 athletes from 8784 starters.
The 11th edition of the Cracovia Royal Half Marathon will be held on 12 October 2025.