The route for the 25th LOTTO Poznań Marathon has been revealed, bringing several major changes to one of the city's biggest annual sporting events, which will take place on the 4th of October this year.
While the start and finish remain in their traditional locations, runners taking part in the anniversary edition will see considerably more of Poznań along the way, including a return to Stary Rynek after an 18-year absence and a run through Enea Stadion.
The marathon will start on ul. Grunwaldzka beside the Poznań International Fair, before taking runners on a 42.195-kilometre journey through a broad cross-section of the city.
From Grunwaldzka to Sołacz
The opening kilometres will take runners along Grunwaldzka towards Roosevelta and Pułaskiego, followed by Aleja Wielkopolska and the first turnaround near Park Sołacki.
From Sołacz, the route heads back along Pułaskiego towards Aleja Armii Poznań and Garbary.
The course then continues along Północna and Kutrzeby before joining Aleje Niepodległości.
This leads into one of the most anticipated parts of the new route: the city centre.
The marathon returns to Stary Rynek
From the junction with Libelta, runners will enter central Poznań, passing Plac Cyryla Ratajskiego and Plac Wolności before reaching Stary Rynek.
The return to the Old Market Square is likely to be one of the defining moments of the 25th edition. The Poznań Marathon has not run through Stary Rynek for 18 years.
From the historic centre, runners will continue along Wielka and Mostowa, crossing Most Świętego Rocha and heading towards Piotrowo.
The route then reaches the area around Malta, another of Poznań's familiar landmarks.
Through Rataje and towards the western districts
After Malta, the marathon heads through the Rataje housing estates towards Rondo Starołęka.
Runners will then cross back to the left bank of the Warta and join a section of the course that will be more familiar to regular participants.
From Hetmańska, the route passes through Łazarz, Górczyn, Raszyn, Junikowo and Ławica, eventually reaching Bukowska.
The course then turns onto Bułgarska for another major addition to the anniversary route.
Inside Enea Stadion
One of the most unusual sections will take runners through Enea Stadion, home of our football club Lech Poznań.
Coming relatively late in the race, the stadium could provide a welcome boost for participants, with the stands expected to become one of the key spectator areas along the course.
It also gives the marathon another distinctly Poznań setting, alongside the Old Market Square and Malta.
After leaving the stadium, runners return to Grunwaldzka for the final stretch towards the traditional finish at Plac Marka at the Poznań International Fair.
A route showcasing different sides of Poznań
The new course covers a remarkably broad range of the city.
There are the quieter green surroundings of Sołacz, the historic centre around Stary Rynek, the open spaces around Malta, the large residential districts of Rataje and the western neighbourhoods before the race reaches Grunwald and the stadium.
That variety should make the 25th edition interesting not only for runners but also for spectators looking for places to watch the race.
“During the Poznań Marathon, we always want to show runners just how beautiful our city is. That is why the route includes such important landmarks of Poznań as Stary Rynek, Malta and Enea Stadion. I am sure that the October race will provide plenty of memorable experiences for those taking part, while giving residents even more opportunities to come together, cheer on the runners and create the unique atmosphere that surrounds this event,”
says Poznań Deputy Mayor Marcin Gołek.
For residents, the route will also mean temporary changes to traffic and public transport in a number of districts on race day. Details of road closures and transport arrangements are expected to be announced separately.
The 25th Poznań Marathon
The LOTTO 25. Poznań Marathon im. Macieja Frankiewicza forms part of Poland's Złota Seria 42, alongside Cracovia Maraton and Maraton Warszawski.
Registration remains open until 1 October, or until the entry limit is reached. The entry fee is currently 260 zł and will rise to 280 zł after today.
For its quarter-century edition, the Poznań Marathon is keeping its familiar starting and finishing points while giving the 42.195-kilometre route a substantial update.
With Stary Rynek back on the course and Enea Stadion joining the list of major landmarks, this year's race will offer runners a notably different way to see Poznań.
See more: Get ready for the marathon with the weekly free Parkrun events
Source and image credit: Poznań Marathon, POSiR
