Moscow Marathon Director Dmitry Tarasov said they expect approximately 57,000 registrations for the race to be held on September 26-27, including a children's course, a relay race, and 10- and 42-kilometer events. Tarasov said the figure would represent an increase of approximately 15,000 from last year and that the event is expected to set a participation record among marathons in Russia.
Great Run Festival courses and participation
Approximately 100,000 people are expected to take part in the Great Run Festival. The event will feature a 10-kilometer race and a 5-kilometer course that participants can run or walk.
Tarasov said the 5-kilometer route was also suitable for people who had never run before. He said mothers with children could take part with strollers, while children could use scooters on the course, adding that he would run with his own children under the age of 14. He said the participation of his children's friends and relatives would create a large family group at the event.
Transport plan in central Moscow
Two starting areas will be prepared at different points along the Garden Ring for the festival. The 10-kilometer race will start from Sadovaya-Triumfalnaya Street, while the 5-kilometer course will begin in the area between Taganskaya and Kurskaya metro stations.
The races will finish in the area between Muzeon Park and Gorky Park. Tarasov said the Garden Ring would not be completely closed during the event and that part of the road would reopen to traffic after the 10-kilometer race. People planning to travel to the city center by car were advised to use alternative transport during the race hours.
Mass participation and international athletes
Tarasov said the Great Run Festival focused on growing the city's running community rather than on professional athletes. The festival program will include concerts by singer Yolka and the band UmaTurman, as well as performances by artists singing Russian and international songs for different generations.
Professional athletes will compete in the Moscow Marathon's 10- and 42-kilometer races. Tarasov said the event was part of the BRICS Marathon League, which also includes the Kazan Marathon and the White Nights Marathon in St. Petersburg.
Residents of the capital account for 75 percent of participants in the Moscow Marathon. Tarasov said approximately 74 percent of participants in the events in Kazan and St. Petersburg came from other regions. Groups of athletes from CIS countries, Asia, Turkey, Europe and America are expected to come to Moscow this year.
New program for athletes over 35
This year, the 35+ Running Community Cup was launched for the first time for athletes over the age of 35. Athletes will collect points at four events throughout the season, and the results will be evaluated at a separate awards ceremony held at the end of the year.
Tarasov said they wanted to make the Moscow Marathon course one of the fastest routes internationally. He said they aimed to improve the race record and identified Dmitry Nedelin as one of the leading Russian athletes pursuing that goal in the 42-kilometer event.
The marathon's prize pool is expected to remain close to last year's level, at approximately 10-12 million rubles. Tarasov said the average age was concentrated between 35 and 45 on the marathon course, while younger age groups predominated on the shorter courses.
Running advice for beginners
Tarasov said the share of first-time participants in events had recently ranged from 25 to 50 percent, adding that people who wanted to start running could first set a goal through walking. He said they could gradually progress by starting with short distances.
Tarasov said he had lost 11-12 kilograms when he started running in 2015. He said running made it easier to move, climb stairs and breathe, adding that the sport improved people's moods and helped them socialize. He also said five or six marriage proposals were made every year among couples who met in the running community at the Moscow Marathon.
Tarasov said approximately 57 percent of runners were men and 43 percent were women, adding that female participation was increasing and that women outnumbered men at some events. He said the number of people interested in running in Moscow had reached approximately 1 million.
New running routes in Moscow
New running areas are planned in the city in addition to Luzhniki. Tarasov said the monorail at VDNH was expected to be converted into an 8-kilometer running route, with the route planned to open for use from 2027.
A 1-kilometer course that can be used in summer and winter is also planned to open soon within the Olimpiyskiy sports complex. Tarasov emphasized the importance of having training programs prepared by a qualified coach. He said online training could be useful, but close monitoring of running technique and breathing by a coach provided practical support.
Nutrition before the marathon
Tarasov recommended drinking more water during the race and using an energy gel after a certain distance. He said fruit such as oranges, apples and bananas would be available at the refreshment stations, adding that some athletes consumed salt to reduce the risk of cramps.
Tarasov said eating pasta before the marathon helped provide energy and added that the option of holding an official pasta party as part of the event was also being considered.
