Monthly Archives: March 2024

Race Day organisation

Runner, familiarize yourself with the most important information regarding the start! You can find the full version of practical information for both races taking place on March 24, 2024, HERE >>> Plan your time before the start so that you don’t rush. Calmness before the competition will give you the chance to fully focus on the race.

Where and when do we start?

The races will take place on the penultimate Sunday of the month – March 24.

  • The New Balance High Five Race will start at 9:30 a.m.
  • The 18th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Half Marathon will start at 11:00 a.m.

Participants in wheelchairs with manual drive will start from the first line at:

  • 9:27 a.m. – New Balance High Five Race
  • 10:57 a.m. – 18th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Half Marathon

Both races start from the Poniatowski Bridge towards the city center.

  • The Half Marathon starts from the northbound lane (from the side of the PGE National Stadium), while the 5 km race starts from the southbound lane (from the side of Saski Kępa).
  • Each of the two races has a separate starting gate. The distance between both starting gates is approximately 100 meters.

Organizacja startu - 24 marca 2024

Joint entry to the start of the New BalanceHigh Five Race

ATTENTION! Runners participating in the New Balance High Five Race – stand at the designated start zone – check the graphic. Flags will be placed in your designated area – stand by the one that corresponds to your predicted result.

At the right moment, we will all walk together approximately 100 meters to the race start line. Follow the instructions of the race staff present in the zone.

Start zones for the 18th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Half Marathon

Half marathoners, remember to position yourselves in the appropriate time zone at the start. The zones at the start will be marked by flags. The color of the zone assigned to you corresponds to the designation in the corner of your start number.

Only the net time is counted in the results – from crossing the start line, so there is no need to rush immediately upon hearing the starter’s shot when standing at a greater distance from the line.

How to get to the Race Village and the start?

The number of parking spaces in the immediate vicinity of the start is very limited. We encourage you to use public transportation on the race day. Parking at the PGE National Stadium grounds will not be available!

We recommend getting to the Stadion Narodowy metro station and walking from the PGE National Stadium grounds to the Race Village with bag deposits and to the race start (Poniatowski Bridge). From 9:45 to 10:15, the passage from the metro to the Race Village will take place via the footbridge over the New Balance High Five Race course – check the map of the area.

  • Car traffic over the Poniatowski Bridge will be suspended from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
  • In the vicinity of the stadium, tram traffic will be maintained between: Al. Waszyngtona – Al. Zieleniecka – ul. Targowa.

Is there free public transportation on the day of the race?

Based on a resolution of the Warsaw City Council, race participants can use public transportation in the 1st fare zone free of charge on the day of the race. Free rides apply to buses, trams, metro, and SKM trains. To use the free ride, you need to have your race number with you.

Metro cardboard tickets are available at the Race Office in the INFO point.

How do the deposits work?

The deposits will be located at the Runners’ Village on the PGE Narodowy surroundings. At the same location, before the race, you’ll drop off your belongings, and after the race, you’ll pick them up. Anything you want to leave in the deposit should be placed in a bag that you’ll receive along with your race number. You should then stick the sticker with your race number onto the bag – you’ll also receive it along with your race number.

The deposits will be placed in four halls – marked by sector and range of numbers. You should drop off your deposit in the hall marked accordingly – in accordance with the sector marking on your race number.

  • 8:30-11:00 – Operation of the deposits for the New Balance High Five Race
  • 9:00-15:30 – Operation of the deposits for the 18. Nationale-Nederlanden Półmaraton Warszawski.

To pick up your deposit after the finish line, you’ll need your race number.

In the event of a participant losing their race number, the Organizer is not liable for another person picking up the bag. Attention! It is forbidden to leave valuable items or documents in the deposit. The organizer is not responsible for valuable items left in the deposit.

Clothing at the start

All clothing left unattended in the start area (on the ground, barriers, etc.) will be collected immediately after the start and donated to charity. Do not leave clothing on the street that you intend to return to – in such a case, please use the deposit at the Runners’ Village.

Therefore, if you have a habit of putting on an extra layer of clothing before the start, we encourage you to wear a warmer layer of clothing over your running outfit that you won’t need later. Dispose of unnecessary clothing beyond the barriers – the Mazovian branch of the Polish Red Cross will collect and take care of them.

The registrations for the 18th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Half Marathon are closed!

Sold out! Registrations for the 18th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Half Marathon are closed!

The total number of available start numbers after March 21, 2024, has been quickly exhausted. There is no longer an option to register online or at the Race Office. Registrations started on March 27, 2023 – since then, you have been signing up with the motto #SpringStartsInWarsaw! Thank you to everyone who signed up for the race – we’ll be rooting for you on Sunday! We can say that we received a record number of registrations in the history of the Warsaw Half Marathon! See you at the Race Office and on Sunday at the start and finish line – prepare for this day.

  • Check out the Start Map and Event Village Map
  • Plan your travel – take into account the time changes in traffic described in the Race Guide
  • Prepare everything in advance so you don’t rush and stress. Take into account the number of race participants and your own comfort.
  • On Sunday, enjoy the running celebration, give it your all, regardless of your sports goal! Invite spectators to accompany you on this day.

    You will find everything important at: https://polmaratonwarszawski.com/en/race-guide/

How to pick up your race bib?

Plan your arrival well to pick up your race bib! Don’t leave your visit to the Race Office until the last minute. The race kits for the 18th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Half Marathon and the New Balance High Five Race can be collected at the Race Office in the Palace of Culture and Science. Address: Plac Defilad 1, entrance from Marszałkowska Street.

Race Office Opening Hours:

March 22nd (Friday) from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM
March 23rd (Saturday) from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Remember – queues form when the office opens! If you don’t have to, don’t come right at the start of the Race Office’s operation. We work all day – you’ll definitely have time to pick up your kit.

ATTENTION! On the day of the race, the Race Office will be closed.

How to get to the Race Office?

As usual, we recommend using public transportation. The Race Office is located in the Palace of Culture and Science – you can get there by metro – Centrum station (M1) or Świętokrzyska station (M1 and M2), as well as by tram and buses – Centrum stop. Nearby, you’ll also find the Warsaw Central Railway Station (Dworzec PKP Warszawa Centralna) and Warsaw Śródmieście.

If you are picking up your race bib in person, it will be issued based on a photo ID. Before entering the Race Office, check your start bib, and then look for the appropriate range above the counters.

If you want someone else to pick up your race bib on your behalf, print and sign the race card (available for download from your runner profile on the registration website – after registering, go to YOUR RUNS tab) and attach a photocopy or photo of your photo ID. Based on these two documents, another person will be able to collect your race bib.

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the most important information – all the answers to frequently asked questions about the event are included there: SEE >>>

Presentation of Pacemakers for the upcoming race!

Pacemakers are experienced runners who complete the entire race at a predetermined pace in order to cross the finish line with precisely targeted times. Take advantage of their support if you are aiming for a personal best or making your debut. On March 24th, “Pacers” will lead participants aiming for the following times in the 18th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Half Marathon:

1:20; 1:25; 1:30, 1:35, 1:40, 1:45, 1:50; 1:55, 2:00, 2:10, 2:15, 2:20, 2:30

You’ll recognize the pacemakers by the “wings” with the written time they are pacing on the chosen distance – you can’t miss them because it’s a truly visible element of their attire. “Pacers,” as they are commonly called, lead based on net times – from crossing the start line. To join them on the journey, you should position yourself near them in the start area or spot them along the route and latch onto the dictated pace.

Meet up with Nice To Fit You Ambassadors at the 18th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Half Marathon!

Meeting with Ambassadors

This year, participants of the 18th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Half Marathon and visitors to the race village will have a unique opportunity to meet with ambassadors of the Nice To Fit You brand: Robert Korzeniowski, Aleksandra Guzik, and Adam Kszczot. Their presence in the Nice To Fit You zone is not only a chance for direct exchange of experiences with sports legends but also an opportunity for a joint run!

Attractions in the Nice To Fit You Zone

The Nice To Fit You zone within the race village is a space where participants and guests can experience many attractions. They will find not only the opportunity to meet with ambassadors but also a range of initiatives promoting health and well-being:

  • Consultations with Dietetics Experts: Professional dietary advice and body measurements for anyone who wants to learn more about healthy eating and its impact on athletic performance.
  • Healthy Snacks and Meals: Nice To Fit You menu, offering tasty and balanced meals that demonstrate the importance of proper nutrition in an active lifestyle.
  • Attractions for the Youngest: Special play area providing entertainment for children, allowing families to spend time together and instill a love for sports from an early age.

Brand Strategy and Supporting Activity

Sylwia Ramos Wójcik, Brand Manager of Nice To Fit You, emphasizes the importance of cooperation with the “Warsaw Marathon” Foundation as a key element of the brand’s strategy aimed at motivating customers to lead an active lifestyle. The “Taste of Sports Passion” program is not limited to supporting professionals but also opens doors for anyone who wants to start their journey into sports, regardless of their level of expertise!

Registration for the New Balance High Five Race is closed! Thank you!

Registration for the New Balance High Five Race has just closed! The limit of five thousand participants has been reached. The start list is now completely full! Thank you to everyone who will be running in the accompanying race to the 18th Nationale-Nederlanden Warsaw Half Marathon. See you on Sunday, with the race starting at 9:30 AM!

Race bibs can be collected at the Race Office located in the Palace of Culture and Science (Plac Defilad 1, entrance from Marszałkowska Street).

Race Office Opening Hours:
March 22, 2024 (Friday) – 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
March 23, 2024 (Saturday) – 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

ATTENTION! The Race Office will be closed on the day of the race.

Please note that queues only form when the Race Office opens! If possible, avoid coming right at the opening time to avoid crowding. We will be open all day – you will have plenty of time to collect your race packet.

  • If you are collecting your race bib in person, it will be issued upon presentation of a photo ID.
  • If you wish someone else to collect your race bib on your behalf, print and sign the race card (available for download from your athlete profile) and include a photocopy or photo of your photo ID. Based on these two documents, another person will be able to collect your race packet.