Three RunCzech Races Awarded IAAF Gold Label Again

Posted by: Watch Athletics

RunCzech organisers are proud to announce that all its three races in Prague – the Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon, Volkswagen Prague Marathon and Birell Prague Grand Prix – have been recently awarded the IAAF Gold Labels for 2019.

For the year 2018 there were 56 races awarded the IAAF Gold Label worldwide and Prague was the only city bearing as many as three of them . „To receive such an award you need to comply with a number of strict criteria. The IAAF Label evaluates the overall race quality, the number and level of elite runners from a specific number of countries, media service and anti-doping control as well as many other factors. Perhaps even more difficult is to keep these criteria every year and to successfully defend them. I am delighted that we have succeeded, this is another proof that in the Czech Republic runners can find truly high quality races,“ – said the President of the RunCzech Organising Committee and the Chairman of IAAF Road Running Commission, Carlo Capalbo. „The Gold Label is also a reward for our partners, the city authorities and thousands of volunteers without whom we would not be able to stage such events.“

Another proof of the quality of RunCzech series of events is the fact that Carlo Capalbo was invited to be a consultant to a similar running project in Japan – RunLink.

The first IAAF Gold Label was awarded to the Prague Half Marathon in 2010, one year later in 2011 to the Prague Marathon, and in 2014 the third, the Prague Grand Prix, joined the golden group. Since that time all three Prague races have defended the highest quality every year. And not only that but they managed to produce 5 world records in just 5 months by a very talented young athlete, a RunCzech Racing team member, Joyciline Jepkosgei. She set four world records during the Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon 2017 (for 10, 15, 20 km and half marathon distances. She improved the half marathon record by one second in Valencia the same year). Then at the Birell Prague Grand Prix 2017 she set a new world record for 10K which still stands.

RunCzech is looking forward to the 2019 running season, when its oldest, flagship race the Volkswagen Prague Marathon, will be celebrating its 25th anniversary, on the 5th of May 2019 welcoming runners from more than 115 countries. Then in September, during the Birell Prague Grand Prix, RunCzech will be hosting the second edition of the European Running Business Conference (6-8 September 2019) organised by European Athletics.

In addition to the IAAF awards seven RunCzech races, including the three Prague races, also received five-star certification from European Athletics ‘Running for All’ initiative in 2018, a key pillar of European Athletics’ road running strategy.

 All Runners Are Beautiful.

 That is our way of welcoming everyone —and we do mean everyone— to the wonderful world of running. To a world of fitness and fun and friendship. This is an homage to everyone who cares enough about themselves to lace up a pair of running shoes and commit to making themselves a little bit better. That’s what victory is, in our minds. Not winning, necessarily. But doing. And enjoying. “All Runners Are Beautiful” is also a testament to how we feel about running. About the sport itself. It is pure. It is life-restoring. It can be social or meditative. It can be a personal challenge or a slow jog through the woods on an autumn morning. Running is a joy. That’s the message here. And everyone who’s willing to participate in this perfect, beautiful sport —young, old, big, slim, fast, or slow— is welcomed. Is loved. Is beautiful.

More information and registration for RunCzech events at www.runczech.com.

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