The White Nights Marathon is an emblematic project in which an increasing number of people participate every year. And the popularity is explained simply: it is not often that you have the opportunity to run through the streets of St. Petersburg at night. The city is especially beautiful during white nights.
White Nights It is a unique natural phenomenon that is observed before and after the summer solstice. During this period, the night consists solely of twilight; The city is not plunged into total darkness.
What will we tell you about:
race director, co-founder of Running Community
“Participants should expect vivid emotions and impressions. We are sure that everyone will have a great time, because the White Nights themselves are a unique natural phenomenon that fills the city with a special magic. We hope that this year the weather will be pleasant and that the evening start, when it is no longer so hot, will allow you to run for fun and enjoy a unique route.”
History of the marathon
In 1990 the first international marathon “White Nights” took place. At that time, 471 people from 83 cities of the USSR took the starting line; At that time, the race had a fairly extensive geography: athletes came from Great Britain, the United States and Germany; The sports program included running a marathon and 10 km.
The 1992 race was also significant; It was then that a record was set among men for the 10 km distance. The winner was Dmitry Kapitonov, the result was 28.59. If we talk about the marathon distance, the record since 2003 has been held by Nikolai Kerimov, his result is 2: 11.46. That same year, the best female result was recorded in the 10-kilometer distance: Yulia Gromova surpassed it with 32.05.
In 1995, the race started at 7:00 p.m. and then moved to the first half of the day. In 2022, the Running Community was included in the list of organizers for the first time and the marathon began to take place at night. The following year, the route became linear for the first time, with arrival and departure located in different locations. The first relay race in the history of the marathon also took place.
Furthermore, in 2023 records in the recent history of the marathon were broken. Among women, Luiza Dmitrieva took the lead; she ran 42.2 km in 2:29.48. In the shorter, but no less important, 10-kilometer race, Anna Vikulova became the best with a result of 32.11. Men, of course, can also boast excellent results: Konstantin Plokhotnikov covered 10 km in 29.12, and Alexey Reunkov covered the marathon distance in 2:13.35.
Photo: vk.com/wnmarathon
What is special about the White Nights marathon in 2024?
This year, White Nights entered the BRICS Marathon League, which was created last year at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. For some participants who ran the first marathon in the series (Kazan Marathon), White Nights will become the second stage. There were more than 400 of those people. On June 29, they will complete the distance for the second time in two months and will receive an exclusive commemorative badge upon completion.
BRICS Marathon League is a project that unites the largest marathons in Russia, which are held in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kazan. In the future, they will be joined by marathons from Brazil, India, China, South Africa and other BRICS countries.
It is important to note that many guests of the city are preparing to participate in the outing: about 80% of the participants will come to St. Petersburg specifically for the White Nights. And this only shows that the marathon attracts the attention of a large number of runners from all over the country and abroad, both near and far.
Photo: vk.com/wnmarathon
Among the participants will be elite athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia, which will undoubtedly increase the competitiveness of the race. One of the League’s objectives is to reinforce the sporting component and make it interesting for both athletes and spectators. Such a competitive moment will, of course, stimulate Russian athletes to run faster.
Also in 2024, within the framework of the “White Nights” marathon, an open relay race for students will be held for the first time, the participation of which is completely free. An unlimited number of teams from one university can apply.
On race day there will traditionally be a live broadcast, and a few days before the marathon the Race Director’s analytical program will be published for the first time. In it, the organizers will inform you about the participants.
In addition, a sports exhibition will be held the day before, this year in a new venue: the Arena sports and concert complex. This will create the most comfortable conditions for participants and guests, as it can accommodate a larger number of exhibitors and visitors.
Photo: vk.com/wnmarathon
Date and Time
Both starts will begin the night of Saturday to Sunday (June 29 and 30). More details about the time of the event:
10:00-16:00 – sports exhibition at the Arena complex. Issuance of starter packages.19:00 – opening of the departure city in the Palace Square for the participants.20:30 – opening to spectators from the finish line in the Senate Square.21:00 – start of the 10 km race in the Plaza del Palacio.22:00 – start of the 42.2 km race and both relays in the Plaza del Palacio.4:30 – closing of the finish line in the Senate Square and end of the race.
Photo: vk.com/wnmarathon
Distances and routes
The start will be in the Palace Square and the finish in the Senate Square. There will also be changing rooms, storage lockers, members’ areas, a stage and stands for spectators.
Available to choose two distances:
marathon 42.2 km; 10 km race.
You can choose to participate three formats:
personal race, where you run independently of other participants; team relay for all;
It is important to keep in mind that the distances have passing limits: 10 km must be covered in 1.5 hours and the marathon distance in no more than 6 hours.
Marathon runners are the luckiest with the distance; On the route they will travel through 39 avenues, streets, passages, alleys, alleys, embankments, bridges and squares. Runners will have a view of St. Petersburg’s world-famous landmarks. Among them are the Kazan Cathedral, the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, the Aurora Transept, the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Rostral Columns on the Spit of Vasilievsky Island, the Summer Garden, the Main Admiralty building and the Bronze Horseman.
Photo: vk.com/wnmarathon
Traffic restrictions
The scale of the event is staggering and this will of course require certain restrictions, especially on traffic. To prepare for the race and the safety of the participants:
From 00:00 to 23:59 on June 26, it will not be possible to stop at Admiralteyskaya embankment;From 00:00 on June 26 to 23:59 on July 2, traffic along the Admiralteyskaya embankment will be limited by narrowing the road. from Kerchsky to Chernomorsky lane;From 00:00 on June 26 to 23:59 on July 2, it will be impossible to drive on the Admiralteyskaya Embankment. from Senate Square to Chernomorsky Lane, and they will also close the Admiralteysky Passage – from the Admiralteyskaya embankment from the Senate Square.
Photo: vk.com/wnmarathon
What is important to know about the White Nights?
A large number of athletes are expected in the White Nights marathon; probably their number could reach 19 thousand. Up to 80 teams will participate in the relay for all, and in the student relay, which will be held for the first time, 20 teams will gather.
Speaking of a personal start, it is worth mentioning clusters. Each participant will have to run with his or her group, which will be determined based on the expected finish time. There is a disqualification for starting from an earlier group, but you can start the race later than your group.
There will be 21 pacers in the 42.2 km distance and 12 in the 10 km distance. Pacemaker – the lead runner who sets the pace for the entire group. This helps participants run smoothly, maintaining a certain pace and finish with the planned result.
Photo: vk.com/wnmarathon
Since the groups start at different times, each individual result is calculated using the “chip time” system. This is the time from crossing the starting line to crossing the finish line. You can quickly monitor your results on the website; You only need to enter the participant’s data.
Prize places are calculated based on the overall championship or “shooting time”. That is, based on the time shown by the athlete from the start gun to crossing the finish line. And the group you started the race in does not affect this.
Volunteers wait for the runners in the finishing corridor and give them a commemorative medal, water and fruit. In case of any health problem or illness, a medical team will be present at the race and will be able to provide assistance immediately.
Photo: vk.com/wnmarathon
Awards
All those who managed to run their distance within the established deadline will receive a commemorative medal. As we have already said, winners are determined by absolute superiority. Over a distance of 42.2 km, participants take first to sixth place among men and women. There will also be prizes for age groups from first to third place men and women.
As for the 10 kilometer distance, there will only be prizes in the absolute championship; Special prizes will be awarded to first to third place participants among men and women.
Photo: vk.com/wnmarathon
Each activity must have a purpose, so when playing sports, choose the most interesting ones. We find that seeing the views of the main city on the Neva at dusk and running 42.2 km is simply an excellent goal.
On the right approach to long distance:
“I made a wish to run a marathon for the New Year!”: personal experience of wish visualization
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