Seventh Mogilev Marathon: 10 thousand participants, three countries and for the first time – half marathon

The seventh Mogilev International Marathon, which takes place in the regional center, gathered about 10 thousand participants. Residents of all corners of Belarus and guests from other countries came to the start. The city for one day turned into a large running platform, where the atmosphere of unity and sports excitement was felt at every distance.

As noted by the chief judge and organizer of the marathon, Director of the sports complex “Olympic” Dmitry Sivov, the current race is markedly different from the previous ones:

- By participants, by distance, by interactive. Unfortunately, the CIS championship is not held here, but three countries are running: Belarus, Russia and China. For the first time in the history of Mogilev announced a half-marathon distance – 21.1 kilometers. In addition, the mass race was divided into two distances: two and four kilometers to give an opportunity to try their hand at everyone - schoolchildren, labor collectives, those who are just starting to get acquainted with running.

Traditionally, the program includes long runs of 10 kilometers and a marathon distance of 42 kilometers 195 meters, within which the country’s open marathon championship is held, as well as a family race for children under twelve years old.

- Cycling and running are experiencing a real boom, the urban infrastructure is being improved for this. Judging by my 25-year-old son and his peers – animal lovers, run, train, do not smoke. This is why we want our young people to come to sports, professional or mass. In general, there is a tendency to a healthy lifestyle, says Dmitry Sivov.

Among the participants are people of different ages and professions, but they all share a love of the movement. The oldest runner was 86-year-old Leonid Tolkachev, a master of sports in cycling, who raised 44 masters of sports in cycling and triathlon during his life. He went to the marathon to test himself again.

- About 65 years ago, I set myself a goal: not a day without sports. I still adhere to this principle. A whole system of training, nutrition and regime of the day, so still my muscles and joints are fine, says the runner.

This time, Leonid Yakovlevich showed up for four kilometers. He shares his distance with many of his students:

- I am especially glad that there are a lot of young people at the start. I wanted them to have a healthy lifestyle. I even wrote a book on this topic, “Life from the Ray to the iPhone.” There are all tips, because a person’s health depends on how he lives every day. The most important thing about this is regularity.

Leonid Tolkachev also noted how conditions for sports in Belarus are improving:

- It was hard to imagine so many sports facilities at the time. Take any kind: from equestrian sports to tennis, from athletics to gamers. Everyone has their own sports base. Miracle! – concluded the oldest participant of the marathon.

At the sports festival did not miss the audience. Minchanka Valeria Plotkina, a badminton coach, came to Mogilev for the marathon first and walked around the locations with the daughter of friends.

- It’s great to see so many people together – with different abilities, but equal opportunities to join the sport, which allows health and fitness. There are many cool locations around, we plan to get around everything, the girl smiles

Little Alenka is only five years old, but her parents are athletes, and the girl already wants to change her status to a participant next year:

- Just a little bit older, she says.

The Mogilev International Marathon confirms for the seventh time that sport unites generations and cities, and most importantly, gives everyone the opportunity to try themselves and find their own movement.