Marko Todorov / CROPIX
Running lovers have a lot of ways to connect their passion for sport with sightseeing and staying in Zagreb. Besides, while running – on the streets, playgrounds, in parks and recreational zones of the city – you will meet the locals who share the same passion as you. Moreover, the combination of tourist facilities and sports habits is the reason you will remember your stay in Zagreb even more and even longer. And come back more often!
However, for many people, running will in itself be the main, although certainly not the only motive for coming to this city. Zagreb Run is a program of four running competitions united by a competitive spirit and athletic skills with recognizable locations of Zagreb. Whatever time of year you come to Zagreb, there are interesting races there as well as challenging competitions several times a year where you will compete with runners from Croatia and other countries. It is an opportunity to test and, guided by competitive adrenaline, improve your running abilities, build athletic confidence and take a quite special Zagreb postcard from this city.
In the yearly schedule of Zagreb races there are ones intended for amateurs, others for professionals, and there are also those that connect both categories.
Ronald Gorsic / CROPIX
Medvednica Trail 26 May consists of several challenges of different lengths and intensity and includes uphills and downhills, mud and karst, singletrack and macadam, mountain and forest trails. And all that only about ten kilometers away from the main city square on the ever-exciting Medvednica Mountain!
The race is a part of the UTMB Indeks Race as well as the ITRA National League 2023 cup competition. Everyone will choose a challenge in line with their capabilities. The longest and the most demanding one, Kameni svatovi 60K (Stone Wedding), is 59 kilometers long. Second in line is Plazur 30K, 29 kilometers long, intended for experienced trail runners only. However, here we have a novelty this year. The organizer of the Open Trail Championship is the Sports Recreation Society Active Life and Croatian Athletic Federation.
As part of the over-arching Medvednica Trail, a trail intended for trail beginners is the 14.7 km long Gorščica 15K, which, thanks to its gentle slopes, can be overcome by any trail beginner. Hunjka 5K is a trail intended for those who want to try racing on the trail for the first time or road runners who want to find out what a trail is. On Medvednica Trail there is also a Team Race which is 14.7 kilometers long, as well as a 2.4 km trail race for children called Little Dwarf. It is intended for children attending all grades of primary school, many of whom are accompanied by their parents, runners on the challenging tracks of Medvednica Trail.
Tomislav Kristo / CROPIX
The next challenge is the Zagreb Mile race, taking place on 15 September in the attractive location of Zagreb fountains. It is run in two laps of 800 meters, individually or in teams of two runners, whose results are added up. There is no doubt that the most interest from the audience will be generated by the Children's Mini Mile, consisting of only one lap, a quite playful, important and interesting lap.
Two months later, Zagreb Night Tenner, the most favorite and entertaining street race to many people, will take place on 3 November. It starts from the main Ban Josip Jelačić Square and it is run through the downtown streets, therefore there will be many spectators cheering. Ten kilometers of Zagreb Night Tenner is a personal record for many, a race to remember…
Marko Todorov / CROPIX
And finally, on 7 December, Zagreb Run brings a race challenge – in height. Zagrepčanka 512 is a stairs race to the top of the Zagrepčanka business building, once the highest in the city. Who will be the first to overcome 490 steps and reach the 25th floor of the building? The individual challenge is enriched with the possibility of multiple completions and a team race, and as a special novelty, the mega race - four climbs, 100 floors and no less than 1960 steps.
Welcome to Zagreb, welcome to Zagreb Run races!