Mateusz Kaczor and Emilia Mazek were the winners of the 13th DOZ Łódź Marathon. Weather conditions were unfavorable for the participants, who competed on Sunday in strong winds in the full marathon, relay races, and the Voltaren 10k Run.
Kaczor finished with a time of 2:17.00, while Mazek covered the distance of over 42 kilometers in 2:32.55. The DOZ Łódź Marathon is a three-day event. The Expo fair kicked off on Friday, and the following day, children competed in the Kids Run. In total, nearly 1,400 people participated in the competition for the youngest runners. The youngest competitors were just three years old.
Sunday was reserved for the older runners. At exactly 9:00 a.m., after a piece of music from the film *The Promised Land* had played, marathoners and runners competing in other events took to the streets of Łódź. Weather conditions prevented the results that might have been expected. Take Betty Chepkwony, for example, who could have attempted a time better than the Polish record, which would have meant she would receive a Ford Kuga as a prize. The Kenyan finished in second place, yielding the top spot to AZS AWF Warsaw’s Emilia Mazek. The men’s competition was won by the aforementioned Kaczor, who finished ahead of Laban CheruIyot and Kamil Karbowiak. Karbowiak finished more than 4 minutes behind the winner.
The DOZ Marathon was a major sporting event, including for people with disabilities. Some of them were able to participate in the event thanks to the support of the “MSP Słyszę Serce” association. This association carries out activities,among other things, as part of the Civic Dialogue Commission for the Implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at the City of Łódź.
“We support the full participation of people with disabilities in social life through their involvement in sporting events; one such wonderful event is the DOZ Marathon,” said Marcin Urbaniak, vice president of the Association. This year, thanks to the association, 12 people with disabilities and 12 volunteers took part in the DOZ Marathon, including,among others, Territorial Defense Force soldiers and Łódź city guards.
The DOZ Marathon attracts thousands of participants and thousands of spectators every year. This year was no exception. For the runners competing in the marathon, it is the culmination of months of preparation and rigorous training. Year after year, the organizers observe growing interest among Łódź residents, who line the route to cheer on the competitors. Participants could also count on so-called cheering stations, set up by various institutions, companies, and schools.
“Łódź is a place where—just like during a race—your heart beats faster. It’s a city that loves sports, cheers on its athletes, and celebrates every victory—not just at the finish line, but also over one’s own weaknesses, ” said Hanna Zdanowska, Mayor of Łódź, during the event.
DOZ S.A. has been the title sponsor of the DOZ Łódź Marathon since the event’s first edition. The City of Łódź served as the strategic partner, and Beauty Sport Run was the event organizer.
