NEWS
A UNIQUE AND SPECIAL RUNNING RACE IN SLOVAKIA
Administrator, 26.04.2025
Košice Runway Run confirmed: There’s no bad weather, only well-tempered runners
The last Friday of April (April 25, 2025) in eastern Slovakia belonged to athletes who swapped running tracks, forest trails, and playgrounds for the airport runway. They weren’t pulling suitcases, but rather pulling ahead of someone hot on their heels. The illuminated runway welcomed runners in all its beauty and size, with more than 1,500 runners lining up at the start. A drum show and music along the course added to the atmosphere.
Typical April Weather Didn’t Deter the Airport
The weather kept organizers on edge until the last moment, with rain, rainbows, and wind swapping places. Even with a slightly delayed start, everything turned out well. “Honestly, I’m very happy that the storm bypassed us and we were able to let all the runners onto the runway at Košice Airport. It wasn’t easy, but thanks to the management of Košice Airport — who are very experienced in handling similar situations almost daily — we managed. The decision-making process is indescribable; you really have to experience it — whether to take a risk and whether it’s worth it. We tried to keep the runners informed from the very first moment about what was happening and what might happen,” explained the main organizer from Radio Košice, Marek Petráš, about the minutes before the race.
Košice Runway Run has now written its sixth chapter and remains the only race in Slovakia run on an international airport runway: “It’s an event by Košice for Košice — by Košice Airport for all fans of the city, the airport, and of course for fans of a truly unique runway race from across Slovakia and the world. Safety was the top priority. We closely monitored the movement of clouds and storms passing near the airport. We’re very happy that neither heavy rain nor lightning hit. We even had prepared shelters in case of a storm, to ensure people could stay safe and then run peacefully afterward,” concluded Tomáš Jančuš, Deputy Director of Košice Airport.
Winners of the 5-Kilometer Race
Tomáš Mušinský won with a time of 16:32: “The first half was with the wind, so it was easy. I tried not to go too hard at the beginning, then around the third kilometer, I pushed and tried to hold the lead until the finish.”
Second place went to Martin Folenta with a time of 16:36, and Dominik Hutka finished third with a time of 17:00.
In the women’s 5-kilometer race, Petra Šamuláková came first with a time of 20:11: “I gradually closed in on the girl ahead of me and knew that the finish would decide it, so I gave it absolutely everything.” Right behind her was Miriama Kmecová at 20:13, and Zuzana Pavlová finished third with 21:09.
Winners of the 10-Kilometer Race
In the men’s 10-kilometer race, Michal Sadloň claimed first place with a time of 34:32: “The decisive moment was probably in the last straight stretch, about 300–400 meters from the end. We ran as a trio for about 5–6 kilometers, then it broke apart. We took turns leading, and in the last 300–400 meters, it was decided.” In a tight finish, Ludvig Herich came second with 34:35, and Jozef Urban was third with 34:38.
The women’s 10-kilometer winner was Veronika Kozáková, finishing in 41:21: “It’s amazing, I just can’t believe it. When I looked at my watch while running against the wind, I didn’t believe a personal best was still possible. But luckily, there was also a tailwind that balanced it out.” Second place went to Katarína Labašová with 44:42, and Michaela Laurincová came third with 46:16.
Under-15 Category Awards
This sixth Košice Runway Run introduced a new award category for runners under 15 years old. Among boys, Marek Babuščák finished first with a time of 20:30: “The strong headwind and chilly weather made it tough, but it was manageable. I was aiming for a top 10 finish, so winning first place really surprised me.” Second place went to Sebastián Hirman with 20:32, and third to Ivan Valerij Tóth with 22:20.
Among girls, Zuzana Pavlová won with 21:09: “This was my first Košice Runway Run. The atmosphere was amazing — I love competitions like this, especially with the drum show. Even though the weather was bad, they organized everything superbly.” Second place was Barbora Bérešová with 24:04, and Tatiana Kmecová finished third with 24:55.
The first-place winners in the under-15 category also received a 250-euro voucher for flights from Košice airport to worldwide destinations.The spring running season has officially kicked off in eastern Slovakia thanks to the Košice Runway Run. We’ll see you again at the start line in September — at the Košice Night Run on September 5, 2025, in the historic center of Košice.
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A UNIQUE AND SPECIAL RUNNING RACE IN SLOVAKIA
Administrator, 26.04.2025
Košice Runway Run confirmed: There’s no bad weather, only well-tempered runners
The last Friday of April (April 25, 2025) in eastern Slovakia belonged to athletes who swapped running tracks, forest trails, and playgrounds for the airport runway. They weren’t pulling suitcases, but rather pulling ahead of someone hot on their heels. The illuminated runway welcomed runners in all its beauty and size, with more than 1,500 runners lining up at the start. A drum show and music along the course added to the atmosphere.
Typical April Weather Didn’t Deter the Airport
The weather kept organizers on edge until the last moment, with rain, rainbows, and wind swapping places. Even with a slightly delayed start, everything turned out well. “Honestly, I’m very happy that the storm bypassed us and we were able to let all the runners onto the runway at Košice Airport. It wasn’t easy, but thanks to the management of Košice Airport — who are very experienced in handling similar situations almost daily — we managed. The decision-making process is indescribable; you really have to experience it — whether to take a risk and whether it’s worth it. We tried to keep the runners informed from the very first moment about what was happening and what might happen,” explained the main organizer from Radio Košice, Marek Petráš, about the minutes before the race.
Košice Runway Run has now written its sixth chapter and remains the only race in Slovakia run on an international airport runway: “It’s an event by Košice for Košice — by Košice Airport for all fans of the city, the airport, and of course for fans of a truly unique runway race from across Slovakia and the world. Safety was the top priority. We closely monitored the movement of clouds and storms passing near the airport. We’re very happy that neither heavy rain nor lightning hit. We even had prepared shelters in case of a storm, to ensure people could stay safe and then run peacefully afterward,” concluded Tomáš Jančuš, Deputy Director of Košice Airport.
Winners of the 5-Kilometer Race
Tomáš Mušinský won with a time of 16:32: “The first half was with the wind, so it was easy. I tried not to go too hard at the beginning, then around the third kilometer, I pushed and tried to hold the lead until the finish.”
Second place went to Martin Folenta with a time of 16:36, and Dominik Hutka finished third with a time of 17:00.
In the women’s 5-kilometer race, Petra Šamuláková came first with a time of 20:11: “I gradually closed in on the girl ahead of me and knew that the finish would decide it, so I gave it absolutely everything.” Right behind her was Miriama Kmecová at 20:13, and Zuzana Pavlová finished third with 21:09.
Winners of the 10-Kilometer Race
In the men’s 10-kilometer race, Michal Sadloň claimed first place with a time of 34:32: “The decisive moment was probably in the last straight stretch, about 300–400 meters from the end. We ran as a trio for about 5–6 kilometers, then it broke apart. We took turns leading, and in the last 300–400 meters, it was decided.” In a tight finish, Ludvig Herich came second with 34:35, and Jozef Urban was third with 34:38.
The women’s 10-kilometer winner was Veronika Kozáková, finishing in 41:21: “It’s amazing, I just can’t believe it. When I looked at my watch while running against the wind, I didn’t believe a personal best was still possible. But luckily, there was also a tailwind that balanced it out.” Second place went to Katarína Labašová with 44:42, and Michaela Laurincová came third with 46:16.
Under-15 Category Awards
This sixth Košice Runway Run introduced a new award category for runners under 15 years old. Among boys, Marek Babuščák finished first with a time of 20:30: “The strong headwind and chilly weather made it tough, but it was manageable. I was aiming for a top 10 finish, so winning first place really surprised me.” Second place went to Sebastián Hirman with 20:32, and third to Ivan Valerij Tóth with 22:20.
Among girls, Zuzana Pavlová won with 21:09: “This was my first Košice Runway Run. The atmosphere was amazing — I love competitions like this, especially with the drum show. Even though the weather was bad, they organized everything superbly.” Second place was Barbora Bérešová with 24:04, and Tatiana Kmecová finished third with 24:55.
The first-place winners in the under-15 category also received a 250-euro voucher for flights from Košice airport to worldwide destinations.The spring running season has officially kicked off in eastern Slovakia thanks to the Košice Runway Run. We’ll see you again at the start line in September — at the Košice Night Run on September 5, 2025, in the historic center of Košice.
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