Aleksandra Lisowska and Izabela Paszkiewicz have already confirmed they will take part in the event, held as the 35th Polish Half Marathon Championships under PZLA.
Adam Nowicki and Mateusz Kaczor are also preparing to start.
The current Polish half marathon record (1:01:32) belongs to Krystian Zalewski and was set in Gdynia during the World Half Marathon Championships in 2020. The fastest Polish woman at this distance is Karolina Nadolska, who ran 21.097 km in 1:09:18 in Poznań in 2021. We will see Krystian on 25 April on the PKO Gdynia Half Marathon course. Karolina has already ended her professional career, but she will also be part of the running celebration in Gdynia to support the half marathon runners.
The best Polish long distance runners are aiming for the Polish champion title and for record bonuses. Aleksandra Lisowska has a very busy race schedule, but when she found out that the PKO Gdynia Half Marathon would be held as the PZLA Polish Championships, she decided to race there no matter what.
I am very happy that I will run in Poland, in the great atmosphere of this running celebration. My main goal is to win, and we will see what time will be needed for that! For sure, one of my goals is to hold Polish records over as many distances as possible, including the half marathon, of course. I think the preparation is going very well and I feel that I can achieve a lot! I prepare for every race 100 percent, no matter if I am fighting for a personal best, a Polish record, or a win. The pressure is always similar for me, because before every run I set very high standards and I expect the maximum from myself.
Aleksandra Lisowska – Poland national team runner, 2022 European Marathon Champion
Mateusz Kaczor does not hide that he treats the race in Gdynia as something special. He has been preparing for the season for a long time, and right now he is working on his form in Kenya.
Every start in the Polish Championships is a challenge, to test myself and compete with the best in the country. I started my preparation at the beginning of December with a three-week training camp in Monte Gordo. Then I spent all of January in Kenya, improving my form at an altitude of 2350 meters.
Mateusz Kaczor
Outside Poland, Izabela Paszkiewicz is also preparing for the season. The Polish athlete, who is a professional soldier of the Central Military Sports Team, is planning a few strong races along the way.
The most important goals are the Military World Cross Country Championships, which will take place on 1 March in Greece, and the Military World Half Marathon Championships, planned for 5 April in Turkey. In March I still have my last spring training camp in Wałcz. And then it’s Gdynia. The current Polish women’s half marathon record is a huge sporting challenge. It requires keeping a pace under 3:17 min/km for more than 21 km.
Izabela Paszkiewicz
Adam Nowicki is also a serious contender to win in Gdynia. The Tokyo Olympian knows the competition will be strong, but he believes in his abilities.
I don’t know yet what shape I will be in at the end of April and if it will be good enough to attack the Polish record. Even though the record is very high, it is definitely within my reach.
Adam Nowicki – Polish athlete, multiple-time medalist of the Polish Half Marathon Championships
The fans will help
Polish athletes who have already confirmed their start in the PKO Gdynia Half Marathon 2026 all speak in the same way about racing in Poland. Everyone highlights the great atmosphere and the support from the fans.
I’m happy that the Polish Half Marathon Championships will take place in Gdynia. For sure, they will be at a high level in every way.
Izabela Paszkiewicz
I really like racing in Poland, mainly because of the atmosphere and the great fans. Another plus is the logistics. I don’t like flying, and in this case I can get there by car.
Mateusz Kaczor
Age group championships
The winners in each age group will receive the same PZLA medals as the elite athletes. This is because, for the first time in history, the Polish Age Group Half Marathon Championships will be held in Gdynia. The Polish Athletics Association has decided to award medals in as many as 6 age groups:
- women and men aged 18-29
- women and men aged 30-39
- women and men aged 40-49
- women and men aged 50-59
- women and men aged 60-69
- women and men aged 70 and over.
Bonusy finansowe
Walka o nowy rekord z pewnością będzie zacięta. Nowy rekordzista, poza chwałą i złotym medalem Mistrzostw Polski PZLA, otrzyma premię pieniężną. Organizatorzy przygotowali na tę okazję czek na 25 000 złotych. Premie pieniężne czekają także na zdobywców pierwszych sześciu miejsc – odpowiednio:
- 1. miejsce – 8000 złotych
- 2. miejsce – 6000 złotych
- 3. miejsce – 4000 złotych
- 4. miejsce – 3000 złotych
- 5. miejsce – 2000 złotych
- 6. miejsce – 1000 złotych
It will also be worth running a fast time. Runners who meet the demanding limits will receive extra bonuses. A man who breaks 1:01:45 will receive an additional PLN 5,000. The same cash bonus will be paid to a woman who runs under 1:09:30.
Championship watches
The elite Polish champion and champion, as well as the winners in the age categories, will also receive Suunto Race 2 Titanium Black watches, funded by the sponsor, Suunto. It is one of the leading brands producing high quality sports watches, headphones, dive computers and compasses. From the very beginning, the brand has supported runners in reaching their goals and exploring new places. SUUNTO products are used by top runners in Poland, including Dominika Stelmach, Bartłomiej Przedwojewski and Marcin Kubica.
A spectacular finish on the sand
But first, you have to reach the finish line. It is definitely worth taking on the 21 km distance in Gdynia. The cash bonuses are tempting, but the finish zone set in the middle of the city beach, right next to the Baltic Sea, is something unique. The organizers are preparing stands for fans and a special setting for the finish.
A medal like no other!
Everyone who reaches the finish line of the PKO Gdynia Half Marathon 2026, no matter the result, will receive a spectacular medal at the finish. It is clearly bigger and heavier than medals at other running events. The medal is 10 centimeters in diameter, which is about 30-40 percent more than most running medals. Its thickness of 9 millimeters also adds a lot to its weight. On the edges, the text “City of the sea and dreams” and the dates 1926-2026 are engraved, referring to Gdynia’s 100th anniversary.
This year’s PKO Gdynia Half Marathon is a special race, because it is held for the city’s 100th anniversary and as the Polish Championships. What’s more, the Polish Athletics Association will award medals not only to professional runners, but also to the fastest amateurs in each age category. The organizers are already confident that the event will see record participation. The participant limit is 10,000 people, and the start list currently includes over 8,500 running fans. This is the last moment to join them, because race packages are selling out fast.
In addition to the half marathon, children will also run in Gdynia on 25 April. Gdynia Kids Run will start at noon, with distances adjusted to the age of the youngest runners. At 17:00, PKO Gdynia 5K will begin, a 5 km race finishing at the City Beach. The start of the PKO Gdynia Half Marathon is scheduled for 20:30.
