From Kaliningrad to Kamchatka. 10 major Russian cities where ZaBeg.RF will take place

“ZaBeg.RF” has twice inscribed its name on one of the pages of the Guinness Book of Records as “The Half Marathon that united the largest number of cities at the same time”. During the most “fresh” record, in 2021, the event was held in 49 Russian cities. And now the number of participating cities has almost doubled.

In 2024, the race will be held for the eighth time and will bring together more than 160,000 people. On May 19, at exactly 9:00 Moscow time, running fans across the country will go to the start of the half marathon, regardless of time zone. The residents of Kaliningrad, the westernmost city of the race, will start at 8:00 (local time), while participants from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, the easternmost city, will run the half marathon at sunset – the start is scheduled for 18:00 local time.

Taking part in the race is a great opportunity to travel around the country. If you suddenly decided to run in a city other than your own this year, this material is for you. We have chosen the 10 largest cities and told you what to do and what to see in your free time.

Vladivostok

If you run in Vladivostok, you have an opportunity that comes only a couple times a year – you can run across the famous cable-stayed Russian Bridge – the sixth highest in the world. By the way, it is the one depicted on the 2000 rubles bill.

The bridge is closed for pedestrians almost all year round, so ZaBeg.RF is one of the few opportunities to admire it not from the car window. And you will also be able to cross the Eastern Bosphorus Strait by running – not everyone has such an achievement in their bankbook!

You can celebrate your participation in the half marathon with traditional Vladivostok scallops and Kamchatka crabs. If you think you can’t be surprised by anything, order a dish of trepang or sea cucumber. Despite its specific taste, this strange creature is considered the most healing sea creature, and ancient Chinese imperial dynasties used to prepare a real elixir of youth from it and prolonged life with it.

We advise you to stay for a couple of days in Vladivostok after the half marathon and visit the lighthouse on Tokarevsky Spit, which locals and tourists dubbed the edge of the earth, because this is where the Pacific Ocean starts.

How the route goes

The half marathon starts on Russky Island and follows a picturesque route overlooking the Sea of Japan. Keep your eyes peeled – if you’re lucky, you may encounter largha seals, friendly spotted seals that have taken up residence on the island’s coast. The half marathon also coincides with the cherry blossom season – a real hanami, only on Russky!

Kaliningrad

You will be able to finish the race in Kaliningrad – here “ZaBeg.RF” starts at 8:00. The earliest start among all participants of the synchronized race.

And also the race in Kaliningrad pushes you to philosophical thoughts – after all, this is the birthplace of Immanuel Kant! Think about the eternal when you run near Kant’s Island – it is here, near the Cathedral, that the great philosopher is buried.

And after the half marathon you can regain your strength with Baltic herring dishes in one of the local restaurants. According to scientists, this fish is capable of raising your mood – it contains a lot of magnesium and B vitamins, which increase endorphins. So don’t be surprised that after the race in Kaliningrad you will be in a particularly good mood and cheerful disposition.

How the route will go

The route of the half marathon will take you along the Pregolya river embankment past the famous Fish Village – a recreated corner of the old German Königsberg. You can feel the spirit of the “city of kings” of the old Germany along the whole route, because you are waiting for a real excursion into the Middle Ages. The main thing is not to turn off the course to the sweet smell of marzipan – it is in Kaliningrad that it is the most delicious. The recipe has been preserved since the Middle Ages, when Königsberg was famous for this sweet for the whole of East Prussia.

Veliky Novgorod

10 centuries ago, laden barges loaded with goods from overseas countries traveled along the Volkhv River – the legendary route from the Varangians to the Greeks passed here. Veliky Novgorod is the most ancient city of the race, it is almost 300 years older than Moscow, and the route of the half marathon will take you to the distant past: you will run through the places where Russia began.

And also the organizers of the race in Veliky Novgorod are famous for the fact that every year they prepare surprises for the participants of the event and guests of the city – last year they arranged a real air show, and this year they plan to organize a festival of balloons along the route of the race.

How the route will be organized

The race starts at the walls of St. Sophia Cathedral – the oldest Orthodox church in Russia, which in 20 years will celebrate its 1000th anniversary. The route runs along the walls of the Detinets, the Novgorod Kremlin, the place where the first Russian republic was born. Across the river from the turnoff for the half-marathon distance is located Rurik’s settlement – it was here that the prince, whom the Novgorodians called to reign, stood with his retinue. Rurik laid the foundation of Russian statehood and gave birth to the first dynasty of princes in Russia.

Yalta

All participants of the race will be able to say hello to the Black Sea, but only the most hardened will be able to swim in it – the water in May does not get warmer than +13°C. But don’t get upset! A trip to Yalta in spring is a great opportunity to breathe the sea air and improve your health. It is not without reason that many Russian writers came here for treatment, and doctors still recognize that the mild Yalta climate helps to strengthen the body and cope with many diseases.

How the route goes

The route goes along the famous Yalta embankment. Now, when the bathing season has not yet started, you have a unique opportunity to enjoy all its beauty without the usual coastal zone crowds of vacationers.

In Primorsky Park, the next point of the race route, you will see a real riot of colors – the half marathon takes place at the height of almond, pomegranate and wisteria blossoms.

The participants will also run past an unusual sight – the palace of the Emir of Bukhara, which was built by a foreigner, Emir Seyid. He loved Yalta so much that he came here to rest every year and was even awarded the title of honorary citizen of the city.

By the way, the route is circular – those who will run a distance of 10 km, will be able to admire all the sights twice, and half-marathon runners – as many as four times!

Rostov-on-Don

From Europe to Asia and back to Europe! Without visa, luggage and flights – this is possible only in Rostov-on-Don, because the border between Europe and Asia in the southern part of our country runs along the Don River. Therefore, to travel between the parts of the world you need only one ticket – registration on “ZaBeg.RF”.

During the race you will be immersed in the world of street art, because Rostov-on-Don is an open-air museum where street artists exhibit their graffiti paintings. There are about one and a half hundred of them all over the city!

And if you like to collect records, after the half marathon take a walk along Titov Lane – the shortest street in Russia. And by no means leave Rostov-on-Don until you try the local delicacy – boiled crayfish. And if you do, you may not want to leave at all!

How the route will go

The half marathon starts from Teatralnaya Square, and its route runs along the most beautiful central street of the city – Bolshaya Sadovaya Street. It was here more than 120 years ago that the city’s first streetcars were launched, which immediately became a symbol of Rostov-on-Don. They still work properly, although Rostov streetcars are considered to be one of the oldest in Russia.

The route of the half-marathon runs along the Voroshilovsky Bridge, it will lead you to the famous Left Bank of the Don, which, according to Rostov residents, is already in Asia. Here you will turn around and travel back to Europe. On the way, pay attention to the parallel Voroshilovsky Railway sliding bridge – its mechanism was designed in the atelier of Gustave Eiffel, the “father” of the famous Paris tower.

Pskov

If you can’t make up your mind to take on a new distance, you’re on your way to Pskov – its whole atmosphere motivates you to win and not to give up. Pskov, one of the oldest Russian cities, throughout its history served as a shield that closed the rest of Russia first from the Polovtsians, then from the Livonians and Teutons – and so 123 wars, 126 raids and 36 sieges. It was on the Pskov lands that Alexander Nevsky won the famous Battle of Ice.

For the whole more than 1000-year history Pskov was taken only once. Hence the indomitable will of its inhabitants. It is not without reason that the first man in Russia, who ran a marathon on a prosthesis, came from Pskov. His name is Dmitry Yushchenko, and you are likely to meet him at the distance – at the races in his hometown he acts as a pacesetter.

After the race, we recommend you to walk around the city and meet the gubnik, borkannik and naklepk. You can find out what these are at any local food café. Hint: look in the pierogi section of the menu.

How the route goes

The route of the half marathon starts at the stadium “Mashinostroitel” and runs through the entire historical center. During your sports excursion you will be able to run along the embankment of the Velikaya River, see the Pskov Kremlin, which is called Krom here, and enjoy the monuments of Old Russian architecture – it is here, in Pskov, that the oldest Orthodox church is located. The first Orthodox saint – Princess Olga – also came from here.

If you run in Pskov, your distance will pass near the church of Nikola from Usokhi. Five centuries ago its bell ringing so frightened Ivan the Terrible’s horse that the tsar ordered to “punish” the bell and cut off its ears, i.e. its upper part.

Yaroslavl

Usually in museums it is forbidden to make noise, and even more so to run. But on May 19, “ZaBeg.RF” will break all the rules. Do not hurry to judge, better join our half marathon in Yaroslavl, a real city-museum, the heart of the Golden Ring of Russia.

If in Moscow, Suzdal and Vladimir only separate buildings are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, in Yaroslavl the organization protects the entire historical center.

How the route goes

From the historical center the route will lead you to Strelka – the place where the Kotorosl and Volga rivers meet – and will lead you further along the embankment. This way you will be able to see ancient cathedrals and churches from a different perspective.

The half-marathon will help you fall in love with Yaroslavl. Just as Leo Tolstoy fell in love with this city in his time – the writer was so inspired by these places that he decided to organize the last meeting of the heroes of “War and Peace” here, on the banks of the Volga. And everything would be all right, but Lev Nikolaevich himself knew about Yaroslavl only from books and stories of acquaintances, and he himself had never been here! Nevertheless, the famous Andrei Bolkonsky’s mansion is included in your running tour around the museum-city.

However, Yaroslavl is not only famous for history and literature: it is here that the first female cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova was born, and a crater on Venus is named after this city. So we have no doubt that a space adventure awaits you in Yaroslavl!

Ufa

If you are tired of crowds of people in the capital, come to Ufa – it is the most spacious metropolis in Russia. There is about 700 m² of space for each inhabitant, and its territory would fit seven Paris or 1711 Vatican.

And there is not a single fully pedestrian street in Ufa, so on May 19 you can see the capital of Bashkortostan without cars.

We recommend recovering from the half marathon with sweet tea and real Bashkir honey. More than 80% of our country’s linden trees grow here, and Bashkortostan is one of the few places where the most delicious wild honey is still extracted just as it was several centuries ago. Therefore, you will definitely not leave Ufa with an empty suitcase!

How the route goes

The route in Ufa starts from Salavat Yulaev Square, the national hero of Bashkortostan. The monument to him is included in the list of seven wonders of the region and is even depicted on the coat of arms of Ufa.

From the main tourist square you will run along the central streets of the city past the Gostiny Dvor and other sights. Ufa is quite a young city, so you won’t find a huge number of ancient cathedrals or other historical monuments here – but how much national color! On the territory of Bashkortostan live people of about 160 nationalities, and each has brought something different to the life of Ufa.

Petrohrad

Peterhof fountains, museums, walks along the famous St. Petersburg canals, drawbridges – we are sure that you will find something to do after the half marathon!

And also “ZaBeg.RF” will be held at the height of smelt season – recently the annual festival of this fish was held here, so don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate your participation or victory.

How the route will go

The route will start from St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the fourth largest in the world! You will run along the Neva embankment and will be able to get acquainted with the main sights of the city, which are included in any St. Petersburg guidebook: Kunstkamera, Peter and Paul Fortress, Hermitage and others – a real sightseeing tour!

After the half marathon you can repeat this route again, but already as a tourist. However, if you go to each museum, near which you will run the half marathon, you will not only have enough weekends, but also your vacation: only in one Hermitage, if you stop at each exhibit just for a minute, you will have to spend 13 years!

Moskva

The largest sports festival awaits running enthusiasts in the capital. The race, in which 23 thousand people will take part, will start at 9:00 at Vasilyevsky Spusk. Here will be the finish of the half marathon – so St. Basil’s Cathedral, the memory of Ivan the Terrible’s victories, will turn into a symbol of your victory. Victory over yourself.

By the way, you won’t have to go far for the award – the most delicious ice cream is sold in GUM, just next door! Its recipe has been kept secret since the Soviet times, and on weekends there are huge queues at the stall with waffle cups. Run faster, but don’t worry – the carbohydrate window won’t close for another hour.

How the route will go

The route of the trail will pass through the entire historical center – such a sightseeing tour you will not find in any travel agency. On any other day you would drive along these streets on a tourist bus. On the way you will meet the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Crimean Bridge, one of Stalin’s “7 sisters” – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On the whole route will work photographers, so that without photos with the sights of the capital you will definitely not stay.

In this material we have told only about 10 cities in which “ZaBeg.RF” will be held, but in fact there are many more – the half marathon will be held in all regions of the country. So if you have been looking for a reason for a long time, then pack your sneakers in a backpack and go – to new journeys and new records.