Luzhniki2024 Half Marathon: time, place, history and route

“Luzhniki” is one of the capital’s most massive 21.1 km races. Thousands of people have run it in different years, but some things have never changed. It’s not hard to guess that it’s about the venue. This Sunday, August 18, the long-awaited race will take place at the appointed time.

Registration is closed, but you can always join the sporting event as a fan.

Story

Director of the Luzhniki Half Marathon and co-founder of the Running Community

“Luzhniki” is a place where literally everything is imbued with the sports history of Russia. It is here that in different years landmark events for our country, large-scale competitions and legendary events took place. And we are glad that today all participants of the half marathon have an opportunity to touch the history of the legendary stadium, to feel themselves a part of it, preserving and multiplying traditions”.

The Luzhniki Half Marathon has been held in Moscow every year since 2017, with the exceptions being 2020 and 2021. This start will be the sixth. However, the history of the race is much richer and begins back in 2014. Then the competition was called “Musical Half Marathon”.

In 2014, this race was the last start in a series of preparatory races for the Moscow Marathon. In addition to the half-marathon distance, the sports program also included a 10 km race and a handbike race. At that time, 15 para-athletes took part in the competition, and a total of 3222 people finished the race.

A distinctive feature of the start in 2015 was a bright musical show. Along the route, according to tradition, there were stages, and after the awarding ceremony the participants were welcomed by Vladi, who presented his new composition “Wake up the neighborhood”. The end of the race that year was the concert of the Moscow Marathon Ambassador – 2015 ST, who once again came to congratulate the participants and performed his favorite tracks.

2017 changed a lot of things – for the first time the half marathon was held under the name “Luzhniki” and was dedicated to the history of the legendary Olympic complex. This start inherited its impressive route and date from the “Musical Half Marathon”. This year the race was attended by athletes in racing wheelchairs, which had never happened before. And on the eve of the organizers arranged a real city holiday with a food court and an open-air cinema.

The 2018 race pleased not only adults, but also young athletes – for the first time there was a Children’s race for 400 and 800 meters with separate starts for different ages.

Also on the eve of the half marathon, pole vaulting competitions were organized. They were attended by 2008 Olympic silver medalist Evgeny Lukyanenko, 2014 European Championship bronze medalist Angelina Zhuk-Krasnova, as well as many other titled Russian athletes.

In 2022, the race returned with an innovation – a relay race for all comers was held as part of the half marathon. This had never happened before in the history of the Running Community. Until then, this format was available only for corporate teams, but now everyone could register their team. The number of participants was already approaching 6 thousand – 5770 people and more than 50 relay teams reached the finish line. At the same time the participants of children’s races in two senior categories 10-11 and 12-13 years old climbed the podium for the first time. And the competitions for athletes on handbikes and racing wheelchairs were held for the last time.

This year not only adult runners, but also beginners will be able to touch the history of the Olympic complex. On the eve of the half marathon, on August 17, on the territory of the “Sports Town” at Luzhniki Street, 24c11, a Children’s Run will be held. This time – in a renewed format: young runners from 4 to 13 years old will go to the start and without the help of parents will overcome the distance of 400 meters and 800 meters, depending on the age category. An award ceremony will be held for the three boys and girls with the best results in each age group. All finishers will receive medals.

The charity partner of all the races of the Running Community, the Arithmetic of Goodness Foundation, will also join the half marathon. The Foundation is dedicated to systematically solving the problem of orphanhood in Russia and works to ensure that every child is brought up in a caring family.

At the Luzhniki Half Marathon, the Foundation will launch the “Share your experience” campaign, where experienced athletes will be able to help novice runners, graduates of orphanages, to make a choice in favor of a healthy lifestyle. Participation in the races is one of the Foundation’s programs for socialization of orphanage graduates and their first experience of independent travel planning. Everyone will be able to participate by taking a special survey at the event or online. The answers will be compiled into a handbook “About Life and Running”, which will be given to the Foundation’s wards.

Luzhniki Half Marathon records:

• Dmitry Safronov – 1:06.27, 2018.
• Elena Sedova – 1:15.07, 2023.

Date and time

The 2024 Half Marathon will take place on August 18, with the children’s start taking place the day before, and start packets will be handed out during the two days preceding the start of the race.

You can read more about the schedule below.

Friday, August 16

• 15:00-20:00 – issuance of start packets to registered participants of the 21.1 km race, relay race and Children’s race at the Small Sports Arena of the Olympic Complex “Luzhniki”.

Saturday, August 17

• 11:00-18:00 – issuance of start packages to registered participants of the 21.1 km race and relay race. Issuance of numbers to the participants of the Children’s Run will end at 13:30 at the Small Sports Arena of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex.
• 13:00 – start of changing rooms and animation for the participants of the Children’s Run.
• 14:00-16:30 – Children’s race.

It is not possible to get a participant’s packet on the day of the race.

Sunday, August 18

• 7:00 – opening of the starting camp, beginning of work of locker rooms and storage rooms.
• 8:30 – start of the half marathon and relay race.
• 10:30 – awarding of winners and prize-winners.
• 12:10 – closing.

It is worth mentioning the start package itself, which includes a number with a timing chip, pins, wristband and a sticker for the luggage room. All finishers, of course, will receive a medal. Also everyone will be able to buy a unique T-shirt in the style of the race.

Route

It is impossible not to say about what you will see during the race. The route of the Luzhniki Half Marathon passes in one circle along the embankments of the capital: Luzhnetskaya, Frunzenskaya, Prechistenskaya, Kremlin, Moskvoretskaya, Kotelnicheskaya and others. The incredible view of the water and all the nearby sights will be the best background for the challenging distance.

Participants will see the building of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the National Defense Control Center of the Russian Federation, the high-rise on Kotelnicheskaya Embankment, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Christ the Savior Cathedral and the Kremlin. And this is not the whole list!

How does it go?

The history of the legendary stadium as a space for the development of sports in Russia and the USSR became the basis for the concept of the half marathon. “Luzhniki” – the center of victories and sports hopes, large-scale competitions and legendary events. The half marathon is an opportunity for each participant to touch the history of the legendary sports complex, to become a part of it, preserving and multiplying the existing traditions.

This year about 60% of runners will start the Luzhniki Half Marathon for the first time, 32% of them have never participated in a race of the Running Community before. Therefore, be attentive to those who will cover the distance with you.

The start itself is divided into seven clusters. The corresponding letter is indicated on each participant’s number. Look for signs in the start and finish area to get to your cluster. Please note that you cannot start running in an earlier cluster, as this may lead to disqualification. But in case of late start from a later cluster is allowed.

As the start is staggered, you must listen carefully to the judges’ instructions. Also, some clusters will have pacesetters – professional athletes – to help you stay on track and run the course within a certain time limit.

Scooters, rollerblades, skateboards and any other mechanical means of transportation are prohibited on the course. Strollers and pets are also not allowed. This can distract other athletes or even cause injury.

Food and refreshment stations are located along the route to help make your run as comfortable as possible. And in case any of the participants feel unwell, medical staff will provide the necessary assistance.

The time limit for the half marathon distance is 3 hours. The finish line closes at 12:10. All those who manage to cross the line in the allotted time will receive medals.

Hur tar man sig dit?

The start of the race “Luzhniki” is scheduled for 8:30 from the start and finish camp, which is located near Luzhniki Street. If you go by metro, go to Sportivnaya metro station or Luzhniki MCC station, from there go to the central entrance of the Luzhniki Olympic complex, follow the signs on the territory of the complex. Everything is provided for the participants here: locker rooms, toilets and a luggage room.

Results

Your result is under full control, it is recorded by the judges, the video registration system at the finish line and an electronic chip in your start number, so every second will count. Don’t worry, you will have an accurate and reliable result from crossing the start line to crossing the finish line.

Most importantly, don’t bend the number, crumple it or store it near magnets – this can ruin the chip. Also, attach it to your chest so the judges can easily read it.

Preliminary results are emailed and texted to the phone number you provide when you register. Final results will be posted on the website.

Awarding

In the 21.1 km race, participants are awarded from first to fifth place among men and women in the absolute championship. So a runner gets on the podium regardless of the cluster, the main thing is to cross the line in the top five. Separately, awards are given for age groups from first to third place for men and women.

Don’t put off a sporting event that you can participate in soon. And if now you feel that you are not ready, it’s time to start training for the next start.