16. Jistebnicky VH Marathon

The Jistebnický VH Half Marathon (Water Management Half Marathon in Jistebník) will take place on May 23, 2026, in Jistebník, in the picturesque landscape of the CHKO Poodří protected area near Ostrava. The competition was first organized sixteen years ago by the water management professionals of the Odra river basin – initially only as a 21 km run. Since then, the distances have been expanded to 3.6 km (Galerijní běh), quarter marathon (approximately 11 km), half marathon, marathon, and relay (4×10.5 km). The route originally runs around ponds and along the Odra – in 2025 it had to be changed due to beaver activity and bad weather; however, the alternative route offered attractive views of the Beskydy mountains and challenging light elevation changes (over Bravantice, Klimkovice, Polanka, Hraničky)([vh-pulmaraton.cz](https://vh-pulmaraton.cz/?utm_source=openai)). The race starts and ends at the TJ Jistebník sports area; check-in begins at 7:00 AM, marathon, half marathon, and relays start at 9:00 AM, the quarter marathon at 9:15 AM, and the 3.6 km run at 11:00 AM([vh-pulmaraton.cz](https://vh-pulmaraton.cz/program/?utm_source=openai)). In the previous year 2025, a total of around 243 runners participated, including about 25 children – this number of participants indicates a family-friendly, regionally rooted running spectacle([mkseitl.cz](https://www.mkseitl.cz/archiv/12324?utm_source=openai)). Weather-wise, 2025 was cool and rainy – favorable for running conditions, but disadvantageous for the accompanying program such as the traditional children's olympics, which was canceled due to the weather([jistebnik.cz](https://www.jistebnik.cz/aktuality/vh-pulmaraton-17-5-25?utm_source=openai)). Registration is available online or on-site on race day; the participation fees (e.g., for marathon, half, and quarter marathon) are tiered: 1st wave until December 31, 2025 – 300 Kč, 2nd wave (January 1 – May 18, 2026) – 400 Kč, 3rd wave (May 19–22) – 500 Kč, 4th wave on the event day – 600 Kč([vh-pulmaraton.cz](https://vh-pulmaraton.cz/propozice-zavodu/?utm_source=openai)). Exact participation numbers for 2026 are not yet known, but the strong local character and manageable number of participants suggest a similar scale can be expected.

Marathon (42,195 km), Halbmarathon (21 km), Viertmarathon (ca. 11 km), Galerijní běh (3,6 km – mit eigener Kinderkategorie), Staffel 4×10,5 km