National Devin-Bratislava Run to See Record Participation on Sunday

Bratislava, April 5 (TASR) – Following the 2017 Bratislava Marathon, which took place in the capital last weekend, another significant running event is due to be held in Bratislava this coming Sunday (April 9) – the 70th National Devin-Bratislava Run, TASR learnt on Wednesday.

A record number of runners is expected to participate in this year’s run, which is Slovakia’s oldest sporting event.

“We have 6,824 registered people, and we might cross the threshold of 7,000 runners, as there’s still an opportunity to register,” said Peter Vojtko from the Sports and Recreational Facilities Administration (STaRZ), which along with the capital city has organised the run for the 25th time.

Vojtko went on to say that the participants of this year’s run will see several innovations, such as a publication devoted to the event, a medal for all the runners, a photographic exhibition depicting the history of the event and an interesting cultural programme.

According to Bratislava mayor Ivo Nesrovnal, the run is the highlight of Bratislava’s sporting life, and its 70th anniversary with a record number of runners proves that it’s a successful tradition. “It [the run] was created to commemorate a trip to Devin Castle taken by [Ludovit] Stur’s group [of national revivalists]. They probably also ran from there because they didn’t pay the bill in a pub,” said Nesrovnal with a smile, adding that he himself will participate in the 11,625-metre run.

In addition to Slovak runners, enthusiasts from the Czech Republic, Ukraine, the United States and even from China and Mexico will take part.

Meanwhile, Nesrovnal, Vojtko and the winner of the run in 1972 Anton Javorka at the press conference ceremonially presented a new book entitled National Run Devin-Bratislava, which documents the 70 years of the event with text and images.