About 20,000 people participated in the half marathon "Run, Hero!"

      About 20,000 people participated in the twelfth charity half-marathon "Run, Hero!", which took place in Nizhny Novgorod on May 23-24. The event has become the largest running start in the region annually.

      On May 23, a children's race was held, gathering about 4,000 participants aged 3 to 13. Young runners competed in distances of 200, 500, and 1000 meters. A 5 km race was also organized on this day.

      On May 24, athletes participated in races of 10 km, half-marathon (21.1 km), and marathon (42.2 km). The start and finish of the race were located at the "Sovcombank Arena," and the routes passed through the historical center of Nizhny Novgorod. Around 200 people with disabilities also participated in the races alongside other runners.

      According to the results of the competition in the 5 km distance, Victoria Alexeeva took first place in the women's category, and Pavel Egorov in the men's. In the 10 km distance, the "gold" in the women's category went to Elena Sedova, and in the men's to Igor Andreev. Tatiana Yergunova and Egor Dedikov completed the 21.1 km distance faster than anyone else. In the 42.2 km distance, Olga Gusenko was the strongest among women, and Pavel Ratoshnyuk among men.

      "Over the years, 'Run, Hero!' has become one of the key sporting events in the region. The running festival unites professional, amateur, corporate, children's, and student sports, facilitated by the organization of starts of various lengths. This year, we included a 42.2 km race for those ready for the marathon distance. Inclusive starts are traditionally held as well. For the first time, I ran 10 kilometers paired with an athlete with a disability using a special running wheelchair. The atmosphere is amazing—an enormous number of runners from all over the country and Nizhny Novgorod residents came to support them," emphasized Dmitry Kabailo, the Minister of Sports of the Nizhny Novgorod region.

      The event traditionally united corporate teams. This year, 270 teams registered, about 40 of which participated for the first time. This amounts to around 8,000 people. Teams competed in three categories: "Largest Team," "Fastest Team," and "Highest Average Mileage."

      For the first time in 2026, a student competition was held as part of the race. 15 universities from Nizhny Novgorod participated in the event, including the Nizhny Novgorod Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Minin University, N.N. Lobachevsky Nizhny Novgorod State University, PIMU, NNGASU, and the Higher School of Economics.

      "Run, Hero!" is not only a sporting event but also a charitable project. As part of the race, a competition for social initiatives is held with a grant fund of 750,000 rubles. In 2026, two projects received support.

      The project "More than Hockey: Dream and Win" aims to develop the adaptive hockey team "Red Wings" for children with mental disabilities. The funds will be used to purchase equipment for the team's participation in nationwide competitions.

      The project "Step by Step: Therapeutic Exercise Hall in 'Nadezhda'" envisions the creation of a therapeutic exercise hall in the Nizhny Novgorod Social Services House "Nadezhda," where 166 children and young people with mental disabilities live.

      The next competition for social initiatives will be announced at the beginning of 2027. Details about the competition can be found on the website https://runhero.ru/charity.

      "It may seem that the race is already being held for the twelfth time, and everything should be familiar and predictable. But every year, new goals and challenges arise for our team. This year, for the first time, a marathon distance and a student cup appeared—we strive to develop student sports and engage young people in the running movement. The main thing remains unchanged—the charitable mission of the 'Run, Hero!' project. Together with the participants, we help those in need of support and make our hometown better," said Natalia Bocharova, the director of the charity half-marathon "Run, Hero!"

      In addition, several large charitable campaigns were launched as part of the race: the "Beauty Run" project, the "Fan Medal," and for the first time, regional sports clubs joined the charity movement of the race.

      Representatives of HC "Torpedo," FC "Pari Nizhny Novgorod," BC "Pari Nizhny Novgorod," PCM "Torpedo," VC "Gorky," HC "Start," and FC "Khimik" participated in the race. Together with the General Director of the ANO "Center for Management and Development of Sports in the Nizhny Novgorod Region," Maxim Gafurov, they completed the 5 km distance.

      "Everything is organized excellently, as always! All participants enjoyed wonderful weather in Nizhny. 'Run, Hero!' is a great opportunity to test your strength, preparation, and also set a personal best. Everything went wonderfully, for which a special thanks to the organizers," noted Maxim Gafurov, the General Director of the Center for Management and Development of Sports.

      For the first time, a lecture series was held as part of the race, focusing on charity, sports, and the organization of mass sporting events. Guests of the lecture series were able to ask questions to world record holder and bone marrow donation ambassador Artem Aliskerov, director of the charity half-marathon "Run, Hero!" Natalia Bocharova, and other participants.

      The charity half-marathon "Run, Hero!" fulfills one of the main tasks of the state program "Sports of Russia" aimed at developing mass sports.

      Let us remind you that since 2025, in Russia, by order of President Vladimir Putin, the state program "Sports of Russia" has been in effect, aimed at creating and improving conditions for physical activity, popularizing mass sports, and improving the quality of life of Russians. The program's tasks include expanding sports infrastructure, conducting mass sporting events, and encouraging residents to participate in the All-Russian Physical Culture and Sports Complex "Ready for Labor and Defense." Children's sports are also being developed in the country, creating new opportunities for veterans of the SVO and their resocialization through sports activities. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod." When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.