Rules and Regulations of the 17th PKO Poznań Half Marathon 2025

Download: Regulations (PDF)

I. Objective

1. Popularisation and promotion of running as the simplest form of recreation.
2. Promotion of the City of Poznań in Poland and in the world.

II. Organiser

The City of Poznań
Poznań Sports and Recreation Centres
34 Spychalskiego Street
61-553 Poznań, Poland
Tax Identification Number (NIP): 209-00-01-440, National Business Registry Number                      (Regon): 630603890
telephone +48 61 835 79 00
e-mail: info@halfmarathon.poznan.pl
https://halfmarathon.poznan.pl
The run shall be held under the patronage of the Mayor of the City of Poznań.

III. Competition Office

1. The Half Marathon Office is located in the registered office of the Poznań Sports and Recreation Centres, i.e.:
   34 Spychalskiego Street, 61-553 Poznań in the rooms: 201, 202, 203, 204.
   The Half Marathon Office is open from Monday to Friday from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
   telephone +48 61 835 79 17, e-mail: info@halfmarathon.poznan.pl.
2. On 11-12 April 2025, the Half Marathon Office shall be relocated to: Międzynarodowe Targi Poznańskie Sp. z o. o. (Poznań International Fair Ltd.), 14 Głogowska Street, 60-734 Poznań, Hall no. 33.

IV. Date and venue

1. The run shall take place on 13 April 2025 in Poznań.
2. Start: at 10:00a.m. at Grunwaldzka Street (at the Poznań International Fair Ltd.).
3. Finish: Poznań International Fair Ltd. (St. Mark’s Square).

V. Start zones

1. The competitors line up at the start in designated and appropriately marked start zones in the following order:
   • disabled wheelchair users on the wheelchairs featuring a direct drive (active),
   • elite runners,
   • the other runners – in the zones according to the information on the bib number.
2. The start zones are assigned to the participants of the half marathon on the basis of the finish times declared by them during the registration for the Half Marathon.
3. Each start zone is assigned a corresponding colour stripe visible on the competitor’s bib number:
   • zone – wheelchairs featuring a direct drive – active – white strip,
   • zone AA – yellow strip – run elite,
   • zone A – red strip – competitors with time below 1:30
   • zone B – green strip – time between 1:30 – 1:39
   • zone C – blue strip – time between 1:40 – 1:49
   • zone D – violet strip – time between 1:50 – 1:59
   • zone E – brown strip – time between 2:00 – 2:14
   • zone F – orange strip – time between 2:15 – 3:00.
4. The chosen start zone can be changed by the participant until 24 March 2025 upon logging in to his/her individual runner profile available at www.halfmarathon.poznan.pl and clicking ‘Log in’.
5. The organizer anticipates a wave start.

VI. Route

1. The route length: 21.097 km.
2. The route covers 1 loop.
3. The route is certified by AIMS, World Athletics, Polish Athletic Association (PZLA).
4. Each kilometre of the route is marked with the vertical signs.
5. The route of the Half Marathon shall be closed to traffic until 1:30p.m.

VII. Time limit

1. Competitors are obliged to comply with a limit time of 3 hours.
2. The runners who do not finish the run until within the limit of time specified in VII.1 are obliged to discontinue running and get off from the run route or reach the finish by the minibus marked with the ‘Half Marathon’s Finish’ sign.
3. Participants who remain on the route after the limit of time specified in these Rules and Regulations do so at their own risk and responsibility. In this case the provisions of the Road Traffic Law Act and the Civil Law Act are applicable.

VIII. Time measurement

1. The general and age classification shall be based on actual times (net time – counted from the moment the runner crosses the start line). The first 100 runners crossing the finish line are the exception from this rule – their official time is gross time – counted from the starter’s shot). If there is no 8 men and 8 women in the first 100 finishing runners, the number or runners whose official time is net time is increased appropriately until such a number of men and women crosses the finish line.
2. Each participant of the run shall receive information both about his/her gross, and net times in his/her final results.
3. The time is measured by chips incorporated in the bib numbers.
4. The time control points are located along the route at: start line, 5 km, 10 km, 15 km, 20 km, finish line. No readout at any of the control points may result in a disqualification.
5. The personnel at the control points note down the bib numbers of the runners who take a short cut along the route. The runners taking the short cut or changing the route shall be disqualified.

IX. Nutrition, sanitary and medical points

1. The nutrition points shall be located approximately every 5 km starting from 5th kilometre of the route.
2. At all nutrition points can be found: water, chocolate. Furthermore, the nutrition points at 10th, 15th and 20th kilometre shall additionally offer an isotonic drink.
3. Upon completion of the run, behind the finish line, the competitors shall receive:
   • in the finish zone – bananas, chocolate, beverages,
   • after leaving the finish zone – beer.

4. It is not recommended to the runners to drink and eat along the run route beyond the points designated by the Organiser.
5. The Organiser fails to accept private nutritional supplements belonging to the participants excluding the runners registered as the elite runners.
6. In the vicinity of each nutrition points shall be located the medical points and the cabin toilets (toilets).
7. The Organiser shall ensure medical care at the run start, along the run route and at the run finish.

X. Participation

1. The right to start in the 17th PKO Poznań Half Marathon is granted to the persons who at the latest on 13 April 2025 turn 18 years old.
2. Only the runners and disabled wheelchair users on the wheelchairs featuring a direct drive (the so-called active wheelchairs; type of the wheelchair permitted by the Organiser to take part – Download) take part in the 17th PKO Poznań Half Marathon. The Organiser due to the safety reasons does not allow for the participation of the wheelchair users using the other types of wheelchairs than the one mentioned above, people on skates, roller skates, skateboards, bicycles and other mechanical devices. Due to the character of the Half Marathon the persons with trekking poles and Nordic Walking poles are forbidden to start.
3. The Organiser fails to give its consent to run the Half Marathon with a bib number and a chip assigned to another person. The competitor who runs with the bib number and/or chip the personal details of the other person are assigned shall be disqualified.
4. During the run, all competitors must have their bib numbers pinned.
5. The bib number must be attached to the shirt/top with safety pins on the front on the chest. Under the penalty of disqualification, it is not permitted to cover the bib number in part or in whole, to modify it or to place the bib number on the back. Competitors who start without a bib number visible on the front shall be at risk of disqualification.
6. The provisions of the PZLA (‘Rules of Athletics Competitions’ Polish edition on the basis of WA), WA, AIMS guidelines and these Rules and Regulations are applicable in respect of the Participants of the Half Marathon.
7. By signing up for the Half Marathon, the competitor automatically declares that he/she has read the Rules and Regulations and undertakes to observe them.
8. The competitors are obliged to comply with the sanitary regulations in force on the date of the start specified by the sanitary services and the Organiser.

XI. Verification of participants and collection of start packages

1. The verification of competitors and the start packages issuing shall take place in the Half Marathon Office in the area of the International Fair Ltd., at 14 Głogowska Street only on:
   • 11/04/2025 (Friday) within 10:00a.m. – 08:00p.m.,
   • 12/04/2025 (Saturday) within 10:00a.m. – 08:00p.m.

2. The verification of competitors and the collection of start packages shall take place in the Half Marathon Office on the basis of a presentation of an identity document or a start card. The competitor shall receive the start card by text message in the form of a link to the mobile phone number provided by the competitor in the registration for the race. A competitor who collects the start package on the basis of an identity document only, should know his/her bib number before approaching the collection point.
3. The start card shall be available for download between 7-10 April 2025r, (access: halfmarathon.poznan.pl – ‘Login’ tab).
4. A text message with a link shall be sent during the week in which the half-marathon is held i.e. between 7-10 April 2025.
5. If a competitor cannot collect the start package in person, he/she must give the start card to the person who shall collect the package for him/her.
6. The start packages can be collected at the latest on 12/04/2025.
   On the day when the half marathon is held, i.e. 13 April 2025, the Competition Office shall be closed, and the collection of start packages shall be impossible.

7. The Organiser shall not send start packages by post or courier. The start packages not collected at the Competition Office shall not be sent nor issued at a later date.
8. The start package shall include:
   • envelope, bib number with a glued-on timing chip and tear-out tag for the cloakroom sack, 4 safety pins, a sack/bag for the deposit, advertising materials from the sponsors.

XII.  Classifications

1. General – women and men.
2. General – disabled wheelchair users using the wheelchairs featuring direct drive – active wheelchairs.
3. Age classification – women and men: 18-29, 30-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75 and older.
4. The best citizen of Poznań – woman and man.
5. The oldest participant of the Half Marathon – woman and man.

XIII.  Applications/fees

1. The applications are accepted via the on-line form published on the following web site: www.halfmarathon.poznan.pl or personally in the registered office of the Organiser or the Half Marathon Office.
2. The time limit for the on-line applications expires on 10 April 2025 or once the applications limit is reached.
3. On 11 and 12 April 2025 (if the limit of paid applications is not run out earlier) the applications and the start fees shall be accepted only in person in the Half Marathon Office (Poznań International Fair Ltd., Hall no. 3) within its opening hours, i.e. od 10.00a.m. until 08.00p.m.
4. The limit of the paid applications is of 13 000 persons.
5. An application is considered effective when the Organiser gets correctly filled application form and the start fee is credited to the bank account of the latter.
6. The Organiser establishes the following amounts of the start fees:

A technical T-shirt, priced at PLN 70 can be purchased while signing up for the run until 13 March 2025.

* In the variant with a T-shirt, the price is increased by the value of the T-shirt, i.e. PLN 70 or a multiple thereof.

The purchased technical T-shirts shall be available for collection at the Competition Office together with a start package.

The detailed sizes of the T-shirts are shown in the table constituting an appendix to the registration form. T-shirts are issued on the basis of the size specified in the registration form, without the possibility of changing the declared size. Changing the size of a purchased T-shirt is possible exclusively at the application stage by 13 March 2025. Regarding T-shirts purchased but not collected on 11 and 12 April, the Organiser requests that you contact the latter via e-mail at info@halfmarathon.poznan.pl after 14 April 2025.

7. The competitor has the right to purchase the start package with any number of technical T-shirts. Ordering the T-shirt(s) is possible by ticking an additional box when signing up only until 13/03/2025 inclusive.
8. The participant also has the possibility of ordering additional services, the prices of which are as follows:

9. The amount of the start fee is not determined by the date of signing up for the race, but by the date on which the start fee is credited to the account of the Organiser.
10. Once paid, the start fee is non-refundable or non-transferable to other events organised by the Organiser, irrespective of the reason for the participant’s withdrawal from the race.
11. Under the Art. 38 para. 12 of the Consumer Rights Act (i.e. Journal of Laws of 2020.287 as amended), participants who are consumers within the meaning of the Art. 22¹ of the Civil Code do not hold the right to withdraw from the contract.
12. The start fee can be paid online (from the registration profile) via https://autopay.pl. Responsible for the settlement and security of online payments is Autopay S.A., with its registered office in Sopot, ul. Powstańców Warszawy 6, 81-718 Sopot, Tax Identification Number (NIP): 585-13-51-185, National Business Registry Number (Regon): 191781561, a domestic payment institution supervised by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority, entered in the Register of Payment Services under no. IP17/2013. Autopay Regulations. The forms of payment available to the participant are: bank electronic transfers, payment cards, BLIK.

The Organiser ensures that data related to the payment process, i.e., credit card numbers and details, as well as the access codes to the on-line bank accounts, are not recorded by the Organiser. For the purpose of protecting confidential data, transactions made through an external on-line payment system shall be encrypted.

13. The following participants have the right to participate in the Half Marathon for free provided they register by 12 April 2025 and an availability of the places:
    • competitors competing in the wheelchair category permitted by the Organizer, i.e. wheelchairs with direct drive
    • participants who completed all 16 previous editions of the Poznań Half Marathon (in the traditional or virtual version),
    • participants who were on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in their age classifications in the 16th Poznań Half Marathon; there is the possibility to transfer the free start to the other person (in order to make this transfer you should contact the Organiser via e-mail),
    • competitors who take part in the Half Marathon on the basis of the separate contracts and agreements concluded by the Poznań Sports and Recreation Centres (POSiR),
    • competitors exempted from paying the start fee by the Director of the Poznań Sports and Recreation Centres (individual cases) based on the written request of the interested party,
    • winners of the competitions organised by the Organiser, Partners and Sponsors, where award constituted an exemption from the start fee,
    • official pacemakers,
    • contract competitors,
    • honour guests who take part in the run invited by the Organiser.
14. The disabled persons can be exempted from the start fee based on the written request submitted to the Director of the Poznań Sports and Recreation Centres (POSiR) or they may request a refund a start fee on the basis of a medical certificate presented for inspection during a collection of the start package. Please DO NOT SEND the aforementioned medical certificates by e-mail or traditional mail to the Organiser.
15. The competitors over 60 years old have the right to a 50% discount (discounts do not add up).
16. The runners who have the ‘Ogólnopolska Karta Dużej Rodziny’ card featuring a territorial code of the city of Poznań get a 25% discount on the start fee. The ‘Karta Dużej Rodziny’ card issued by the other cities do not authorise to get the aforementioned discount.
17. The competitors holding the OK Poznań Programme Card shall have the right to a 25% discount (discounts do not add up).
18. The bib number can be transferred by a participant to another participant, who is registered, but fails to have his/her bib number within the non-negotiable time limit until 24 March 2025. In order to effect it, the latter must complete the form for the participation transfer, which can be found on the runner’s individual profile at: https://runner.halfmarathon.poznan.pl/. The Organiser waives its responsibility and liability for the mistakes of the participants made during the transfer of their bib number to the other participant.
19. The Organiser fails to provide agency services in the settlements between the participants.

XIV.  Prizes

1. The winners in the general category of men and women (1st-3rd place) receive cups and money prizes in the amount of:
   • 1st place: PLN 10 000,
   • 2nd place: PLN 6 000,
   • 3rd place: PLN 4 000,
   • 4th place: PLN 3 000,
   • 5th place: PLN 2 000,
   • 6th place: PLN 1 000.
2. The winners in the individual age categories of women and men (classified according to net time) shall receive, for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, exemption from the start fee for the 18th Poznań Half Marathon in 2026, with the possibility of transferring the start package to another person.
3. The winners in the category of the best Poznań citizen – man and woman (1st place) – receive cups after the run during the decoration ceremony.
4. The winners in the category of the oldest participant – man and woman (1st place) – receive cups after the run during the decoration ceremony.
5. The bonus for breaking the record of the Poznań Half Marathon for the first woman (time below 01:07:54 ) and the first man (time below 00:59:32 ) and amounts to PLN 10 000.
6. The cash prizes in the general category of wheelchair users with a direct drive (active wheelchairs, without any attachments of freewheel, eway, etc. type):
   • 1st place – PLN 3 000,
   • 2nd place – PLN 2 500,
   • 3rd place – PLN 2 000.

7. The prizes in the general classification – women (1st – 6th place) and in the general classification – men (1st – 6th place) are granted to runners based on their order of crossing the finish line.
8. All runners who complete the Half Marathon within 3 hours are awarded a medal.
9. An income tax according to the mandatory law provisions is deducted from the money prizes of persons who have been awarded.
10. The money prizes are granted into the specified participants’ bank accounts only via bank transfer upon receiving the results of the antidoping tests. There is no possibility to pay them in cash.
11. The condition to receive the money prize to the bank account provided is to complete and provide the Organiser with the necessary forms required by the tax office within a non-extendible period of 30 days from the date of completion of the half-marathon. Download the form.

XV. Anti-doping control

1. The Organiser reserves the right to carry out an anti-doping control (including EPO).
2. In case where doping agents prohibited in accordance with the WADA list in the ‘A’ sample are found, the runner is informed about the possibilities and details of examination of the ‘B’ sample at his/her own expense. A positive result of the ‘B’ sample test automatically disqualifies that runner.
3. In case where a competitor refrains from having the ‘B’ sample tested, the result of the ‘A’ sample shall be deemed correct and shall disqualify the competitor.
4. The Organiser does not conduct any appeal, explanatory or disciplinary proceedings based on the guidelines of the World Anti-Doping Agency, Polish anti-doping provisions, IAAF and Polish Athletic Association (PZLA) regulations.

XVI.  Accomodation

The Organiser shall not ensure a free accommodation.

XVII. Deposits, locker rooms, showers

1. The deposits and locker rooms shall be located near the finish line of the Half Marathon in the area of the Poznań International Fair Ltd. (Hall no. 3A).
2. The runners shall give their things to the deposit from 8:15 a.m. until 9:30a.m. All baggage given to the deposit must fit in one sack / bag labelled with a tag featuring a participant’s number.
3. deposit shall not accept any bicycles or other bulky items.
4. There must be no glass or other objects in the baggage left that can be easily damaged. The Organiser is neither responsible nor liable for such damage (cracking, breaking, crushing, etc.).
5. It is forbidden to leave valuable items, for example watches, wallets with a valuable content, electronic equipment, etc. in the deposit. In case where the above-mentioned items are left in the deposit, the Organiser shall not be liable for their damage or loss.
6. An issuance of the items from the deposit shall take place on 13/04/2025 upon presenting the bib number until 2:00p.m.
7. Losing the bib number by the competitor releases the Organiser from liability for collecting the items by another person.
8. The Organiser shall not be liable for the items not left in the deposit.
9. All competitors who take part in the Half Marathon shall be eligible to benefit from the free massages and showers upon the completion of the run until 2:00p.m. in the hall 3A in the area of the Poznań International Fair Ltd., 14 Głogowska Street.

XVIII. Results

1. The unofficial results from the run shall be posted on the web site www.halfmarathon.poznan.pl immediately after the run.
2. The official results of the run shall be posted on the web site www.halfmarathon.poznan.pl upon obtaining the final report from results of the anti-doping tests.
3. The details of the participants (first name, surname, year of birth, locality, club, age category, net time, gross time, country, sex) who have completed the 17^th PKO Poznań Half Marathon shall be placed in the run end results on the web site: http://halfmarathon.poznan.pl/strefa-zawodnika/wyniki/ unless the participant gives his/her consent to it. In case of a failure to give a consent by the participant to publish the aforementioned details, only the bib number and the achieved run time result shall be posted in the official results.

XIX. Final provisions

1. All participants of the race during its duration shall be insured by the Organiser with respect to accidents.
2. A competitor completing the electronic application form confirms that he/she shall run on his/her own responsibility and liability, and shall bear the associated risk, acknowledging that the participation in the Half Marathon involves a physical effort and entails natural risk and threatens with the accidents, a possibility of the bodily injuries and physical injuries (including a death), as well damages and property losses. Completing the registration form and paying the registration fee means that the competitor has assessed the nature, scope and degree of risk related to a participation in the Half Marathon and has voluntarily decided to take this risk, starting in the Half Marathon at his/her own responsibility.
3. The Organiser recommends before and during preparations for the Half Marathon to have the appropriate medical examinations or medical consultations depending on the age and physical condition of the Participant.
4. It is forbidden to bring items to the Half Marathon route that may be dangerous to the other runners. It is forbidden to bring intoxicants, doping, illegal substances and alcoholic beverages to the venue of the Half Marathon.
5. Any complaints, comments and requests regarding the issues related to the participation in the Half Marathon and protests regarding the results of the Half Marathon can be submitted, in particular, by e-mail to the address of the Organiser: info@halfmarathon.poznan.pl or in the written form by registered mail to the address of the Office of the Organiser (POSiR, 34 Spychalskiego Street, 61-553 Poznań, Poland), within 3 days from the date of completion of the Half Marathon.
6. The Organiser reserves the right to introduce the additional classifications and prizes.
7. The advertising materials can be placed on the start, route and finish of the Half Marathon upon an exclusive consent of the Organiser. The advertisement of the items different than those of the official Sponsors and Partners of the Half Marathon is forbidden.
8. The Organiser reserves the right to cancel or change the date of the 17th PKO Poznań Half Marathon in case of an occurrence of force majeure events that may affect the course of the event. Force majeure as defined herein shall be any and all unforeseeable situations or events of an exceptional nature, beyond the control of the Organiser, making it impossible to fulfil any of the obligations provided for herein, not resulting from error or negligence of the Organiser and remaining insuperable in spite of exercising due diligence, in particular: natural catastrophic events such as floods, hurricanes, windstorms of extraordinary strength, air vortexes, earthquakes, unusually intense and prolonged rainstorms or extraordinary and external events that could not have been prevented (such as war, martial law restrictions, insurrection, revolution, riots, terrorist attack), epidemic threats, states of epidemic danger, epidemics and states of epidemics, as well as new legal acts or decisions of administrative authorities preventing the Organiser from fulfilling its obligations. Neither the Organiser nor the competitors shall be liable for a failure to perform or improper performance of the provisions of these Rules and Regulations caused by force majeure.