In 2018, race organisers RunCzech launched the 'EuroHeroes' road running initiative with the support of European Athletics, and this year the series is back with an exciting programme of World Athletics Label Road Races to help uncover some new running idols and promote recreational running in Europe.
This year's line-up includes Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half Marathon, Mattoni České Budějovice Half Marathon, Mattoni Olomouc Half Marathon and Mattoni Ústí nad Labem Half Marathon - all of which will see European-only elite fields, with the top competitors receiving prize money along with EuroHeroes status.
In 2019, more than 150 elite European runners took part in EuroHeroes races, along with a total of 105,204 other competitors, including 11,904 runners travelling internationally from 19 European countries. Due to COVID restrictions, there has been a two-year hiatus, but the series is set to return later this month.
The first race - Mattoni Karlovy Vary Half Marathon - will be held on 20 May in the beautiful spa town of Karlovy Vary. The women's race will see a clash between Poland's Aleksandra Lisowska, who won the marathon at last year's European Athletics Championships in Munich, and Militsa Mircheva, Bulgarian national record holder in both the half marathon and marathon.
Meanwhile, the men's race also has a competitive field, with two of the top names being Khalid Choukoud, two-time Dutch marathon champion, and Great Britain's Paulos Surafel, the top European finisher at the 2023 Prague Half Marathon.
Carlo Capalbo, president of the RunCzech Organising Committee, said: "We want to make European athletes stand on the podium all over the world, also to highlight excellent regional athletes. Last but not least, we want them to inspire the next generation.
"Our aim is to give European athletes a greater opportunity to compete and gain recognition for their performances in prestigious half marathons.
"We believe that with the support of the Czech Athletic Federation and European Athletics we could achieve several goals. For example, we would like the top three runners in the EuroHeroes ranking to automatically qualify for the 2025 European Running Championships, which is supported by RunCzech and European Athletics. With these races, we are also significantly supporting the cities where the events are held."
To learn more about the project, check out the EuroHeroes Facebook live recording with special guests including athletes Militsa Mircheva and Sebastian Hendel along with Marko Vasic from European Athletics.