Porto-Franco City

The Seaside Marathon took place in Odesa, gathering approximately 600 participants, including veterans of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Here’s how the event unfolded.

Early in the morning, participants congregated near the Sports Palace, getting ready to start the marathon. The event kicked off with a race for people with disabilities in wheelchairs.

One of the participants, Alexander, shared his experience: "I covered three kilometers around Victory Park."

"Our goal is to show that we are part of society and can achieve our goals. It was challenging, but we succeeded," he noted.

Marathon participants tested their limits on distances of 5 km, 10 km, 21 km, and 42 km. Veterans also took part in a ceremonial walk titled "Path of Veterans" over a distance of 100 meters. Children engaged in races of 100 meters, 500 meters, and one kilometer.

Hanna, who ran five kilometers without prior training, shared her thoughts: "It was tough, but I made it. I even walked a little, as running five kilometers without preparation is quite difficult."

This event was held in Odesa for the second time, according to organizer Olga Volobuyeva. This year, it attracted around 600 participants from Ukraine and abroad. All funds raised will be directed towards the development of adaptive sports in the Odesa region.

The marathon route traversed the streets: Shevchenko Avenue, Academic Street, Volunteer Street, Champagne Lane, and back to Shevchenko Avenue. Traffic was restricted along these streets during the event.