Official Regulation

ALMATY HALF MARATHON 2025 RUNNING COMPETITION

Regulations

 

Almaty Half Marathon 2025 (hereinafter referred to as the "Competition") is a running competition with the main distance of 21 km 97,5 m, also including:

• 10 km race;
• Nordic walking – 10 km;
• Ekiden relay – 21 km 97,5 m.

It is a city event for running and sports enthusiasts, where every resident and guest of Almaty can participate.

 

• popularization of running and Nordic Walking;
• preparation of runners for international marathon competitions;
• formation of a healthy nation;
• development of mass sports;
• popularization of a healthy lifestyle among residents and guests of Almaty;
• encouraging rejection of bad habits;
• support and development of sports among children with special needs;

2.1         Overall management of the Competition is carried out by the Corporate Fund "Courage to Be First."

2.2.        The organization of the preparation and conduct of the Competition is entrusted to the organizing committee of the Corporate Fund "Courage to Be First" (hereinafter referred to as the "Organizing Committee").

 

3.1. The race is open to:

• Professional athletes and amateurs;
• Participants of various age groups (determined by the distance categories);
• Parents with children in running strollers, provided they meet the applicable requirements.

3.2. Participation is available to individuals who have registered on the official website of the Organizing Committee and paid the entry fee.

3.3. Participants are required to:

• Complete registration on the website almaty-marathon.kz;
• Provide up-to-date personal information;
• Comply with the event rules outlined in this Regulation.

4.1         Time and venue of the Competition:

April, 20, 2025, from 05:30 to 13:30.

4.1          Venue of the Competition: Almaty.

4.3         Start and finish lines for all distances:

• Start – First President's Park (Al-Farabi Ave., corner of Dulati St.)
• Finish – Central Stadium of Almaty (Abay Ave.).

5.1.         The Competition Program includes the following distances:

• Half Marathon 21 km 97.5 m
• 10 km race
• Nordic Walking 10 km
• Ekiden relay (team relay) 21 km 97,5 m.

5.2. Age categories of the Competition:

5.2.1.   Age categories for the Marathon (21 km 97,5 m):

• 18-24 years
• 25-29 years
• 30-39 years
• 40-49 years
• 50-59 years
• 60-69 years
• 70+ years

5.2.2. Age categories for the 10-km distance race:

• 15-17 years
• 18+ years

5.2.3. Age categories of the Ekiden Team Relay:

• 15+ years

6.1.        Participants in the Competition are allowed from the following age categories:

• Half marathon 21 km 97.5 m – participants from 18 years and older.
• 10 km race – participants from 15 years and older.
• Nordic walking 10 km – participants from 15 years and older.
• Ekiden relay (team relay) 21 km 97,5 m – teams of six members aged 15 years and older. A team should include at least one woman.

6.2.        It is strictly prohibited to participate in multiple distances and Ekiden teams simultaneously.

6.3.        At registration, the participant's full years are considered at the time of the Competition.

 

7.1.        Expenses for the organization and conduct of the Competition are borne by the Organizing Committee.

7.2.        Expenses related to travel, accommodation, and meals during the Competition are borne by the organizations sending participants or the participants themselves.

 

8.1.        Registration for individual distances (21 km 97.5 m, 10 km, 10 km Nordic walking) takes place on the website almaty-marathon.kz, from December 23, 2024, and will end on April 11, 2025, or upon reaching 10,000 (ten thousand) participants.

8.2.        Registration of the Ekiden teams for the Competition is available on the website  almaty-marathon.kz, from December, 23, 2024, and will end on April, 4, 2025, or upon reaching Ekiden 60 (sixty) teams

8.3.        Corporate participants of the Competition will be registered upon request sent to info@almaty-marathon.kz.

Registration conditions:

• The number of participants in the Competition from the company or organization must be more than 30 (thirty) people.
• Organization’s and company’s teams with less than 30 (thirty) persons shall register their participants on the website almaty-marathon.kz at their own.

Corporate participation in individual distances (21 km 97.5 m, 10 km, 10 km Nordic walking) is paid by the organization through a transfer to the Organizing Committee's account. Registration shall take place only upon request sent by e-mail and filling out a special form.

8.4.         A participant is considered registered for the Competition if he/she:

1) registered for a specific distance on the website almaty-marathon.kz;

2) received an individual participant number;

3) paid the entry fee.

Only runners who have paid their participation applications (slots) will be included in the list of participants of the Competition. 

8.5.        By registering and paying the entry fee, a participant of the Competition agrees with all the terms and conditions of this Regulations.

8.6.         Entry fees for the Competition distances:

• Half Marathon 21 km 97.5 m – 15,000 (fifteen thousand) KZT
• 10 km race – 15,000 (fifteen thousand) KZT
• Nordic Walking 10 km – 14,000 (fourteen thousand) KZT
• Ekiden – 160,000 (one hundred and sixty thousand) KZT

 

8.7.        Changing the distance is possible only until April 4, 2025. If the slot has already been purchased, the participant must contact the Organizing Committee and pay 1,000 KZT (one thousand) for the change. If changing from a shorter to a longer distance within the Competition, the difference in cost must also be paid. If changing from a longer to a shorter distance within the Competition, the difference is non-refundable. Changing distances is possible only if slots are available within the Competition. The participant’s BIB number does not remain the same when changing distances. To change the distance, participant should go to the participant's personal account in the "My Races" section.

8.8.        BIB numbers with names are assigned after registering and paying for a BIB number until March 20 2025. The name on the number is the one entered in the "Name" field during registration. The BIB number is prohibited to contain any nickname, obscene words, mottos and other slogans. Before printing, the BIB numbers are checked for data accuracy.

8.9.        Funds directed to an incorrect or another participant's ID number are non-refundable.

8.10.      Until April 4, 2025, you can reassign your BIB number to another person by sending a request to info@almaty-marathon.kz with the new participant's details. The cost of reassignment is 1,000 (one thousand) KZT. The BIB number remains. The new participant must be registered on the website almaty-marathon.kz.

8.11.       Participants without BIB numbers are not admitted to the Competition.

8.12.      A participant of the Competition must place the BIB number on his/her chest or waist belt to make it clearly visible.

8.13.      Participation in the Competition under another participant’s number is prohibited. If it becomes known that a participant of the Competition has transferred his/her BIB number to another participant, the Organizing Committee will disqualify both participants and cancel their results, as well as deny both participants access to the next three Competitions.

8.14.       It is prohibited to participate in the Competition wearing headphones.

8.15.      Participants in wheelchairs, handbikes, or with special jogging strollers start from a separate cluster. To join the cluster, submit a request to info@almaty-marathon.kz by 18:00 on April 11, 2025. Both the participant in the wheelchair and the accompanying person shall have BIB numbers of Almaty Half Marathon 2025.

8.16.      There are some requirements for those participating with a child in a jogging stroller. The stroller must have a safety strap attached to the accompanying person's hand, inflatable wheels, the child must be secured with a seatbelt, and the front wheels must be fixed.

8.17.      Participants with disabilities can receive a free slot by sending a request to info@almaty-marathon.kz by April 4, 2025.

The application must include:

• Full name of the participant;
• Participant's chosen distance;
• Documents confirming disability.

The accompanying person pays for their participation independently. The number of slots for participants with disabilities is limited. If all free slots are already taken, the Organizing Committee reserves the right to deny the participant free entry.   

 

9.1.        Elite – a separate starting cluster for athletes with confirmed qualifying times.

9.2.        Registration for the elite category in the 21 km 97.5 m races is conducted after completing electronic registration on the website almaty-marathon.kz.

9.3.         To qualify for the elite category, the athlete or their official representative must register on almaty-marathon.kz by April 2, 2025, and select the Elite cluster. They must attach results confirming the qualifying time. Results from races held within three years prior to the application submission on a similar distance will be considered. After moderation, the athlete will receive an email notification about their admission or non-admission to the Elite cluster.

9.4.        A training record in a mobile application is not considered confirmation.

9.5.        The qualifying time for inclusion in the elite category for the 21 km 97.5 m distance:

• Men – up to 1:20:00 in a half marathon.
• Women – up to 1:45:00 in a half marathon.       

 

10.1.      Distribution of starter kits for participants of the Competition will take place from April 18 to 19, 2025, from 10:00 to 20:00. Place of distribution: Almaty. The exact location will be announced later.

Attention! No distribution of starter kits will be made to the participants of the Competition on other days.

10.2.      The participant’s starter kit includes a BIB number, recording chip, bag, and pins.

10.3.      Corporate participants of the Competition can pick up their starter kits from 18 to 19 April 2025 during the distribution of BIB numbers as specified in clause 10.1 hereof. To receive a starter kit, they must present their original or electronic ID.

10.4.      Participants must present the following documents for admission:

For participants under the age of 18:

• ID card (original or in electronic) / Birth Certificate (printed);
• Acknowledgement Note from parents or guardian(s) giving permission to participate in the Competition (printed);
• ID card of parents or guardian(s), who signed in person the Acknowledgement Note (original or in electronic).

For participants aged 18 and over:

• ID card (original or in electronic);
• Health Acknowledgement (printed or signed online).

Participants can sign the Health Acknowledgement online by visiting the Almaty Marathon website or by scanning a QR code on the starter kit distribution day. The Egov mobile app with valid electronic digital signature (EDS) keys must be used to sign online. A printed version is not required if signed electronically.

10.5.       Purchased race T-shirts will be distributed on the day of starter kit distribution. Participants who miss this can collect their shirts within 14 calendar days after the race at the office of the "Courage to Be First" Corporate Fund.

10.6.      Other cases will be discussed individually when applying to info@almaty-marathon.kz before 14:00 on April, 11, 2025

 

11.1.      Athletes over 15 years old can take part in the Ekiden team relay. The team consists of 4 (four) members, each of whom overcomes its own section of the course.  The team should include at least one woman.

11.2.      Each team should run a distance of 21 km 97.5 m divided into sections of 5 km, 5 km, 5 km, 6 km and 97.5 m.

11.3.      It is prohibited to participate in two or more teams, as well as to overcome more than one section of the course within the Competition.

11.4.      It is prohibited to participate in the Ekiden and other distance races within the same competition.

11.5.      The cost of participation in Ekiden for the team is 160,000 (one hundred and sixty thousand) KZT.

11.6.      Registration of the Ekiden relay for the Competition is available on the website almaty-marathon.kzfrom December, 23, 2024 until April, 4, 2025, or when the number of the Ekiden teams will reach 60 (sixty). For more details, please contact by email: info@almaty-marathon.kz.

11.7. Relay exchange points:

• 1st participant (start) – First President's Park;
• 2nd participant – Al-Farabi Ave., corner of Shashkin St.;
• 3rd participant – Al-Farabi Ave., corner of Rozybakiev St.;
• 4th participant – Abay Ave., corner of Sain St. (between Sain St. and Altynsarin St.).

12.1.       Time limits for completing distances:

• Time limit for the 21 km 97.5 m distance – 3 hours 00 minutes.
• Time limit for the 10 km distance – 2 hours 00 minutes.
• Time limit for the Nordic Walking – 2 hours 0 minutes.
• Time limit for the Ekiden distance for the whole team – 3 hours 00 minutes.

13.1.      Participants can store belongings in lockers only in the Almaty Half Marathon 2025 branded bags, which the participants receive on the starter kit distribution days.

13.2.       The Organizer is not responsible for the contents of the participant's bag.

13.3.      Suitcases, large-size bags and other items not in a branded bag will not be accepted for storage in lockers.

13.4.      The Organizing Committee will not consider any claims over missing items from bags. The Organizing Committee do not recommend to store valuables, cash, or jewellery in lockers.

13.5.      When depositing items in the locker, the participant will receive a sticker, which will be attached to the BIB number. If the sticker is lost, the bag will not be returned to the participant on the day of the Competition. The participant can pick up the bag within a week after completion of the Competition. For safety reasons, the participant will be asked to describe accurately the content of the bag. The place of collection will be published later in the official information sources.   

 

14.1.      Results of the race participants for particular competition distances are recorded by the electronic timing system of the Competition and are confirmed by the Competition’s panel of judges. Winners and prize-winners of particular competition distances are determined on the basis of the finish time.

14.2.      Race winners and prize-winners of particular competition distances are determined in accordance with the World Athletics Rules.

14.3.      Official results of the Competition will be published at almaty-marathon.kz within 24 (twenty-four) hours after the end of the Competition.

In the event that the Organizing Committee receives information on any violation of the Competition Rules by its participants, the Organizing Committee has the right to examine the competition venue and analyse the photo and video records. The Organizing Committee has the right to change the final scoresheet if the violations are proved. 

14.4.        Participant results are only recorded if the BIB number is correctly attached to the chest or waist belt.

14.5.      The Competition Organizing Committee does not guarantee that personal results of the Competition participants will be recorded in the following cases:

• Incorrectly fixed chip.
• Chip demagnetization.
• Chip covered by clothing or otherwise obscured;
• Disqualification of the participant on the basis of the resolution made by the Competition’s Panel of Judges.
• Chip damaged by a participant.  

 

14.6. How to interpret results – terms used:

• DNS – Did not start (participant did not start);
• DNF – Did not finish (participant did not finish);
• DSQ – Disqualified (participant is disqualified);
• CR – Championship Record (record of competitions);
• GUN TIME – Finish time of participant. The time from the start gun commencement till crossing of the finish mats by the participant.
• CHIP TIME – Personal time of participant. The time from start mats to finish mats crossed by the participant.

 

IMPORTANT! RACE WINNERS AND PRIZE-WINNERS OF THE COMPETITION ARE DETERMINED ON THE BASIS OF THE PARTICIPANT’S GUN TIME.

15.1.      Half Marathon (21 km 97.5 m) – participants among men and women are awarded for the 1st – 3rd places in the absolute category.

Winners and prize-winners of the Competition are awarded cash vouchers, diplomas, medals and valuable prizes.

15.2.      Half Marathon (21 km 97.5 m) – participants among men and women are awarded for the 1st – 3rd places in age categories.

Winners and prize-winners for this particular distance of the Competition are awarded diplomas, medals and valuable prizes. Winners of the absolute standings for this particular distance of the Competition are not awarded in age categories.

15.3.      10 km race – participants among men and women are awarded for the 1st – 3rd places in age categories. Winners and prize-winners of this particular distance of the Competition are awarded cash vouchers, diplomas, medal and valuable prizes.

15.4.      Ekiden Team Relay – teams are awarded for the 1st – 3rd places in the absolute category.

Winners and prize-winners of this particular distance of the Competition are awarded cash vouchers, diplomas, cups and valuable prizes.

15.5.      No awarding is held for the 10 km Nordic Walking.

15.6.      All finishers within the time limit receive a finisher's medal.

15.7.      The cash prizes are paid out within 15 (fifteen) business days after the Competition via a bank transfer to the personal account of the winner. In order to receive the cash prize, the winner of the Competition should, within 3 (three) business days after the Competition, submit the following documents:

• For residents of Kazakhstan: a Bank Account Certificate and a copy of identity document.
• For non-residents of Kazakhstan: a copy of identity document, bank name, address of the bank office and the city where you will receive the cash prize.

The documents should be sent to info@almaty-marathon.kz

15.8.       If a participant of the Competition failed to pick up his/her prize during the Competition, the participant can pick up the prize within 10 (ten) business days after the Competition. The exact address to pick up your prize will be announced on official information sources. If a participant of the Competition cannot pick up the prizes in person and delegate the receipt of the prizes to an authorized person, the winner of the Competition should email to info@almaty-marathon.kzhis/her address where the prize can be delivered by the Organizing Committee at the expense of the participant. This option is available only to residents of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

15.9.      Upon expiration of the above term, the Organizer reserves the right not to give the prizes to winners.

 

The Competition takes place in compliance with the World Athletics (hereinafter – WA) Rules.  

16.1.       Recommendations:

• Do not run in a row with two or more participants.
• If you slow down to a walk, please keep to the right side of the course.

16.2.       It is prohibited to:

• Use any mechanical aids (push scooters, bicycles, rollers, etc.) for everyone except wheelchair athletes and participants with special jogging strollers.
• Use headphones. Participants must hear warnings from other runners, judges, organizers and officials organizing the Competition.
• Participate with animals.
• Participate in the competition in a state of alcohol or drug intoxication.
• Participate with any items that could be dangerous to other participants.
• Participate with strollers.
• Stop on the course. In case of feeling unwell, the participant should, if possible, stop and move to the side of the course, without obstructing the movement of other race participants.
• Obstruct the movement of other participants and the competition in any other way.
• None of the team officials, other persons have the rights to walk, run, move near a participant at the time when the participant takes food or drinks.
• A participant may be disqualified for violation of these rules.

17.1.      The Competition Organizing Committee has the right to disqualify a participant of the Competition in the following cases:

• a participant starts running before the official start;
• a participant starts running after the start zone is closed;
• a participant participates without a BIB number;
• a participant neglects the instructions and comments of the Organizing Committee, judges or a chief physician of the Competition;
• a participant violates the Competition Regulations;
• a participant runs 2 (two) distances or participates in 2 (two) or more teams, which will result in the disqualification of both the participant and the teams from the Competition.

17.2.       A participant, who:

– took or received food or water at a place other than an official catering facility, unless they have been provided for medical reasons by or under the direction of the competition judges,

– or took food from another participant,

must be first warned by a judge by showing a yellow card. For the second violation, the judge shall disqualify the participant by showing a red card.

17.3.      The Organizing Committee has the right to disqualify a participant if he/she uses a video camera, mobile phone or smartphone, radio, players, headphones and other equipment in the course of the Competition.

17.4.      Participants of the Competition will be excluded from the final scoresheet in the following cases:

• a participant participates under another participant’s number registered for another person;
• a participant has reduced the distance;
• a participant ran a wrong distance;
• a participant uses mechanical means (bicycle, scooter, etc.);
• a participant starts running beyond the start zone;
• a participant starts running not from his/her cluster;
• a participant runs without a BIB number for a particular competition or if the bib number is hidden under his/her clothing;
• a participant violated the rules of these Regulations.

17.5.      A participant may be disqualified for unseemly, rude or abusive language towards event organisers, judges, volunteers.

17.6.      The Competition participants are prohibited from holding unauthorised political, social and other rallies, making provocative appeals, political solicitations, protests, demonstrations, and using any political, social attributes, logos. Those participants violating this clause will bear responsibility in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

 

18.1.      Competition’s Panel of Judges thoroughly monitors compliance with the competition rules and that the Competition among participants is fair and honest, and that the winner of the Competition is determined objectively. All sport judges serving the Competition represent the Competition’s Panel of Judges.

18.2.       Competition’s Panel of Judges includes:

• Chief Judge of the Competition

The Chief Judge of the Competition distributes responsibilities among certain judges of the Competition and submits a report to the Organizing Committee upon completion of the Competition.

• Chief Scorer of the Competition

The Chief Scorer of the Competition processes scoresheets and reports the results, draws up the necessary materials to inform judges, participants and spectators about the course of the race in a timely fashion, and after completion thereof draws up the general report on the results.

• Judges of the Start and Finish Zones of the Competition

The Judges of the Start and Finish Zones of the Competition keep strict watch that the participants of the Competition go to the race distances according to their clusters, all rules are complied with at the start and no one gets any advantages. The Judges at the finish line record results of first 50 (fifty) finishers according to the finish scoresheets. The scoresheets are submitted to the Chief Judge of the Competition for collation of the results with the timekeeping system. Professional sportsmen and specialists may be invited to the Competition’s Panel of Judges.

18.3.       Chief Physician of the Competition

The Chief Physician of the Competition supervises activities of medical staff and volunteers of the Competition during the race and at the start-finish camp of the Competition. If necessary, the Chief Physician of the Competition can withdraw a participant from the Competition.

19.1.      In case of an official ban imposed on the Competition by the government bodies/agencies/services of the Republic of Kazakhstan, including local government bodies, the Competition will be postponed to a later date. All entry fees previously paid by participants of the Competition will be automatically transferred to the new date of the Competition. The exact new date of the Competition will be announced later by publishing in the Organizing Committee’s information sources specified in clause 22 hereof and by mailing to the participants’ e-mail addresses specified by the participants during their registration for the Competition.

19.2.      If, due to state regulatory acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a foreign participant from another country cannot cross the state border of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the eve of the Competition and participate in the Competition, they may submit a request to the Organizing Committee to transfer their entry fee to the "Almaty Marathon" in 2025. In this case the request should be sent to info@almaty-marathon.kz.

20.1.      Protests shall be submitted to the Competition Organizing Committee and considered by the Competition’s Panel of Judges.

20.2.       A participant of the Competition has the right to submit a claim within 2 (two) calendar days after the end of the Competition. Claims should be sent to the email address info@almaty-marathon.kz. When submitting a claim, the participant must provide the following information:

• participant’s full name (anonymous submissions will not be considered);
• essence of the claim;
• grounds for the claim (photo or video evidence).

20.3.      The Competition Organizing Committee shall prepare its official reply to the participant of the Competition within 2 (two) business days after it receives the protest and/or claim, the reply shall be sent to an e-mail, which the claim/protest had been filed from.

20.4.       Claims are accepted only from participants of the Competition.

 

21.1.      To obtain media accreditation for the Competition, it is necessary to send the following information (name of the media outlet, full name of the correspondent, operator, photographer, contact phone number, and email) to the email address prmanager@almaty-marathon.kz by April 17, 2025.

 

22.1.      Detailed information on the Competition is available on web-site almaty-marathon.kz, as well as at the following social media sites of the Organizing Committee:

• https://www.facebook.com/almatymarathon/
• https://www.instagram.com/almatymarathon/
• t.me/almaty_marathon
• https://vk.com/almatymarathon

The Organizing Committee of the Competition is not responsible for information posted on other informational resources.

23.1.      Corporate Fund “Courage to Be the First” (hereinafter – the Copyright Holder) owns exclusive media rights to cover the Competition: broadcasts of an image and (or) sound of the sports event through any means and (or) by using any technology, as well as video recording of the broadcasts.

The Copyright Holder has the right to enter into written agreements with third parties for the acquisition of rights to cover the sports event.

24.1. This Regulation for the Competition serves as an official invitation – a call to participate in the Competition.

24.2. The Organizing Committee is not responsible for any damage caused to Competition participants as a result of accidents, loss of personal belongings, or damage to property.

24.3. The Organizing Committee is not liable for the health of participants, nor for injuries, illnesses, or other medical issues that may arise during preparation or participation in the Competition. Each participant is fully responsible for their own health and physical condition and is required, if necessary, to undergo a medical examination before participating in the Competition.

24.4. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to make changes to this Regulation for the Competition.