Astana Half Marathon to Be Held on 16 June: Why It’s Worth Taking Part

On 16 June, Astana, a capital city of Kazakhstan, will host the Astana Half Marathon, which is one of the largest running competitions for sports fans.The track will cross the most iconic landmarks of Astana. A total of 6,000 athletes from more than 20 countries will compete this year.The half marathon is organised by “Courage to be the First” Corporate Fund, which annually has been holding the largest running event in Central Asia – Almaty Marathon, and a number of other amateur competitions since 2012.

The Astana Half Marathon participants will start running in the square in front of the famous Nur Alem Sphere built especially for EXPO 2017. The participants will run along the city central streets, including along the heart of the capital city – Baiterek Monument, Khan Shatyr Shopping Mall, the Palace of Independence and the Botanical Garden. The running event is a member of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and its tracks are certified in compliance with the World Athletics standards.

“Since 2022 “Courage to be the First” Corporate Fund has been expanding the geography of its events, now covering not only Almaty, but also Astana and Turkestan.We set ourselves an ambitious aim to spark the love of running throughout Kazakhstan, just as we did in Almaty, which now can be rightfully called the running capital of our country. Our mission is to popularise sports and an active lifestyle, and to make running an affordable and attractive sport to people of all ages and physical abilities,” comments Galimzhan Yessenov, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at “Courage to be the First” Corporate Fund.  

There are 4 distances available in 2024: 21.1 km (half marathon), 10 km, 10 km (Nordic Walking) and the Ekiden Relay. It is worth noting that the Astana Half Marathon attracts runners from all over the world with its flat track that creates ideal conditions for beating personal records.

“The Astana Half Marathon gives you a great opportunity to see the main sights of the city from a new angle, spend time with your family and enjoy the sports atmosphere,” stressed Saltanat Kazybayeva, Executive Director of “Courage to be the First” Corporate Fund. “It is very important for us to arrange events not only in Almaty, but also in other regions of Kazakhstan. This contributes to the development of tourism and mass sports in the country.’

All participants completing their distances at the Astana Half Marathon will receive a medal at the finish line. The age category winners in all distances and the overall winners will be awarded valuable and cash prizes from partners and sponsors.

For participation purposes, please register and pay for your participation at almaty-marathon.kz. Entry fees are KZT 12,000 for the 21.1-km and 10-km distances, KZT 10,000 for the 10-km distance and Nordic Walking, and KZT 144,000 for the Ekiden Relay. Registration will be closed on 3 June or when the particular number of participants will be reached.

Please bear in mind that registration for the Almaty Marathon – the largest running competition in Central Asia, which will be held on 29 September 2024, is also underway. Registration is available at almaty-marathon.kz.