Dear running friends!
This Saturday, January 10, we will kick off the very first running event of the new year together with the Bratislava Marathon team! 🎉
The ČSOB Winter Series 2026 continues with the popular Three Kings Edition. 👑
After the holidays, it’s the perfect time to test your fitness—get your running shoes and your favorite running outfit ready. We’re also preparing a raffle with fantastic prizes from our event partners. The main prize is a voucher for Garmin Forerunner 570 sports watches! ⌚
Please read the organizational information for the event (instructions for the virtual version are further down in the text) so that nothing surprises you on race day.
We’re looking forward to seeing you!
Organizational information for Saturday’s event:
➡️ Race venue:
Vodárenské múzeum (Waterworks Museum), Devínska cesta 5364/1, 841 04 Bratislava (Karlova Ves district)
➡️ Event program – Saturday, January 10, 2026:
- 08:00 – 10:00 – Registration and participant check-in (Waterworks Museum)
- 09:45 – Children’s warm-up before the start (Waterworks Garden area)
- 10:00 – Start of children’s races (A–B–C) – runs take place in the Waterworks Garden
- 10:00 – Opening of changing rooms and bag storage – Waterworks Museum
- 10:30 – Award ceremony for BILLA children’s races
- 10:55 – Lining up in starting corrals – pre-start information – 3 starts for both 10 km and 5 km
- 11:00 – Start of the 10 km race
- 11:10 – Start of the 5 km race
- 12:20 – Award ceremony for the 5 km and 10 km races
- 12:30 – Raffle draw for prizes from event partners
➡️ Start times:
- Children’s races from 10:00 (ATTENTION! Compared to last year’s winter series, the start is earlier!)
- 10 km from 11:00
- 5 km from 11:10
➡️ Check-in (bib number pickup):
- Friday from 12:00 to 19:00 – Eurovea 2, inside the shopping center on the ground floor (0), near the entrance close to Eurovea Tower
- Saturday from 08:00 to 10:00 – at the event venue
We kindly ask runners from Bratislava to pick up their bibs already on Friday, if possible!
You may also pick up a bib for your friends—just bring the forwarded email confirming their registration.
➡️ Universal bib number for runners registered for the entire series:
If you purchased registration for the whole series, you received a universal bib number at the St. Nicholas Edition, which you will also use for the following winter series races.
This means you do not need to attend check-in at the Three Kings, Valentine’s, and International Women’s Day editions. Simply arrive with your intact universal bib from the St. Nicholas Edition.
If your universal bib is damaged or lost, please contact us well in advance before the next race start—we will replace it.
Pre-start notice:
We expect approximately 1,500 runners at the start. We know the running community is great and considerate, but we kindly ask for extra mutual courtesy. These are preparatory races, so enjoy them to the fullest on Saturday—with a smile and joy of movement!
Please follow these rules:
- Children’s races: During children’s races, do not enter the course so that the youngest participants can fully enjoy their run.
- Warm-up: Use the bike path or the riverside promenade for warm-up before your start.
- Course safety: Pay extra attention especially after the start and when finishing.
- 5 km course: 5 km runners are asked to keep to the right side of the road. Before the finish near Lafranconi Bridge, both race routes merge—allow faster 10 km runners to overtake safely on the left.
Thank you for your consideration, and we wish you a great running experience!
➡️ Starting corrals:
Due to the high number of registered participants, the start will traditionally take place in three waves with approximately one-minute intervals:
- Start: 5 km up to 27 min, 10 km up to 49 min
- Start: 5 km 27:01–32 min, 10 km 49:01–57 min
- Start: 5 km over 32 min, 10 km over 57:01 min
❗Lining up in corrals is voluntary, but we kindly ask runners to choose according to their real performance.❗
➡️ Start and finish are located in the Waterworks Garden area. Maps for the 5 km and 10 km courses are published HERE on www.bratislavamarathon.sk in the section “Race Day – Venue Map.” Children will run within the Waterworks Garden.
➡️ Changing rooms, bag storage, toilets:
Changing rooms and bag storage will be available at the event venue near registration in the Waterworks Museum, open on Saturday from 10:00. Toilets will be available in the Waterworks Museum, with mobile toilets located outdoors.
➡️ Refreshments on the course and at the finish, medal:
On the 10 km course, there will be a refreshment station at approximately the 5th kilometer with water available.
At the finish, every runner will receive a finisher’s medal, Mattoni water, and hot tea (tea will be replenished continuously; if it is temporarily unavailable, it will be prepared shortly).
Children will receive a hat from event partner BILLA Slovakia when picking up their bib. If they run wearing it, they will receive a package of tasty cereals at the finish. If you registered your child for the whole series, please come to check-in to collect the hat.
➡️ Photos:
Photos from the event will be provided by the professional photo service GetPica. After the event, participants who gave consent during registration will receive an email with a link to their personal photos. Please do not cover your bib number with another layer of clothing so your photos can be correctly assigned. If you like the photos, you will be able to purchase them individually or as a discounted set.
If you’re not sure whether you gave consent during registration, keep your bib number—it contains a unique code that allows you to access your photos at www.getpica.com.
➡️ Marathon shop:
During Friday registration, our shop will be available as usual, offering accessories in the ČSOB Winter Series design as well as products from our partners, which you can already find on our e-shop shop.becool.sk. On Saturday, a limited selection will be available at registration.
➡️ Partners on site:
Event partner Samsung will be present with a booth showcasing its latest products. On Friday during registration, stop by the BENU booth, where you can have your blood pressure professionally measured, your blood glucose checked, or spin the wheel of fortune.
➡️ Award ceremonies and raffle:
- Children: approx. 10:30 in the start area
- 5 km and 10 km: approx. 12:20
The raffle will take place after the award ceremony for the main categories. You must be present in person to win—if you do not respond, another winner will be drawn.
➡️ How to get to the start:
The best way is on foot or by public transport. The most convenient connections can be found at www.imhd.sk. The nearest bus/tram stop is Riviéra.
If arriving by car, you may use public parking in the wider area, for example near shopping centers. We recommend parking under Lafranconi Bridge (approx. 1.4 km walk), where capacity is limited. Please note that parking may be paid in several locations.
Attention: Parking inside the Waterworks Museum area is not open to the public.
VIRTUAL VERSION:
➡️ When can I run the chosen distance?
You can run your 5 km or 10 km, and children the distance according to age, anytime from Thursday, January 8, 2026, to Sunday, January 11, 2026.
➡️ Rules for adults (5 km and 10 km):
Measure your time and distance using a running watch or a mobile app. Then upload a screenshot or link from the app as proof of time into the system via the link provided in the email.
The final time considered is the elapsed time—the total time from the start to the end of the run, including any breaks. Ideally, run the distance without stopping; if you need a break, do not stop your watch/app.
➡️ Rules for children:
Children’s virtual runs are non-competitive. Parents upload the achieved time into the results system after the run. You will receive the upload link before the relevant winter series race. Enter the time in the format hh:mm:ss (e.g., 00:01:52).
No ranking by time will be created for children; they will be listed by bib number or alphabetically. Children will be able to download their diploma listed next to their name in the results.
➡️ By when do I need to upload my result?
Anytime after finishing the run, but no later than Monday at midnight. After midnight (Tuesday morning), the system will no longer allow uploads—so don’t leave it to the last minute!
➡️ What should I pay attention to?
We consider the time from the start to the end of the run. If you take breaks, this time will be included in the total result.
You may run the chosen distance anywhere, but the elevation must not be negative, meaning you cannot run more downhill than uphill.
Treadmill running is prohibited!
➡️ How will my medal be delivered?
The finisher’s medal will be sent to every participant who correctly registers their result in the system (applies to both adults and children) to the address provided in the registration form.
We’re happy you decided to run with us—enjoy your run! 🏃♂️🏃♀️
