There’s something magical about race weekends abroad. A mix of nerves, novelty, and a wee bit of madness. The 2025 Warsaw Marathon was exactly that — a weekend of laughs, legwork, and long runs.

🛬 Friday: Arrival, Wrak Beers & Settling In

We touched down in Warsaw on Friday with that fizzy, slightly nervous energy only runners understand. Once bags were dropped and rooms sorted, the official marathon hydration protocol began — a few cold Wrak beers to say cheers to being here. Nothing like a Polish lager to help you mentally prepare for 42.2K.

🏁 Saturday: Expo Energy & Premature PB Celebrations

Saturday was all about the Expo. You could feel the buzz — runners everywhere, number pick-ups, gear stands, compression socks flying off shelves. After collecting our race numbers and goodie bags, we couldn’t resist giving the PB bell a cheeky ring. Premature? Maybe. But the vibes were strong.

The official race T-shirt went on straight away (standard behaviour), and we strolled back through the city taking in the sights — Warsaw is stunning, by the way. Bags were dropped, legs rested, and we fuelled up in a lovely little square over pasta, chat, and carb-loading logic.

☀️ Race Day: Sunday, 28th October

The morning ritual kicked off as all good race days should — coffee, banana bread, peanut butter, and a flat lay that made us feel like pros.

Conditions: chilly, about 6–7°C, but perfect for running once the adrenaline kicked in.

We jogged to the start, sorted the bag drop, and managed a quick pee in a bush (as is tradition). Myself and David were in for the full marathon, Andrew and Steven were going for the 10K.

The warm-up was a mix of actual jogging and nervous dancing, more for the vibe than any physiological prep. We were feeling good — a little uncertain, sure, but that’s part of the game.

🍼 Context Check: Training, Babies & Beer

Let’s be honest — training wasn’t textbook this time round. I’d dropped to five days a week (instead of six), nutrition had taken a back seat, and sleep was in short supply thanks to the arrival of our beautiful baby Imogen. Add a few more beers than usual and… let’s just say the taper was loose.

But that gave me a kind of calm. No pressure, no expectations. Just lace up and run.

🏙️ The Course: Figure-of-Eight Perfection

Warsaw served up a figure-of-eight course, winding through parks, riverbanks, and historic city streets. Highly recommend for anyone considering an autumn marathon — flat, fast, and full of cheer.

We got into a nice rhythm, cruising at around 5:00/km. Felt strong through the halfway mark and even into the 30s, but by 37K, the legs started talking back. That final stretch? Grit, caffeine gels, and a wee internal shouting match.

Somehow, we held onto a 5:10/km pace, and David crossed the line with a PB of 3:35:35. Absolute scenes.

🍻 Post-Race: Beers, Ryder Cup & Football

Recovery started how all good ones should — a few beers back at the flat, half-watching the Ryder Cup, and soaking up the post-marathon glow. Later, we headed out to catch the football and add a few more beers to the celebration tally.

Feet were sore. Hearts were full. A cracking weekend all round.

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Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about a European autumn marathon, put Warsaw on your list. It’s a runner’s city — chilled vibe, fast course, great atmosphere.

As for us, we came, we ran, we rang the bell — and this time, it counted.
Now back to the day job… and maybe a nap. Or two.

Thanks For Reading

James