HISTORY

"The only witnesses were Turňa Castle, gnawed away by time, and one great lone tree standing below it. Probably five hundred metres beyond the village bearing the same name as the ruins, Turňa. Beneath this tree, beside the high road, the photographic artist focussed the lens of his instrument on eight runners and a handful of other figures, all obsessed for a couple of weeks now with one common idea – to transform the marathon dream into reality. A threesome of East Slovakian sports officials returned with this dream from Paris to Košice in 1924. For it was on one hot summer’s day in the Colombes Stadium at the seventh Olympic Games that they were gripped by this most noble of all athletic disciplines..

Those men, who remain to this day captured on that wonderful old yellowed photograph in their vests and shorts, even though it was October 28th and late in the year, had a true baptism of fire awaiting them, a trial of as yet untested strengths and abilities. Ahead of them through this attractive, interesting countryside stretched more than 42 km of road all the way back to Košice."

...extract from the publication MMM Košice 1924-1999

A brief overview of the history of the event is brought to you by "MARATHON MILESTONES" capturing some of the many interesting moments during the years 1924 - 2007

If you have the taste and time, read yourself the story of the Kosice marathon the same way as it was recorded by the authors of the book publication in the year 1999.

To download the complete publication MMM 1924-1999 in the format pdf: