Ever since I fell in love with running and everything related to it, the words "start" and "finish" have acquired a new meaning and meaning for me. Now these are not just inscriptions on a ribbon or an arch, but peculiar symbols of the beginning of moral and psychological regeneration, purification of body and soul, "distance" - the path that must be overcome in order to achieve this, and "finish" - the successful completion of this process. That's why in all the four years that I've been passionate about running, I never go back to the same start again, regardless of whether I liked it or not.
Participate in running event “Bila Tserkva Marathon” was supposed to be the final stage of my acquaintance with running competitions in this wonderful city of the Kyiv region. In total, I took part in four races held in Bila Tserkva (three cross-country races and one road race). All of them gave me many positive emotions and interesting experiences. At first I wanted to finish bilotserkivsʹki adventures a full marathon and even registered for it, but then I realized that I have no particular desire to run the circular route again, which I have done quite a lot this year.
In addition, in order to run such a distance, a certificate from a doctor was necessary, which I did not really want to do anyway. Therefore, a week before the start of the marathon, I decided not to participate in the marathon, but in the half-marathon.
Registration
Register at “Bila Tserkva Marathon” you can through the official website of the sporting event bc-marathon.org.ua. Here, the participants are offered to choose one of three distances, the main one – the marathon or satellite distances – the half-marathon, a 5.2-kilometer run. Also, the organizers take care of the accommodation of all participants of the competition, who can stay at the "Ros" hotel for a moderate fee during the competition.
Route
Marathon route in Bila Tserkva is a well-paved and marked track. It is quite flat without sharp ups and downs. Marathon participants need to cover 8 laps, half-marathoners - 4 laps, each of which has one hydration and refreshment point.
The length of each circle is 5.2 kilometers. Several points with musical support were also organized on the route.
Run
I decided to go to Bila Tserkva on Saturday to pick up my starter pack early in the morning. Thanks to the organizers, who offered accommodation at the "Ros" hotel at moderate prices, I had a place to stop and gather strength before the start. The second half of the Saturday afternoon for me was spent on the way to the town of Bila Tserkva. Upon arrival, I immediately went to the starting point, which was located in the lobby of the same hotel, to pick up my starting package. Then I walked through the streets of the old town and enjoyed its atmosphere.
A trip to “Bila Tserkva Marathon” became the fourth and last for me as a runner to this town. I visited here for the first time in October 2019, when I participated in the first edition of the trail “Village Trail”. I was here for the second time in 2020, when I participated in an interesting running adventure during a trail race "Trail over Rossyu". The third time was this year in the spring on the track of the trail race "Shkarivski hills". And here is the fourth time - the Bila Tserkva Marathon.
So, on Sunday morning, all participants Bila Tserkva Marathon filled the streets of a small town in anticipation of their starts. The route of the marathon and half-marathon was circular, but quite flat and fast, which is very convenient for setting a personal record. In addition, it is worth noting that during the marathon in Bila Tserkva was held Championship of Ukraine in marathon running. Therefore, you could meet almost all the top Ukrainian marathoners on the track. Around 10:30, all participants of the marathon took their places in the starting corridor and the pre-start countdown began
Personally for me the start of the half marathon turned out pretty good. It was a comfortable run, so I covered the first part of the 7 miles in 54 minutes, while enjoying the beautiful autumn morning immensely. Despite the fact that the half-marathon route was convenient for setting records, I had no desire to improve my results. Therefore, on the 3rd and 4th lap, I even reduced my pace a little in order to fit into my usual time (1 hour 50 minutes). However, no matter how hard I tried, I still crossed the finish line in 1 hour and 49 minutes.
Impression
“Bila Tserkva Marathon” is one of the oldest marathons Ukraine, and it also has the fastest course for the marathon distance, which makes these competitions quite interesting for the participants. Participation in the marathon in Bila Tserkva left behind many positive impressions. First of all, it is worth noting the good organization of the running event and the crazy support from the residents of the city to all the participants on the marathon course. And to be honest, I got the impression that in Bila Tserkva this is a running holiday not only for athletes, but also for all residents of the city without exception. They treat the participants of the race with great respect. I saw this for the first time at the Ukrainian start, there was no need to go to Europe for these impressions.
