Run for the Memory of the Nation: Join the Run in Pilsen to Honor the Stories of Our Liberators

Run for the Memory of the Nation: Join the Run in Pilsen to Honor the Stories of Our Liberators

We Run for Those Who Never Gave Up

The Run for the Memory of the Nation is not just an ordinary race. It is a symbolic gesture. Each participant can choose a specific story to run for. This year, as part of the Liberation Festival Pilsen, we want to pay tribute above all to the American and Belgian soldiers who brought freedom to Pilsen in May 1945. However, you can also run for your own ancestors, resistance fighters, or anyone who stood up against totalitarian oppression in the last century. This will give your run a deeper meaning.

Routes for Everyone: From Pros to the Youngest

The event’s base will be set up in the pleasant surroundings of the park behind the Plzeň Plaza shopping center. The organizers have designed the courses so that there’s truly something for everyone:

For active runners: Timed races over 5 km and 10 km (starts at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.).

For children: Short sprints of 150 m (up to 6 years old) and 300 m (7–12 years old).

For families and veterans: A symbolic 1 km family run, which is the highlight of the day. Traditionally, family members of American veterans also participate, creating a unique atmosphere of togetherness.

A program packed with experiences

In addition to the athletic events, you can look forward to an all-day accompanying program for the whole family. The Krašovská Center and the Gorily Plzeň floorball club will keep the children entertained with sports stations and competitions.

To make the 1945 atmosphere perfect, stylish American-style refreshments will be available on site. The aroma of the grill and the period atmosphere will bring you back to the days when Pilsen celebrated the end of the war.

Schedule for the day (Friday, May 1, 2026):

8:30 a.m. – Registration opens at the race headquarters

9:30 a.m. – Start of the 5 km race

10:30 a.m. – Start of the 150 m children’s race (children under 6)

10:40 a.m. – Start of the 300 m children’s race (children ages 7–12)

11:00 – Start of the main 10 km race

12:30 – 1 km family run with the participation of veterans’ families

13:00 – Awards ceremony and announcement of winners

Why participate?

Proceeds from the run go directly to the Post Bellum organization. For years, Post Bellum has been building the Memory of Nations collection—the most extensive publicly accessible database of eyewitness accounts in Europe. Your entry fee will help document more forgotten stories and preserve them as a memento for future generations.

Register online in advance at: www.behpropametnaroda.cz/plzen/