The Monorierdei Running Festival in Hungary was a challenging yet inspiring event, testing the endurance and resilience of over 400 participants. With extreme heat and a course that included more than half the distance on sand-covered fields, runners faced tough conditions. Despite nearly no shaded areas, the exceptional support from the organizing team ensured a safe and memorable experience.
Grantham Running Club member Balin Beni, who was on holiday at the time, decided to sign up to the half marathon in the middle of a heatwave “for fun”.
The half marathon was particularly challenging with the extreme heat (temperatures reached 35°) and sandy terrain. The lack of shaded areas made it even more difficult to maintain a steady pace, after the halfway mark he started Jeffing (run walking). However, the incredible support from the organizing team and volunteers kept him going. The water stations every 2 km, offering ice, fruits, and salt tablets, were a lifesaver and the volunteers were fantastic, cheering runners on and providing additional water spray to compensate for the heat.
After crossing the finish line, runners were welcomed with warm goulash soup and a variety of baked goods and fruits. Balin commented that the medal was the most beautiful he has ever had.
Despite it being Balin’s slowest ever half marathon time, finishing in 2:19:01, he was just pleased to finish and not get heatstroke
Men’s winner was Janos Toth 01:32:52
Women’s winner was Kitti Kadar 01:42:21
