POLYGYROS RUN HALKIDIKI – ORGANIZED BY HALKIDIKI HEALTH RUNNERS CLUB
ANNOUNCEMENT 2026 – INFORMATION AND PARTICIPATION TERMS
The Halkidiki Health Runners Club is organizing the 10th POLYGYROS RUN HALKIDIKI 2026, aiming to promote and spread the spirit of sports and to showcase the natural beauty of Halkidiki.
The race is held with the support of the Reserve Armed Forces Club of Halkidiki, the Volunteer Registry of the Municipality of Polygyros, the Volunteer Women’s Club for Community Development of Polygyros, the Taxiarchis Women’s Association, the Polygyros Dance Club, the Polygyros Folklore Club, the Polygyros Chess Sports Club, Niki Polygyrou, A.O. Polygyrou, the Aetos Ormylia Club, the Pontian Association of Polygyros, the Cretan Association of Polygyros, the Polygyros Animal Welfare, Cultural & Environmental Association, Polygyros High School, the Tourism Organization, the Physical Education Office of Halkidiki, and other local organizations and associations from our region.
It is held under the auspices of the Regional Unit of Halkidiki, the Municipality of Polygyros, and the Chamber of Commerce of Halkidiki.
The Event Includes 4 Races:
1. City Run 5 km – Run or Power Walk
2. Mountain-City Run 14.6 km
3. Children’s Race 1000m for children born in 2017, 2018, 2019
4. Children’s Race 1000m for children born in 2014, 2015, 2016
Όλοι οι συμμετέχοντες, καθώς και οι κηδεμόνες των ανηλίκων, θα πρέπει να αποδεχτούν και να συμφωνήσουν με τους παρακάτω όρους:
RACE DATE
The races will take place on Saturday 29 of August 2026. Saturday 29-8-2026
START / FINISH
The start and finish for all 4 races will take place at Heroes’ Square in Polygyros, next to the Polygyros Archaeological Museum.
The start of the 5 km race will be at 18:00 (6:00 PM).
The start of the 14.6 km race will be 15 minutes later, at 18:15 (6:15 PM).
The start of the 1000m Children’s Race for children born in 2017, 2018, and 2019 will be at 17:15 (5:15 PM).
The start of the 1000m Children’s Race for children born in 2014, 2015, and 2016 will be at 17:30 (5:30 PM).
FINISH TIME LIMITS
The time limit for the 5 km race is 1 hour.
The time limit for the 14.6 km race is 2 hours and 10 minutes.
After the time limits have expired, participants are no longer covered by the organizers and continue at their own risk, on the sidewalk or at the edge of the road. In case of any delay at the start, the finish time limits remain as stated above.
AGE CATEGORIES
Participants aged 15 and above can take part in the 14.6 km race. For minor participants aged 15-18, parental or guardian consent is required by completing the relevant declaration, in which they assume responsibility for the participation and the good health condition of the minors.
Participants aged 12 and above can take part in the 5 km race. For minor participants aged 12-18, parental or guardian consent is required by completing the relevant declaration, in which they assume responsibility for the participation and the good health condition of the minors.
The 1000m Children’s Race is open to children in 2 age categories: In the 1st category, children born in 2017, 2018, and 2019 can participate. In the 2nd category, children born in 2014, 2015, and 2016 can participate. Parental or guardian consent is required by completing the relevant declaration, in which they assume responsibility for the participation and the good health condition of the children.
REGISTRATION
If the Registration Form is not submitted, participation will not be considered valid.
Η Αίτηση Εγγραφής – Συμμετοχής γίνεται ηλεκτρονικά και για τους 4 αγώνες, μέσω της Ειδικής Φόρμας – Αίτησης Εγγραφής, που βρίσκεται στην ιστοσελίδα του Αγώνα www.polygyrosrun.gr. Στην ηλεκτρονική αίτηση συμμετοχής θα πρέπει να αναγράφονται όλα τα στοιχεία που απαιτούνται και μετά την επιβεβαίωση να στέλνονται πατώντας στο τέλος το κουμπί Finish.
Specifically for the 2 Children’s Races of 1000 m, registrations can also be made with a handwritten registration form on Friday, August 28, 2026, at Heroes’ Square in Polygyros, from 19:00 to 21:00, as well as on Saturday morning from 10:00 to 16:30 at the race office.
For the 5 km and 14.6 km races, in the case of group registrations (10 or more participants in total, regardless of the race, e.g., 7 participants in the 5 km + 3 participants in the 14.6 km), from clubs, associations, teams, companies, organizations, gyms, friends, etc., the ‘Group Registration Responsible Person’ must complete the relevant Group Registration Form and send it to the Club’s email: polygyrosrun@gmail.com
The Group Registration Responsible Person assumes responsibility for the participants they register regarding their good health condition and their agreement with the event’s Terms of Participation.
Online registrations will be accepted until Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at 20:00 (8:00 PM) at the latest. After this date and time, online registrations will be closed.
A limited number of handwritten registrations for the 5 km and 14.6 km races can be made on the race day at the Race Office until 17:00 (5:00 PM), only if bib numbers are still available.
Participants must register for only one race of their choice. Simultaneous registration for both races (5 km and 14.6 km) is not allowed. In such a case, their registration for both races will be canceled.
ENTRY FEE
Participation in the Children’s Races is free of charge.
The entry fee for the 5 km race is 10 euros.
The entry fee for the 14.6 km race is 15 euros.
For group registrations (10 participants or more), the fee is 8 euros for the 5 km race and 12 euros for the 14.6 km race.
Registrations are considered valid and complete only when the corresponding fees have been fully paid.
The winners of the overall and age categories of the 9th Run in 2025 are granted free entry for the 10th Run in 2026. Please note that free entry is reserved for the actual winners of the overall and age categories, and not for those who were exceptionally awarded in place of the overall category winners.
BENEFITS / SERVICES (5 km, 14.6 km, and 1000 m Races)
Electronic Timing, Volunteers, Refreshment Stations, Technical T-Shirts, Medical Coverage, Rescuers, Vehicles, Medical Support, Awards with Trophies, and a Commemorative Medal for all participants, including those in the children’s races.
For minor participants in the 1000 m Children’s Races, where participation is free, a free T-Shirt is not included. However, if requested, it is available for a fee of 5 euros.
REFRESHMENT STATIONS
For the 14.6 km race, there are 3 refreshment stations: 1st at 4 km, 2nd at 9 km, and 3rd at 12 km. These stations provide bottled water and isotonic drinks.
For the 5 km race, there is 1 refreshment station at 2.5 km, offering bottled water.
At the finish line, runners will receive water, juice or isotonic drinks, a banana, and snacks.
REGISTRATION PACK COLLECTION
Race packs, including timing chips and bib numbers, can be collected the day before the race, on Friday afternoon from 19:00 to 21:00, as well as on race day, Saturday, from 10:00 to 17:00, at the start area in Heroes’ Square, where the Race Office will be located. After 17:00 on Saturday, if the race pack has not been collected, the registered runner will be considered absent, their registration will be invalid, and no refunds will be issued. It is recommended that participants from Polygyros and nearby areas collect their race pack on Friday afternoon to avoid crowding on race day.
AWARDS
The Award Ceremonies will take place at 20:15 (8:15 PM).
In the 14.6 km race, the first 3 men and the first 3 women in the Overall Classification will be awarded, as well as the winners of the Age Categories for men and women: 15-34, 35-49, 50-64, 65+. A minimum of 10 participants per age category is required for the awards to be valid. Winners of the Overall Classification are excluded from the awards of the age categories.
Στον Αγώνα Δρόμου Πόλης των 5 χλμ θα βραβευτούν οι 3 πρώτοι Άνδρες και οι 3 πρώτες Γυναίκες της Γενικής κατάταξης, αλλά και οι νικητές των Ηλικιακών Κατηγοριών Ανδρών και Γυναικών 13-34, 35-49, 50-64 και 65+. Οι νικητές της Γενικής κατηγορίας εξαιρούνται από τις βραβεύσεις των ηλικιακών κατηγοριών.
Στον Παιδικό Αγώνα 1000μ. θα υπάρχουν 2 ηλικιακές κατηγορίες. 1η κατηγορία: Παιδιά γεννηθέντα το 2017, 2018 και 2019. Και 2η κατηγορία: Παιδιά γεννηθέντα το 2014, 2015, 2016. Σε κάθε κατηγορία θα βραβευτούν τα 3 πρώτα αγόρια και τα 3 πρώτα κορίτσια .
All runners who finish the race will receive a commemorative medal, including the children.
OTHER TERMS AND INFORMATION
All participants in the 14.6 km, 5 km, and Children’s Races must have recently undergone a medical check-up and will complete the relevant declaration in the registration form, assuming responsibility for any medical incident that may occur during the race. For minors aged 8-18, the responsibility lies with their guardian, who must sign the relevant Declaration of Responsibility along with the registration form. The race pack for minors can only be collected by their guardians. The organizers are not responsible for any health-related incidents during the race that result from the lack of a preventive medical check-up.
The maximum number of participants across all 4 races is 800. Once this number is reached, registrations will close, and any subsequent participation will not be valid.
In case you wish to cancel your participation, please notify us by email at polygyrosrun@gmail.com by 25-8-2026, stating your name, the distance you registered for, and your intention to cancel your registration. In the event of a cancellation after the registration deadline, the participation fee will not be refunded.
During registration or when collecting the race pack, or later if necessary, the organizers may request additional information (e.g., a copy of an ID) to verify the participants’ details.
All participants in the 5 km, 14.6 km, and 1000 m races must wear their Bib Number in a visible position on the front of their body for their participation to be valid.
Participants must respect nature and not litter along the course. Plastic bottles should be left at the refreshment stations so that they can be collected and sent for recycling.
Participants must comply with the instructions of the judges and organizers; otherwise, they may be disqualified. Any protests are accepted within 15 minutes after finishing, only by the athlete in person, submitted in writing to the race office. Athletes who violate significant rules and participation terms will be disqualified from the current race and may be banned from future races organized by the Halkidiki Health Runners Club.
Participants declare that they agree with the terms and regulations of the race, otherwise, their participation will be canceled.
Runner Pick-Up / Sweep Vehicle:An official vehicle with volunteers will follow the last runners to pick up any athletes who drop out. Those who do not require medical assistance but withdraw can wait at the refreshment stations until the official vehicle returns them to the finish line.
PERSONAL BELONGINGS – CHANGING ROOMS – TOILETS
Participants’ personal belongings will be kept by volunteers in an outdoor area, in the courtyard of the Polygyros Gymnasium, 100 meters from the start line. Valuable items, such as mobile phones or money, are not allowed, and the organizers are not responsible for any loss. Nearby, there are toilets where all necessary hygiene and safety measures will be maintained.
PARKING
Those coming from other towns can park in the municipal parking lot below the General Hospital of Halkidiki, approximately 500 meters from the start line, as well as in the surrounding areas.
ROUTE MAPS
The route maps are available on the race website.
CONSENT FOR PERSONAL DATA
By completing the Registration Form, participants consent to the free use of their name and image by the Organizers, the Media, and the race Sponsors.
RIGHT TO MODIFY – POSTPONE
For reasons of force majeure or emergency (e.g., storm, fire, pandemic, etc.), the Organizers, if deemed necessary for the safe and smooth conduct of the race, have the right to cancel the races, postpone them, change their date, modify the course, adjust the start time, or alter the race regulations.
In the event of a definitive race cancellation due to force majeure, the entry fee will be refunded after deducting any bank transfer charges. If only the race date is changed, the entry fee will not be refunded but will be transferred to the new race date.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION – 5 KM CITY RUN
Start time 18:00. The Start and Finish are at Heroes’ Square in Polygyros. The 5 km city run passes through main streets and landmarks in the city.
The route is asphalted and is suitable for beginner or experienced 5 km runners, students, hikers, club members (not necessarily athletic), and generally anyone who wishes to participate in a running event, either by running or brisk walking.
All participants are welcome to join the 5 km city run, including minors aged 12–18.
There will be a hydration station with bottled water at the 2.5 km mark. At the finish line, bottled water, juices or isotonic drinks, and bananas will be provided.
The time limit for finishing is 1 hour.
The entry fee is 10 euros and is payable upon submission of the Registration Form.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE 14.6 KM RACE
Start time: 18:15. The start/finish is at Heroes’ Square in Polygyros. The 14.6 km race has a total positive elevation gain of 557 m and includes 9.7 km of smooth dirt forest road on Tsoukalas Mountain in Polygyros, without technical difficulties, and 5 km of asphalt, both inside and outside the town. It is suitable for runners of intermediate and advanced experience.
The route is stunning, combining city and mountain, and offers views of all of Halkidiki, Kassandra, Sithonia, Mount Athos, and Cholomontas. Participation in the 14.6 km race is open to all athletes over 15 years old, who, by accepting and agreeing to the race regulations, run at their own risk.
For the 14.6 km race, there will be 3 hydration stations. At the finish line, bottled water, juices or isotonic drinks, and bananas will be provided.
The time limit for finishing is 2 hours and 10 minutes.
The participation fee for the 14.6 km race is 15 euros and must be paid upon submission of the Registration Form.
Contact Information:
Tel. 6944831115 (Nikos Kentis)
email: polygyrosrun@gmail.com
Website: www.polygyrosrun.gr