On April 18, the fifth international charity running event of the Samarkand Marathon series — Bukhara Night Race 2026 — was held in the historic center of Bukhara. Organized by the Culture and Art Development Fund, the race featured distances of 5 km, 10 km, and 21.1 km (half marathon). Participants included not only professional athletes but also amateur runners, Nordic walking enthusiasts, and children, with ages ranging from 3 to 79 years old.

This year's event brought together over 3500 participants and guests from 26 countries, including the US, Japan, the UK, France, and neighboring Central Asian nations. The start and finish points were traditionally located near the Ark Fortress, with the route passing through city landmarks such as the Poi Kalon complex, Labi Hovuz ensemble, Toqi Telpakfurushon, and Abdullakhan. Special lighting of monuments at night created a unique atmosphere for the race.

The highlight of the marathon was the setting of a new course record in the 10 km distance. Russian runner Rinas Akhmadeev completed the distance in 28:42, improving the 2024 record (30:15) by nearly one and a half minutes. The 21.1 km and 10 km distances are certified by World Athletics and AIMS, with winners receiving cash prizes: in the half marathon, 1st place — 16 million, 2nd — 13 million, 3rd — 11 million soums; in the 10 km, 1st place — 7 million, 2nd — 4 million, 3rd — 3 million soums.

To ensure safety, traffic on the streets was temporarily restricted, with medical assistance and volunteer patrols organized along the entire route. As part of the “Cleaner Than Before” program, a plogging event (collecting trash while running) was held, contributing to city cleanliness. The evening concluded with a musical program featuring DJs.

The next major running event is scheduled for June 13-14 in the mountain slopes of the Zomin district in Jizzakh region. Detailed information can be found on the samarkandmarathon.uz website.

Source: www.gazeta.uz