On the National Seaside Boulevard, another mass run took place under the slogan “Let’s Run Together,” dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev.
More than 200 participants from Baku, Ganja, Sumgait, Neftchala, and Agstafa gathered to partake in the event. The competition featured four age categories for both men and women: +18 years, +40 years, +50 years, and +60 years. There were also competitions for children.
According to Namik Asadov, the Chairman of the “Run for All” Committee of the Azerbaijan Athletics Federation, the event was met with significant interest.
“Each new competition is even more exciting. We are attracting more and more people. It’s evident that people eagerly await these runs. We are discovering new faces. Typically, residents of the capital participate more in runs held in Baku. However, this time we saw participants from various regions of the country, which is heartening. We even had participants from Turkey and Moldova.”
Speaking about the participants, Asadov noted that they could be divided into equal parts. “I would say that around 40 percent were participants of middle age, 30 percent were veterans, and 30 percent were children. In previous years, there were very few children. However, the interest among children in such events has significantly increased.”
Overall, the interest in running is growing, and it has become a part of state policy. Almost every weekend, there are mass competitions. For example, on September 3rd, alongside our run, there were two other mass competitions in Baku. In this regard, the pandemic has helped us. Currently, people prefer to participate in mass competitions and runs on weekends.”
Asadov highlighted that such runs serve as motivation for people to start actively engaging in sports. “Usually, amateurs of running participate in such competitions. They engage in sports regularly. However, there are also those who come to such races for the first time. For example, in the +50 age category among women, there was a participant who made it to the top three. She had never been involved in sports, and this competition was her first experience. Now she’s inquiring about where she can start sports. Some participants don’t win prizes but start sports afterward. Participation in a competition becomes a stimulus for them. In general, 90% of the prize winners engage in sports regularly. But even they progress with each race. I see that participants become more prepared and physically strong.”
He also announced that the next mass run is scheduled for September 24th in Ismailli and expressed special thanks to Financial Chain Corporation, which once again supported the mass event in the country
