One of the largest running races in Hungary, the Duplakanyar, started on Saturday morning with the start of the 62-kilometer distance. The route of the running race led through the beautiful surroundings of the Danube, which also passed between Nagymaros and Visegrád in the more than 500-meter long Danube tunnel of DMRV Zrt.
After the early morning start of the 62-kilometer runners, the warm-up continued at the football field in Nagymaros, where, before the start of the 5-km and 12-kilometer runners, at 10 a.m. mayor, prominent supporters of the running race, Zsolt Szilágyi, president and CEO of DDC Zrt., and Tibor Sári, managing director of Szobi Italgyártó Kft., greeted the hundreds of runners.
Balázs Heinczinger, the mayor of Nagymaros, took to the stage first, who expressed his joy that the city can once again host a popular sports competition.
“Culture and sports occupy a prominent place in Nagymaros,” declared the mayor of the beautiful small town on the Danube. Balázs Heinczinger spoke with appreciation about the fact that many more people are starting the longest distance, the 62 km, this year than last year. According to the mayor, the highly successful World Athletics Championship in Budapest has an extremely positive effect on leisure sports, which is also reflected in the number of participants in the Duplakanyar running race. The mayor of Nagymaros thanked the organizers and supporters of the running race, wished the runners a good race, and asked them to take care of each other and reach the finish line healthy.
Zsolt Szilágyi, the president and CEO of Duna-Dráva Cement Zrt., shared his personal feelings and said that it is a great experience to see so many enthusiastic, joyful, and excited faces, who are united by a common hobby, the magical experience of running.
– That is why I am happy that I can also greet you, who can run in the beautiful natural environment, in the embrace of the Börzsöny, the Pilis, the Danube, among the settlements along the Danube – said the president and CEO of DDC Zrt., who emphasized that he considers it an honor to their company in Vác, which turns 60 this year, can support the running race, whose social responsibility includes health protection programs, green environmental protection, and support for talent management.
Tibor Sári, representing Piroska Szörp and Szobi Italgyártó, encouraged the runners and wished them to meet again next year at the Duplakanyar running race, because he hopes that soon we will be able to talk about a tradition that will attract a wide range of people who want to do sports.
Bence Rétvári, KDNP member of parliament of the region and main patron of the Duplakanyar running race, said in his greeting that they are constantly thinking and working on how to make the Danube Bend, which boasts of beautiful natural values and is easily accessible by car, train and boat, even more spectacular and attractive to tourists.
– The result of our joint thinking is the Double Bend running race, which is unique on the Hungarian section of the Danube. In addition, it also offers the special experience that runners can walk with dry feet through the Danube tunnel of DMRV Zrt. between Nagymaros and Visegrád – we heard from the member of parliament.
Bence Rétvári spoke with a good feeling about the success of their idea, which is popular among the sports-loving public and runners. – I am glad that, in addition to the runners, the companies supporting the event and the municipalities also supported us, thanks to them – and the government’s support – we can organize one of the most successful running races in our country, which runs over 3 rivers, 2 countries, 3 bridges, and 1 tunnel – explained the event its main patron, who wished everyone a pleasant sporting experience and a good run.
After the countdown, after the starting pistol went off, the crowded field of the Duplakanyar running race started. Imre Vetési
Photo: KesziPress
