The Maritime Telegraph with support and sponsorship of Pivdennyi bank; “Karabiner,” the security agency; ODREX, the medical home; Avant, the training center for seamen; iTravelUa, the travel agency; and Alpha Navigation, the crewing company, organized a 5 km race which took place in Odessa on the “Health Road” on Sunday, February 26.
Seamen, cadets of Odessa maritime academy, the staff of the crewing companies, and also Pivdenny bank employees participated in the race.
Konstantin Abakumov, a cadet of NU Odessa Maritime Academy, was the winner of the race, overcoming the 5 km distance in 21 minutes 41 seconds. He will go to Hamburg to take part in the annual HASPA Marathon as a member of the E.R. Schiffahrt — Alpha Navigation team. All expenses and arrangements (flight, accommodation, participation in the marathon) will be provided by the travel agency iTravelUA.
The second and the third place finishers were Vadim Osovsky and Valeria Kachur and won prizes from the iTravelUA company and The Maritime Telegraph.
Race winner, Abakumov, shared his impressions:
“The girls from the crewing company, where I had done practical training, called me and suggested I participate in the race. I have been jogging for awhile, and a chance to run in such good company was much different from running alone in a stadium. I liked the event very much! My impressions are very positive! Thanks a lot to the organizers of such event and to competitors for good competition”, – K. Abakumov emphasized.
Second place finisher, Vadim Osovsky, also thanked the organizers: “It was very pleasant to participate in such a competition. Everything was much more interesting than I had expected. I am also very glad that such events are held in our city. I am not disappointed with second place because the competitors were very good. I will participate and will try to show a better result next time”.
“I want to say, thank you to the organizers of such a fine race which motivated people to run these 5 kilometers. The distance is not difficult for me. I didn’t experience any difficulties during the race. I love the sport. I run with the running club ‘Nike +’. It is a very strong club with great trainers. We regularly go to different cities in Ukraine and abroad. Therefore, everyone can join us. Yesterday we ran 10 km here, all our girls won prizes. I have gotten many awards for participation in races, and it was very pleasant to be the third today and to get a bowling club gift certificate from The Maritime Telegraph and iTravelUa,” Valeria Kachur said.
Three sisters participated in our running: Vera, Nadezhda and Lyubov Mikhaylova. They were a real surprise for the organizers and graced this sports competition!
“The main thing is participation – not a victory. I am very glad that I could run with my sisters today, even though we didn’t win prizes. We run on the Health Road and today we joined the race. It was great,” Vera Mikhaylova added.
HASPA Marathon Hamburg, in which the winner of the race will take part, is the biggest spring marathon in Germany and has been held every year since 1986. About 15 thousand people from the different countries start. It’s a marathon distance race of 42.195 kilometers (relay for 4 participants, replacement points are at 16.3/11.2/5.4/9.4 km). This year the marathon will take place on April 23 in Hamburg.
Our editorial office wishes good luck to Konstantin Abakumov in the HASPA Marathon, Hamburg!
