5 March 2024

This year’s edition of the Sybir Memorial Run is behind us. Let’s summarize the event!

The Sybir Memorial Run, which has been organized for six years by the Sybir Memorial Museum and the Białystok Biega Foundation, is an initiative combining amateur sport and the commemoration of the victims of Russian and then Soviet repression against citizens of the Republic of Poland, which lasted for a few centuries.

The event always takes place in February in order to remember the first mass deportation carried out on February 10, 1940 in the eastern territories of the former Second Polish Republic occupied by the Soviets.

The event in Białystok took place on Saturday, February 10. It was a record edition of the event. There were as many as 979 people on the starting lists, including 339 women and 640 men! The best results among men were achieved by: Baryslau Yaravy (17:10), Tarasewicz Igor (17:54), Dudek Bartosz (18:06). Among women, the fastest to cross the finish line were: Marcińczyk Patrycja (21:57), Alicka Ewa (time 21:58), Szczykowska Joanna (22:31).

The event in Wrocław took place for the second time on February 17 in the Osobowicki Forest. 381 people completed the run — 129 women and 252 men. The fastest among men were: Ważny Artur (17:46), Kazuła Jakub (17:47), Żarkowski Paweł (18:34). Among the women with the best result, the finish line reached: Kiedrowicz Monika (22:00), Młyniec-Kuleczka Barbara (23:10), Święcika Joanna (24:01).

As every year, light and sound arrangements awaited runners in the forest. This year, they were enriched with performances by the Academic Choir of the University of Białystok, the Choir of Foresters of the Białowieża Forestand and the 29th Scout Team and the Cub Scout Pack ‘Pomarańczarnia’.

311 people joined us this year thanks to the nearly three-week virtual run. Many of them ran outside Poland. The starting list included competitors from all over the world: Belarus, Lithuania, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand, Ireland, the United States and… South Korea!

The 6th Sybir Memorial Run gathered 1,672 people on the starting lists in total.

The Sybir Memorial Museum, Białystok Biega Foundation and our partner in Wrocław — History Centre Zajezdnia, would like to thank everyone who took part in the Sybir Memorial Run — regardless of the distance they covered and at what time. Every meter and every thought towards the victims of Siberia counts.

See you in February 2025 at the 7th edition of the Sybir Memorial Run!