Running 

St. Petersburg, summer, and running are just the perfect combination, it seems – how else would you explain the plethora of races, big and small, that are held in the city every year? From a white night marathon to a team race, athletes have plenty to choose from.

If you want to support the runners, you just need to show up at the starting “village,” the center of all activity, or along the distance of the race, especially at its last kilometers, where the athletes need the most support; the only thing to take with you is a good mood. 

If you are willing to join the race, you’ll need to purchase a slot for the distance of your choice and, typically, provide a standard medical certificate proving that you can take on the challenge; check the exact participation requirements on the organizer’s website. Participants usually receive a starter pack with souvenirs from the sponsors and all finalists get a medal at the end of a race.

Here are some major events to look forward to: 

• White Nights Marathon, July 4 – St. Pete’s most anticipated race, with slots so coveted they sell out in the first days of release. What’s so special, you ask? Participants experience the city at its most magical, on a white night, and those running the full marathon get to see all of the city’s landmarks in the twilight and then the first rays of the rising sun as they chase their next personal best. Available distances: 42.2 km, 10 km, relay
• The Northern Capital Half-Marathon, August 9 – an event for those who wish to race through the city center during the day. Available distances: 21.1 km, 10 km, relay
• Ekiden, June 13 – a marathon is not necessarily a solo endeavor; at Ekiden, you can complete the full marathon distance as part of a team of six, while enjoying the views of Peter and Paul Fortress, the Bronze Horseman, the Neva River, and other central landmarks. Full distance: 42.195 km (5 km + 10 km + 5 km + 10 km + 5 km + 7.195 km)

See also: 

• Night Run (starting from Yakhtenny Bridge), August 22
• St. Petersburg Marathon: from Pushkin to St. Petersburg, September 6

Swimming

Arguably St. Petersburg is best seen from water – but who says it has to be just on a boat tour? Every year, the city’s rivers and canals also play host to several open-water races, in which participants get a unique, first-hand, waterfront view of the city. 

Here, there are a few more prerequisites for those wishing to join: apart from getting your (much more expensive) slot and your medical certificate, you’ll usually need to purchase accident insurance for the race – again, best to check the details with the organizers. Depending on water temperature, participants might also need wetsuits to be allowed to join the race.

As with running, supporters can come to the starting “village” or watch athletes along their routes. Here are the two events when you’ll get to spot them:

• 13 Bridges Swimming Marathon, July 11 and August 8 – a whopping 21 km along the Neva River with just you, your wetsuit, and the city. This race is definitely not for the faint of heart! Though it is a considerable challenge, it’s also for sure quite an unusual view: instead of tour boats, dozens of swimmers with bright personal buoys will be heading down the river. Available distances: 21 km, relay
• X-Waters St. Petersburg race, August 22 – a full day of swimming on Yelagin Island. Here, swimmers can pick between getting from one point on the island to another or making a full circle around the home of squirrels in the city. This race is very popular, so you are bound to see lots of participants from St. Petersburg and beyond on the island on the day of the event. Available distances: 1 km, 1 mile, 5 km (island)

See also: 

• Swimcup St. Petersburg, July 18

Triathlon

Those competing in a triathlon in St. Petersburg are not iron men and women, they are Bronze Horsemen – at least, if we go by the name of this event. The Bronze Horseman, July 10-12, is a celebration of athletics that lasts several days and includes separate running and swimming events, finally culminating in the full (226 km) and half (113 km) triathlon distance. 

For the day, Krestovsky Island will turn into a full-scale sportsground, with hundreds of participants and a cheering crowd of spectators. This one’s not to miss!

See also: 

• Bronze Horseman, olympic distance triathlon (51.5 km), June 21

SUP surfing

We’ll conclude our list not with a race, but a costume party on water: Fontanka SUP, a beloved annual festival that this year will be held on August 1. The rules for participants are simple: register for the event, pick the most bizarre, out-there costume you can think of, get yourself on a SUP surf, and you are good to go! Hundreds of surfers will go down Fontanka River dressed in the most peculiar ways – they are competing for best costume in several categories, after all. Even if you are not participating, the festival is always fun to watch; an innocent, whimsical celebration to mark another summer.