The StarlightGroup team spent an inspiring Sunday in Podgorica at the NLB Podgorica Millennium Run025 – this time, we took to the track as active fans, not runners.
On November 9, Montenegro’s capital was literally “breathing” running: more than 3,000 participants from 50 countries took part in the 5, 10, 21.1, and 42.2 km races. For our team, this day wasn’t just about sport – it was a powerful lesson in teamwork, a culture of support, and caring for others.
The setting: one city, four races, and seven bridges
NLB Podgorica Millennium Run025 is Montenegro’s largest running event. The start and finish of all races traditionally take place at the Millennium Bridge – the modern symbol of Podgorica.
In 2025, the program included:
- Fun Run 5K – a mass race for those taking their first steps in running or just for the atmosphere. Start: 10:15 AM, Millennium Bridge. Our friend and colleague Dmitry took part in this event.
- Elko Tim 10K – a fast 10K along the city’s main streets. Start: 10:00 AM.
- Telekom Half Marathon 21.1K – a test of endurance and tactics. Start: 10:00 AM.
- Coca-Cola HBC Marathon 42.2K – the main race, certified by AIMS/World Athletics, with official course markings and measurements.
The route follows a closed loop through key areas of Podgorica: the city center, Masline, Zlatica, Zagorič, Moraca, City kvart, Donja Gorica, Dahna, Stari Aerodrom, Tuški put, Zabjelo, Pobrežje, Ljubović, and Stara Varoš, ending at the Millennium Bridge.
Along the way, runners cross seven bridges, run along the Morača River, around Gorica Hill, and enjoy music from impromptu music stations along the route. The roads are completely closed to traffic during the start, making the run safe and truly festive.
Participants: from amateurs to professionals and fire brigades
The fifth NLB Podgorica Millennium Run025 was a record-breaking event:
- more than 3,000 runners,
- participants from 50 countries,
- dozens of corporate teams and clubs.
The following were on the track:
- corporate teams from banks, telecom companies, retail, and local businesses (PRVABANKATEAM, HILTONTEAM, ARTEC 3D, SPORT VISION, EPAM TEAM, and others);
- representatives of the city administration and government agencies (SEKRETARIJAT ZA SPORT, RADIO TELEVIZIJA CRNE GORE, POSEBNA JEDINICA POLICIJE);
- university and school teams (GIMNAZIJA SLOBODAN ŠKEROVIĆ);
- sports clubs and running communities from Montenegro and neighboring countries (OK BUDUĆNOST, AK MORNAR, TAEKWONDO MONTENEGRO STARS).
A special flavor to the event was added by the 5 km firefighters’ run – Firefighters 5K. The firefighters took to the track in their gear, once again reminding them that physical fitness for them is not just a sport, but also part of their profession.
The Role of StarlightGroup: Team Experience Through the Lens of Sport
StarlightGroup participated in the race in a new format for us – as a support team:
- We met at the Millennium Bridge, spread out along the first kilometers of the route, and created a “support corridor” to support both familiar and unfamiliar runners;
- Families, children, and friends joined us – it turned into a real “team day” on the city street.
For us, this day became a living illustration of how teams should work in business:
- A common start – like a project launch: everyone lines up in one line, but each goes at their own pace and distance.
- Support along the way – those who are not “on the track” today provide resources and motivation to those in the “hot phase.”
- Caring for people’s well-being – water, energy, the right rhythm, and a timely “pit stop” are important in both running and work.
Particularly symbolic for us was the participation of Podgorica Mayor Saša Mujović in the race. He ran the 5-kilometer distance and, by his example, emphasized the importance of an active lifestyle and the personal involvement of city leaders in sports initiatives. In official materials, the mayor also noted that he sees the NLB Podgorica Millennium Run025 as “the right image of the city—open, young, athletic, and welcoming.”
Who made this event possible: Organizers and sponsors
The race organizer is Multisport akademija Mayer, a team that has been developing running and triathlon competitions in Montenegro for many years.
Key partners and sponsors for 2025:
- General sponsor: City of Podgorica.
- Title sponsor: NLB Banka, setting the tone for the entire race concept and promoting the idea of sport as part of corporate culture.
- Course sponsors:
o Coca-Cola HBC 42.2 km marathon;
o Telekom Crne Gore — 21.1 km half marathon;
o Elko Tim — 10 km run;
o LOBBET and other brand partners for 5 km and special runs.
In addition, the event is supported by automotive brands, sports retailers, media partners, and sustainability initiatives. In 2025, a special emphasis was placed on the environment: in collaboration with the “Zeleni talas” initiative, waste separation and recycling systems were installed along the route.
Prizes and awards: what the winners and finishers received
According to the organizers The participant package and prize fund included:
- A finisher’s medal for all who completed the distance;
- A starter’s package (chip, bib number, souvenirs, and sometimes an event T-shirt);
- An electronic certificate/e-diploma with the result;
- Cash prizes for winners of the main distances (marathon, half marathon, 10 km, including women’s and men’s categories);
- Gift sets from sponsors (drinks, sports nutrition, branded souvenirs);
- Professional photo and video support and access to the results in the online system.
For many participants, the main reward was not so much the prize fund as the opportunity to run a unique city route, set a personal best, or simply prove to themselves that “I can do it.” Results: Who Ran How Fast
42.2 km Marathon – Coca-Cola HBC Marathon
Men:
- Stanley Kipruto (Kenya) – 2:21:19
- Silviu Stoica (Romania) – 2:24:32
- Mate Vasarhelyi (Hungary) – 2:26:40
Women:
- Tunde Szabo (Hungary) – 2:53:28
- Biljana Kiradjieva (Serbia) – 3:12:20
- Luca Gazisty (Hungary) – 3:17:45
These results once again confirm that the Podgorica Millennium Run course is fast and flat – ideal for chasing personal bests and qualifying for sporting events.
Half Marathon 21.1 km – Telekom Half-Marathon
Men:
- Bogdan Semenovych (Ukraine) – 1:09:52
- Kirill Yakovlev (Russia) – 1:12:23
- Arany Attila (Hungary) – 1:13:23
Women:
- Teodora Simović (Serbia) – 1:17:43
- Nataia Semenovych (Ukraine) – 1:18:05
- Nora Trkalja Boca (Serbia) – 1:19:41
The finish results demonstrate a strong international presence and intense competition: the top three in each category included athletes from three different countries.
Elko Tim 10 km
Official news materials list the names of the 10 km winners, but do not provide exact finish times. Nevertheless, the winners are known:
Men:
- Sergey Demchuk (Russia) – 1st place
- Dmitry Krainov (Russia) – 2nd place
- Edis Dautović (Montenegro) – 3rd place
Women:
- Andrea Saitaj (Montenegro) – 1st place
- Amela Dizdarević Bulja (Bosnia and Herzegovina) – 2nd place
- Ksenija Ražnatović (Montenegro) – 3rd place
Fun Run 5 km
The 5 km race had a particularly vibrant atmosphere, with novice runners, experienced athletes, and entire families taking part. According to the organizers:
Men:
- Miljan Kukuličić (Montenegro) – 1st place
- Ivan Popović (Montenegro) – 2nd place
- Marin Sutalo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) – 3rd place
Women:
- Slađana Pejović (Montenegro) – 1st place
- Sandra Glušica (Montenegro) – 2nd place
- Darija Rakočević (Montenegro) – 3rd place
The exact finishing seconds for the 5- and 10-kilometer races are not provided in the open text reports -they are only available in the interactive results system. Therefore, in this article, we rely on the official press releases for the names of the winners.
Firefighters 5km – Fire Brigade Run
A separate and very emotional episode of the day: the firefighters’ run. The results of the race were:
- Dušan Šušić, Tivat Protection and Rescue Service – 1st place
- Nikolaj Dragović, Podgorica Protection and Rescue Service – 2nd place
- Marko Kasom, Cetinje Protection and Rescue Service – 3rd place
This run was a living demonstration that the strength, speed, and teamwork of firefighters are not an abstraction, but a daily practice.
What we took away
For the StarlightGroup NLB Podgorica team, the Millennium Run025 is:
- an example of how one city project can unite thousands of people and dozens of organizations;
- a living laboratory of team dynamics, clearly demonstrating the importance of support, mutual respect, and trust;
- a reminder that caring for people’s physical and emotional well-being isn’t an option, but a prerequisite for long-term success.
We left the Millennium Bridge feeling like we had become part of a large international community, where kilometers are just units of measurement, and what matters most is the people walking (and running) forward together.
