DU MOTION
Monterey Honors Du Motion
Monterey Honors Du Motion
The 10th anniversary edition of Du Motion – Runners’ Days Dubrovnik brought another special moment: representatives of the city of Monterey, Dubrovnik’s friendly city in the US state of California, presented Du Motion director Alen Bošković with a special recognition on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Dubrovnik event. The proclamation, signed by Mayor Tyler Williamson, is yet another confirmation of how much Du Motion has grown beyond the confines of a local race and become an international sports story that connects continents.
In an official document titled “Proclamation Recognizing Du Motion on the 10th Anniversary of the Du Motion Half Marathon”, the city of Monterey recalls the key moments and achievements of Du Motion and the importance of cooperation between the two cities. It is emphasized that the City of Dubrovnik, one of the seven Monterey City Friends, has been organizing a half marathon every April since 2015, which has over time grown into a multi-day international sports event.
Du Motion was created in 2014 as a result of cooperation between the friend cities of Dubrovnik and Monterey, inspired by the experience of the Monterey Bay Half Marathon and the common desire to launch a top-notch running event in Dubrovnik.
A reminder of awards and international recognitions
After the first edition of the half marathon, Du Motion director Alen Bošković was named Director of the Year in 2015 at the International race directors conference, held as part of the Portland Marathon, for his outstanding organization and involvement of the local and international community.
Also, in July 2016, the friend cities of Dubrovnik and Monterey won the first international award from Sister Cities International in the category “Innovation: Economic Development”, precisely for their cooperation in the preparation and organization of Du Motion, in the competition for cities with up to 100,000 inhabitants.
Running exchange between Dubrovnik and Monterey
One of the nicest aspects of this partnership is the exchange of runners between the two cities. Monterey and Dubrovnik have been running a special program for years in which runners from Monterey and greater California regularly come to Dubrovnik, participate in Du Motion races and bring in new participants, promoting Dubrovnik as a racing destination on the West Coast of the USA. Similarly, the runners from Dubrovnik in turn travel to Monterey, where they run the races there and represent the city, further deepening the bond between the two racing communities.
Receiving this recognition during the jubilee edition of Du Motion is an emotional moment for the organizers and a confirmation that what they do is recognized beyond the borders of Croatia. In a thank you to the city of Monterey and Mayor Tyler Williamson, the organizers of Du Motion, led by director Alen Bošković, emphasized how important it is that the recognition comes from long-time partners and friends who have been part of the story since the very beginning.
Ten years of Du Motion behind us are filled with medals, records, smiles and friendships, but this recognition is a reminder that the event is still - in motion. In line with the motto "More than a race", the organizers say that they will continue to build Du Motion as an event that connects cities, countries and people.
