OUTREACH AND ACTIVATION

When the World Championships in the half marathon, 5K, and One Mile come to Copenhagen in September, it’s not just about elite athletes and medals. The partners behind the championship are now launching an activation initiative with the ambition of getting more Danes – including vulnerable citizens – out running before, during, and after the World Championships.

The aim is for the World Championships to be felt long before race days and to leave a lasting impact that goes beyond the event itself. That’s why the partners behind the championship are launching a joint initiative called Vejen til VM (The Road to the World Championships), which will be rolled out in the months leading up to the event.

The overarching goal is to initiate activities and programs that engage more Danes in running and physical activity – across age, ability, and geography – while simultaneously strengthening communities and local clubs.

Below you can find an oveview of the different events in the outreach and activation program.

Events & Programmes

19 September 2025: One Year To Go

188 school children in grade 4-6 from three primary schools in Copenhagen took part in the One Year To Go race in Fælledparken as a lead-up to WRRC Copenhagen 26. The pupils competed in a relay race where each participant ran 400 metres, and all pupils received a special prize: a free entry to the World Championships One Mile Race. The organisers hope the championships will inspire more children and young people to take up running and become part of a community.

Read more about One Year To Go.

February 2026 – September 2026: Running Programmes

Running programmes for a minimum of 20 groups across upper secondary schools, primary schools, and after-school programmes engage children and young people aged 7-20 in the World Championships. Through the programmes, running becomes part of physical education, where pupils both try different running activities and learn more about the championships and the community surrounding the event.

February 2026 – August 2026: Holiday Camps

As part of the City of Copenhagen's Holiday Camps, running events will be organised for children and young people aged 3-17 from vulnerable neighbourhoods in Copenhagen. Participants will have the opportunity to try running through games, relays, and other activities while learning more about the World Championships in road running. As part of the initiative, the organisers will donate a total of 500 race entries to local participants from vulnerable housing areas across all three holiday periods. The Holiday Camps take place from 9-13 February, 28 March-1 April, and 29 June-7 August.

13 March 2026 – 19 September 2026: All of Denmark Runs Towards the World Championships

As part of the initiative "All of Denmark Runs Towards the World Championships", 21 clubs under the Danish Athletics Federation will organise events across the country in the lead-up to the World Championships in Copenhagen 2026. The initiative aims to engage children, young people, and adults throughout Denmark and turn the World Championships into a nationwide running celebration. The Danish Athletics Federation supports clubs with, among other things, guidance and timing services, while also inspiring more clubs and associations to organise local events that can strengthen club environments and the running community.

21-22 April & 5 May & 12 May 2026: School Olympics Qualification Events

The Road to the World Championships was present with various activities at the School Olympics qualification events on 21-22 April in Østerbro and on 5 and 12 May in Sundby. Among other things, the children could test their speed on a running track with professional timing equipment and compare their results with e.g. a car or a leopard.

9 May 2026: CPH Mini Marathon

There was plenty of speed, big smiles, and medal pride when more than 1,800 happy and excited children filled Fælledparken for this year's CPH Mini Marathon. The weekend kicked off with running, play, and marathon atmosphere for the youngest participants, the day before the adults took over the streets for Copenhagen Marathon. This year's Mini Marathon participants ran the famous One Mine (1.609 km) as preparation for the World Championships in Copenhagen. The event also featured a special Road to the World Championships zone with, among other things, a 50-metre sprint track where participants could test their speed with professional timing and compare their results with everything from an elite runner to a car and a leopard. In addition, 10 entries to the World Championships One Mile race were raffled among participants in the 50-metre sprint. Entries for the World Championships One Mile race were also awarded to the three fastests boys and the three fastest girls at the CPH Mini Marathon.

Legacy Projects

As part of the activation program, the organisers behind the World Championships have also initiated a number of events that both serve as a lead-up to the World Championships and continue after the championships have taken place. The ambition is specifically to get more Danes – including vulnerable citizens – out running before, during, and after the World Championships.

In addition, approximately 100 entries to the World Championships One Mile and 5 km races have been distributed to OMBOLD's running team, DIF's Startblokken initiative, programmes supporting displaced Ukrainians, and initiatives focused on preventing obesity among families in vulnerable neighbourhoods. The hope is that this will result in organised training groups in the lead-up to the World Championships, which will then also continue after the championships have taken place.

Below you can find an overview of the different legacy projects.

Team Everyday Champions

A new free running group in Østerbro aims to promote physical activity and community for people with mild or early-stage dementia as part of the Road to the World Championships initiative. The project is based on research showing that exercise and social communities can strengthen functional ability, mood, and brain health among people living with dementia. The group trains in Fælledparken and at Østerbro Stadium with a focus on safety and community, and the ambition is for up to 15 participants to take part in the World Championships celebrations in Copenhagen in September 2026. Originally, the goal was for Team Everyday Champions to take part in either the One Mile or the 5 km race, but participation has proven to be so strong that some of the runners are actually training to take part in the Half Marathon at the World Championships as well. The initiative has been created in collaboration with, among others, Danish Athletics Federation, Sparta Athletics & Running, Wonderful Copenhagen, the Danish Alzheimer Association, and the Danish Knowledge Centre for Dementia, with the hope of creating a lasting running community that continues after the World Championships.

Copenhagen Student Run

A relay for students aged 16+ brings participants together in teams of three for a festive running experience in Fælledparken. The race is aimed at students at universities in Greater Copenhagen and focuses on community and energy. The event is also targeted at both Danish and international students in order to engage young people from around the world in the running community. In 2026, the event was held on a sunny Friday afternoon on 17 April, and participants had the opportunity to win entries to the World Championships in Copenhagen 2026. Copenhagen Student Run is organised in collaboration between Copenhagen University Student Sports, Danish Athletics Federation, and Sparta Athletics & Running, and the ambition is for it to become an annual recurring event.

Athletics Day in ZOO

The Road to the World Championships is inviting local kindergartens in Copenhagen to a fun day at Copenhagen ZOO, where the children will have the opportunity to try different athletics disciplines in a fun and playful environment. In 2026, the event will take place on 19 June, and the aim is for the event to become a recurring event.

Copenhagen ZOO Run

ZOO Run (ZOOLØB) is a unique running event in the heart of Copenhagen ZOO, where participants can experience the zoo in a completely way by taking part in either the One Mile or the 5 km race. Both courses start and finish inside the zoo, while the 5 km course also passes through the nearby park Søndermarken. After the race, participants can compare their times with some of the zoo's animals, explore the zoo, and enjoy a day surrounded by wildlife and nature. As part of the event, participants also have the opportunity to win entries to the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26. The three fastest runners in each of the three One Mile heats, as well as the three fastest runners in the 5 km race, will each win an entry. In addition, three entries will be raffled among all participants regardless of distance. In 2026, the event will take place on 20 June, and the aim is for the event to become a recurring event.