What is a half-marathon relay?

World Athletics Road Running Championships, which will crown the world champions in the hafl-marathon, 5 km and Road Mile race in Riga on October 1, 2023, will see thousands of amateur runners from at least 100 countries competing alongside elite runners.

We have added a new distance to the existing distances – 21 km, 5 km and a mile – a half-marathon relay (10.2 km + 10.9 km), which allows two friends, colleagues, family members or acquaintances to beat the full half-marathon distance, each running half or 10 km of it. Thus, those runners for whom 5 km seems too short, while half-marathon distance in turn is too long, will be able to participate in the inaugural World Championships of Road Running.

The first participant runs ≈ 10.2 km from the start of the half-marathon to the Dailes Theatre, while the second ≈ 10.9 km from the Dailes Theatre relay swap point to the half-marathon finish on the waterfront.

Register

How much does it cost?

The relay race participation fee is €49, or €24.5 per participant. The full participation fee is paid by the registering participant - you can then split the membership fee between the two runners.

Do you need to know the names of both runners straight away when registering?

Participants' names can be added to the created profile until September 30!

How will the run go?

The first runner starts the relay run from a half-marathon start and runs to the Dailes Theatre Exchange point (≈ 10.2 km). The second runner waits for the first runner at the exchange point outside the Dailes Theatre and takes over the relay by the first runner handing over the relay "stick" and running until the half-marathon finish.

How will the relay “stick” exchange take place?

Once the first runner reaches the Dailes Theatre, it's time to find the relay stick exchange corridor (will be ranked by participant numbers), in which it will be expected by a partner to take over the relay “stick.” With the relay "stick" handed over, the second runner from Dailes Theatre runs to the half-marathon distance finish. First runner in the meantime can, for example, head to the finish area to welcome his relay companion.

Janeth Jepkosgei takes part in relay training (© Sidney Kipkemboi / Urban Media)

Where will the relay participants get to the medal?

The first runner will receive the medal outside the Dailes Theatre and the second runner will receive the medal in the half-marathon finish.

What will be the “stick” of the relay exchange?

Each relay team will receive one relay exchange “stick,” which will be a foldable, or can be rolled-up. The “stick” will feature a time control chip that is important not to fold or damage and the number of the relay team.

Both members of the relay team will also receive a chest-mounted number without a time-control chip (Remember that there is only one chip per team and it's embedded in the relay “stick”).

How will the half-marathon relay results be listed?

You'll see the team's total half-marathon time in the results, as well as the times each runner spent separately.