World Athletics Partner
World Athletics Partner
World Athletics Partner
World Athletics Media Partner
World Athletics Supplier
World Athletics Supplier
Runner's Guide
Everything you need to know about your start in the World Athletics Road Running Championships!
Check out the Official Race Programme
About Championships
The World Athletics Road Running Championships, which will have its world premiere in Riga on September 30th and October 1st, will be the most significant sports and athletics event in the history of the Baltic States, and the first ever World Athletics Series event in the Baltics.
This unique running festival will crown World champions in the half marathon, 5km and road mile. The event will, for the first time, bring together thousands of recreational runners from 100 countries alongside the elite athletes.
Programme
EXPO (bib number pick-up)
Don’t forget to bring a form of ID and your registration confirmation letter. You will have to show them when you pick up your race bib.
To avoid backlog and ensure the bib number queue moves forward faster, we will issue no more than 5 bibs to one person. If you wish to pick up more than that (for example, for all of your colleagues), sorry, but you’ll have to stand in line again! And thank you to all the teams who have chosen the DPD team bib office delivery service!
Rimi Kids' Day bib collection
- Babies course & 200m and 400m bibs are ready for pickup from 15th of September in the location chosen when registering: one of three Rimi stores (Shopping mall Akropole Alfa, Shopping mall Spice or at the Rimi store on Pulkveža Brieža street info desk) or at the EXPO (“Hanzas Perons” on 29th and 30th of September from 10:00am until 8:00pm). You'll have to show the registration confirmation letter (we encourage to show it on your phone).
- 50m “Sprint king and queen” bib collection will be open at the EXPO (at “Hanzas Perons”) on 29th and 30th of September from 10:00am until 8:00pm
World Champs' mass race bib collection
- Mass race bib collection will be open at the EXPO (at “Hanzas Perons”) on 29th and 30th of September from 10:00am until 8:00pm.
- In DPD parcel machines, if you don't live in Riga and chose this service when registering
- In your office, if your company chose this service
To pick up your bag for handing in your belongings, you have to have requested this in advance! If you have not done this, sorry, but we can’t give you a bag. To save resources, we manufactured just enough for those who requested one. Thank you for being an environmentally-friendly runner!
More at the EXPO:
- If you haven't purchased the official running shirt of the World Champs with the Latvian artist's Vilhelms Purvītis masterpiece on it, you'll have a chance to buy it at the official Wolrd Road Running Championships store.
- Head to the Asics zone and try out the newest shoes on the treadmill, take a photo for the memories and purchase some last-minute necessities.
- On Friday, 29th of September, at 2:00pm the official press conference will take place at the EXPO. You'll see the World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, legendary Latvian long distance runner Jeļena Prokopčuka and the world's elite runners (Peres Jepchirchir, Jessica Hull and Sam Prakel) at the press conference.
- Familiarize yourself with what the Superhalfs and Vienna marathon have to offer.
- Relax and socialize at the Signet Bank chill zone.
Rimi Kids' Day
| Course | Time* | What do parents do? | Entry fee |
| Babies Course (0-3 years) | 10:00 - 15:00 | Help their little ones | 0 € |
| 200m (4-8 years) | 10.00 - 15.00 | Run along | 0 € |
| 400m (5-12 years) | 10.00 - 15.00 | Run along or wait at the finish line | 0 € |
| 50m "Sprint King and Queen" | 10:00 - 15:00 | Run along or wait at the finish line | 3 € |
When you pick up the Rimi Kids' Day bib, you'll see a Rimi bracelet on which we recommend writing your phone number on in case your kid gets lost. Please put the bracelet around your kid's wrist. At the finish every participant will receive a commemorative medal, and Rimi juice.
In between the running children will have the opportunity to enjoy Martin's bubbles and meet Rimi's mascots apple and corn, as well as the World Athletics Road Running Championships mascot - Riga rooster! The little ones can take a look and climb into the State Police van with the isolation unit, as well as check out the municipal police car and bike. The Latvian National Guard will also be present with a quad bike and a buggy.
World Athletics Road Running Championships, October 1
Find your distance below and learn everything you need to know.
Check out the courses
Venue Map
Click the image below to view
Road mile
Start time: 11.30
Start location: Latvian National Museum of Art
Bag drop: Road mile participants don't have this service.
Start corrals: All participants have one corral with entrance from the side of Latvian Academy of Art. First come, first serve! Please arrive at the start with time to spare because there will be one start corral for all the road mile runners in which the “first come, first take the front rows” principle will work.
MASS RACE FAST LANE corral: if you're a super fast runner (road mile faster than 4:27 for men, or 5:30 for women OR 1500m result faster than 4:05.00 for men, or 4:50.00 for women), you can get a “FAST RUNNER” sticker for your bib which will allow you to take your place in the “FAST LANE'' corral. You can get the sticker at the help desk at EXPO upon providing a confirmation of your result.
Rimi photo points: If you see the Rimi photo point on the course smile and know - you're being photographed! All photos with the option to search by race bib will be available after the race on the sportfoto.com website. Thanks to our partner Rimi all photos will be available for download free of charge!
Finish: After you cross the finish line you'll receive a Rimi muesli bar, a bottle of water and a World Champs finisher medal.
What to do after your race? We recommend following the World Championships elite races throughout the day to experience exciting battles for the World Champion titles!
5km
Start time: 10.00
Start location: At the foot of the Stone Bridge
Bag drop: Open 8.00-17.30. At the bag drop (at the Doma square) you'll be able to check in your belongings only in the official World Champs' bag, which you had to reserve upon registering for races.
Start corral: All participants have one corral with entrance from the side of Riga City Council. First come, first serve! Please arrive at the start with time to spare because there will be one start corral for all the runners in which the “first come, first take the front rows” principle will work.
MASS RACE FAST LANE corral: If you're a super fast runner (<16:30 for men or <20:00 for women), you can get a “FAST RUNNER” sticker for your bib which will allow you to take your place in the “FAST LANE'' corral. You can get the sticker at the help desk at EXPO upon providing a confirmation of your result.
Starting shot: It will be given by the Latvian 5km record holder Agate Caune
Water & energy stations: There won't be water stations on the course, so take water with you if you know you'll need it.
Rimi photo points: If you see the Rimi photo point on the course smile and know - you're being photographed! All photos with the option to search by race bib will be available after the race on the sportfoto.com website. Thanks to our partner Rimi all photos will be available for download free of charge!
Finish: After you cross the finish line you'll receive a Rimi muesli bar, a bottle of water and a World Champs finisher medal, possibly handed to you by the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičš and double European U20 athletics champion Agate Caune.
Showers: There will be showers available for finishers who need it. They'll be located near the finish at the Embankment.
Embankment and Party Plaza: After the finish we encourage you to stick around to enjoy a drink, take a photo at the Rimi finisher photo spot with your finish time or with the Signet Bank like statue or shop at the Asics zone.
21km relay (10,2 + 10,9km)
Starta laiks: 14.15
Start location: At the foot of the Stone Bridge
Bag drop: Open 8.00-17.30. At the bag drop (at the Doma square) you'll be able to check in your belongings only in the official World Champs' bag, which you had to reserve upon registering for races.
Start bibs: Each relay team will receive 3 start bibs at the EXPO. The ones that don't have a timing chip go on participants' shirts, but the third one with the timing chip has to be rolled to form a "relay baton" and must be taken on the course. The first runner carries the "baton" from the start until the exchange, and the second runner from the exchange until the finish.
Start corral: All participants have one corral with entrance from the side of Riga City Council. First come, first serve! Please arrive at the start with time to spare because there will be one start corral for all the runners in which the “first come, first take the front rows” principle will work.
Water & energy stations: There will be 4 water and energy stations on the course - at the 4km, 7km, 12km and 17km marks. Each of the stations will have water and an electrolyte drink available.
There will be toilets available right before each of the water and energy stations.
Relay exchange (for the 2nd leg runner): Dailes Theatre. At the relay exchange the first runner will pass the baton with the timing chip to the second leg runner. The first leg runner (10,2km) will receive a Rimi muesli bar, a bottle of water and a World Champs finisher medal. Remember that the bag drop is located at the Doma Square.
Rimi photo points: If you see the Rimi photo point on the course smile and know - you're being photographed! All photos with the option to search by race bib will be available after the race on the sportfoto.com website. Thanks to our partner Rimi all photos will be available for download free of charge!
Finish: After you cross the finish line you'll receive a Rimi muesli bar, a bottle of water and a World Champs finisher medal.
Showers: There will be showers available for finishers who need it. They'll be located near the finish at the Embankment.
Embankment and the Party Plaza: After the finish we encourage you to stick around to enjoy a drink, take a photo at the Rimi finisher photo spot with your finish time or with the Signet Bank like statue or shop at the Asics zone.
Half marathon
Start time: 14.15
Start location: At the foot of the Stone Bridge
Bag drop: Open 8.00-17.30. At the bag drop (at the Doma square) you'll be able to check in your belongings only in the official World Champs' bag, which you had to reserve upon registering for races.
Start corrals: All participants have one corral with entrance from the side of Riga City Council. First come, first serve! Please arrive at the start with time to spare because there will be one start corral for all the runners in which the “first come, first take the front rows” principle will work.
MASS RACE FAST LANE corral: If you're a super fast runner (<1:17 for men or <1:32 for women), you can get a “FAST RUNNER” sticker for your bib which will allow you to take your place in the “MASS RACE FAST LANE'' corral right behind the World Champs elite runners. You can get the sticker at the help desk at EXPO upon providing a confirmation of your half marathon result.
Pacers: In the half marathon there will be pacers available for 4 different finish target times: 1:30, 1:45, 2:00 and 2:15. The fastest pacers will be in the start corral closer to the starting line, while the slower pacers towards the back of the corral.
Water & energy stations: There will be 4 water and energy stations on the course - at the 4km, 7km, 12km and 17km marks. Each of the stations will have water and an electrolyte drink available.
There will be toilets available right before each of the water and energy stations.
Rimi photo points: If you see the Rimi photo point on the course smile and know - you're being photographed! All photos with the option to search by race bib will be available after the race on the sportfoto.com website. Thanks to our partner Rimi all photos will be available for download free of charge!
Finish: After you cross the finish line you'll receive a Rimi muesli bar, a bottle of water and a World Champs finisher medal.
Showers: There will be showers available for finishers who need it. They'll be located near the finish at the Embankment.
Embankment and the Party Plaza: After the finish we encourage you to stick around to enjoy a drink, take a photo at the Rimi finisher photo spot with your finish time or with the Signet Bank like statue or shop at the Asics zone.
Bag drop for 5km, half marathon and 21km relay runners
Working hours: Sunday October 1 from 8:00am until 5:30pm
Put all your belongings in the official World Champs' participant's bag and hand them in at the bag drop in the Dome Square. We remind you that you can only hand in your belongings at the bag drop in the official participant's bag you had to request when registering. If you have not done this, sorry, but we can’t give you a bag. To save resources, we manufactured just enough for those who requested one.
How to hand in and pick up your participant's bag:
- Stick the sticker with your race bib onto your blue participant's bag, in the space marked PLACE FOR YOUR NUMBER. You will receive your stickers in your Expo envelope along with your race bib.
- Once in Dome Square, go to the Bag Drop Area tent numbered with the final digit of your race bib. This is the tent where you will hand in and pick up your bag.
- You will not receive your bag unless you show your race bib.
Finish - Party Plaza
Treats at the finish
World Champs supporter Rimi will have prepared muesli bars, water and bananas for finishers of the 5km, half marathon and 21km relay as well as muesli bars and water for the road mile finishers.
Rimi photo station with your finish time
Don't forget to take a photo with your World Champs finish time at the Rimi finish photo installation. To keep for beautiful memories!
Signet Bank thumbs-up statue
Since this is the first time you'll have finished at a World Championships, take a photo with the Signet Bank thumbs-up statue to showcase how proud you are!
Showers
There will be showers available for finishers who need it. They'll be located near the finish at the Embankment. Use this option because it's always nicer to feel clean and refreshed after a race!
Asics zone at the Embankment
Enjoy the joy of having finished and treat yourself at the Asics tent with a stylish Asics running shirt or other accessories. And a new pair of trainers will definitely help train for your next race!
Medal Ceremony
15.30 - EMBANKMENT
The World Champs will conclude with a medal ceremony in which all champions will be awarded – in the road mile, 5km, half maraton and the half marathon teams' standings.
You're invited to witness the medal ceremony at the 11 November Embankment at 3:30pm.
Traffic Restrictions
There is no dedicated car, scooter or bike parking for the participants.
On Sunday, October 1, the 11 November Embankment will be closed from 7:00 to 17:00. More on traffic restrictions can be read HERE.
For easier navigation around Riga city centre during the World Athletics Road Running Championships, we suggest using Waze, which will display all planned traffic restrictions. The Waze app is available for free from App Store and Google Play.
Health & Safety
Fill in the medical information on the back of the start bib!
All participants must fill in the medical questionnaire on the back of their race bib. This information will make it significantly easier for medical personnel to do their job if you need help during the race.
GIVE YOURSELF A HEALTH CHECK ON RACE DAY!
If any of these statements doesn’t apply, we recommend skipping the race, particularly if you had planned to run any of the medium or long distance races.
- My body temperature is normal.
- I do not feel tired.
- I slept well last night.
- I have eaten sufficiently and taken in enough fluids before my race.
- I have no signs of a cold.
- I have no pain or discomfort in my chest area.
- I have no stomach aches, diarrhea or nausea.
If you need help on the course, look for personnel wearing MEDICAL HELP shirts at each of the water and energy points.
Info Center at the Embankment
Working hours: 8:00am - 3:30pm
In case you have any last minute questions you can ask them at the info center at the 11 November Embankment. There will also be a lost & found box and in case kids get lost this will be the spot to meet up with parents.
