Public invited to join plane-shaped NATO fun run

"On 10 July 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs invites you to join a run in Riga – 'Run TOGETHER – Run for SECURITY' starting at 18:30 from the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Valdemāra iela 3, to reaffirm the unity of the strongest security Alliance – NATO, and its member states," said a release from the ministry July 2.

The run organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be supported by the Ministry of Defense of Latvia, the National Armed Forces of Latvia (NBS), and the NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) battle group.

The event is being decribed by the ministry as a "flashmob", but as it is far from spontaneous and has been planned, organized and publicised well in advance by a government ministry, the use of the term is perhaps questionable. 

The participation of the Embassies of Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Turkey, and the United Kingdom have been confirmed.

The route through Rīga's streets is described as forming "an outline of an aircraft" and is available to users of the the STRAVA exercise application.

According to the ministry, the almost 12 km long run "will be led by 9 to 12 runners of NATO eFP battle group from Camp Ādaži and the NAF Sports Club. The expected pace is 6–7 min/km. All those interested are invited to join anywhere on the route or at any of the five checkpoints, at their own pace." 

The checkpoints are located at:

1. Riga Old St. Gertrude Church,
2. Riga New St. Gertrude Church,
3. Intersection of Cēsu iela and Brīvības iela,
4. Ziedoņdārzs (on the side of A. Čaka iela),
5. Vērmanes garden (on the side of K. Barona iela).

Drinking water will be available at every checkpoint. The run will conclude back at its starting point in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže is herself a keen runner.