The organizers explained the significantly higher number of registered participants compared to last year as a bounce-back after the pandemic. Both Latvian and foreign participants continue to register for the event, and the marathon EXPO center, where participants are invited to take out their starting numbers and enjoy the pre-race atmosphere, will be open until Saturday at 20:00.
Rimi Riga Marathon director Aigars Nords said that marathon participants this year have been given a special privilege to be the first to run the official world championship course in the mile, 5 km and half marathon distances.
"This year, the Rimi Riga Marathon serves as the opening event of the season and at the same time a dress rehearsal for the world championship in road running, which in turn will conclude the active running season," said Nords. "I invite everyone to enjoy the running festival at the Riga Marathon and get in the mood for the world championship, so that in the fall, you can run in even larger numbers."
Saturday May 6, will be Olympic Children's Day and the Latvian Championship in the mile distance which will start at 10:00 at the Latvian National Art Museum, and finish at the Freedom Monument.
On May 7, the marathon, half-marathon, 10 km and 5 km distances will be run.
Inevitably, staging the events will cause considerable disruption to transport in the Latvian capital over the weekend. Full details of road closures and re-routed public transport are available at the Rīga City Council and Rīga Transport websites.
More details about the running events are available at the official event website: https://rimirigamarathon.com/en/
