It will be the first event of its kind in the Baltic states and will see top-class professional runners competing alongside amateurs for world champion titles in the disciplines of road mile, 5km, and the half marathon on the streets of the Latvian capital.
According to the organizers "enthusiasts from more than 100 countries around the world" will participate as well as five world record holders. In total, 57 national teams from different countries have registered 348 elite runners – 151 women and 197 men.
Things will officially start on September 29 with a World Championships EXPO and opening press conference. On September 30, the youngest runners will be invited to run at the Rimi Kids' Day event, and there will also be a Global Running Conference, which will bring together leading professionals in the running industry on the same day.
At the World Championships Mass Races on October 1st the participants will be congratulated at the finish line by the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs. The most active Latvian companies will compete in the Signet Bank Teams' Cup, as well as the most active Latvian schools, who will prove themselves in the Latvian Schools' Cup. The youngest joggers will also kickstart the Championships weekend with the Rimi Kids' Day runs.
Registration for the mass races remains open until the 29th of September, so if you've been pondering pulling on your pumps there is still time. For those without itchy feet, spectators can watch on the streets of Riga on Sunday. Everyone will also be able to follow the event live stream on the World Athletics website, on LSM and on the television channel LTV7 from 11:25 to 15:35pm within Latvia.
World Road Running Championships program
September 29, Friday
10:00-20:00 EXPO at the Hanzas perons - mass race participants' bib collection
14:00-15:00 World Athletics Road Running Championships opening press conference at the EXPO with World Athletics president Sebastian Coe
September 30, Saturday
10:00-18:00 Global Running Conference, Radisson Blu Latvija
10:00-20:00 EXPO at the Hanzas Perons - mass race participants' bib collection
10:00-15:00 Rimi Kids' Day, Monument of Freedom
October 1, Sunday
10:00 5km mass race (start at the Stone bridge)
11:30 road mile (1609 m) mass race (start at the National Museum of Art)
12:00 5km elite race | women (start at the Stone bridge)
12:25 5km elite race | men (start at the Stone bridge)
13:00 road mile elite race | women (start at the National Museum of Art)
13:10 road mile elite race | men (start at the National Museum of Art)
13:30 Half marathon elite race | women (start at the Stone bridge)
14:15 Half marathon elite race | men (start at the Stone bridge)
14:15 Half marathon & 21km relay mass race (start at the National Museum of Art)
15:30 Medal ceremony (at the Embankment)
You can find more about what's happening when at the official website: https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-road-running-championships/riga23
In addition, Live Rīga, the Latvian capital's tourist promotion agency has this handy guide for participants: https://www.liveriga.com/en/12721-a-guide-to-riga-for-world-athletics-road-running-championships
