Marathon de Riga
Having become a real institution 👆, the Riga Marathon has been an unmissable event in Baltic running circles 📍 since 1991. In 2022, with over 22,000 participants, it was also the biggest competition in the region! 😮 Needless to say, the organizers are looking to keep that title in 2024! 👑 To do so, they’re pulling out all the stops with 5 races spread over the third weekend of May. Thus, it’s in spring 🌻 that you’ll need to head to Latvia’s capital 🇱🇻, Riga, to traverse the historic city over distances of 42.195 km, 21.095 km, 10 km, 5 km, or 1.609 km. Kids from Riga can also enjoy the "Children's Day" 👦 on Saturday, featuring several races organized for families and kids up to 12 years old.
It's like reuniting with an old friend! Since 1991, the year of the Soviet Union’s collapse, Latvia has been celebrating its regained independence, lost 40 years earlier, and its love for sports 🫶 through the most famous marathon of the Gulf of Riga. Over more than thirty years, the event has seen many ups and downs that challenged its longevity, without managing to bring it to an end 😉. Thanks to the determination of the organizers, today it's considered the most significant in the Baltic states ✨, with Riga being named "the global capital of road racing in 2023" as stated by Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics! 👏 It's also worth noting that the event holds the World Athletics Gold Label and World Athletics Road Races 🥇. The Rimi Riga Marathon is also among the 350 global marathons where you can qualify for the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships 👍. Created by Abbott World Marathon Majors, the label allows runners aged 40 and over to compete at the World Championships 🏆. In total, in 2022, 17,000 people from 76 different countries came to compete. That year, the slogan "Together!" was dedicated to Ukraine. Moreover, the revenues 💶 from the 5km distance were entirely donated to support the war-torn country 🤝.
Now that we've covered that, it's time ⌚️ to get to what you're most interested in: the logistics of the Rimi Riga Marathon! As you're already aware, 5 distances 🖐️ are offered in just one weekend. In spring, while temperatures will still be on the cooler side (average 15°C 😬), you'll be at the starting line of one of the races 🚩. Whether it's the sacred Riga marathon (42.195 km), the half-marathon (21.095 km), the 10 km, the 5 km, or the "DPD Mile" of 1.609 km..., it’s up to you to choose your challenge! 🙄 If you're looking to explore the city 👀 in its entirety, to cross its river 🌊, the Daugava, and weave through the historic streets of the biggest city in the Baltics, the marathon distance 👸 or the half-marathon is recommended (the marathon is a double loop of 21 km ➿). However, if you prefer beating your personal record ⏱️, running a shorter distance or reserving part of the weekend for sightseeing 🚶♀️, the other distances might suit you better. Of course, if you're a performer in quest of the best time, THE race for you is the "DPD Mile", designed specifically for the world's top long-distance runners 🌎. Like the other races, this one is particularly flat 📏. However, you'll find that none of the courses feature significant elevation changes 🙅, making this event perfect for achieving top times 🚀. Still, it remains to be seen if you'll be able to beat the current records: 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 51 seconds by Ethiopian Andualem Shiferaw (2019) and 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 18 seconds by Ethiopian Birke Debele (2019). Indeed, 2019 was a fantastic year! 😅🍾 2024 promises to be exceptional too, thanks to the festive atmosphere 🥳 that will fill the streets. The event aims to be joyful, welcoming, and family-friendly! ☺️ That’s why numerous festivities 🪇 are planned throughout the weekend, including a special "Children's Day".
Boasting an exceptional cultural 🎨, architectural and historical heritage, Riga offers much to runners/visitors 🥰. Its geographic location plays a large part in this. Crossed by the Daugava, leading to the Gulf of Riga and then to the Baltic Sea, it is a port city ⚓️ of great significance, marked by various influences over the centuries, including Swedish, German, and Russian. Some buildings from these periods have miraculously survived the wars of the 20th century, offering a surprising mix of old and modern! 🤌 The old town 👵, Vecrīga, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its colorful facades, is sure to captivate you… 😍 Fun fact: the historical center is 810 years old 👴. No wonder this area is the tourist heart! ❤️ And that's without even seeing the Art Nouveau buildings that dot the city! You can see these wonderful structures in the Centrs neighborhood, the most spacious and lively, described as "an open-air museum". Also, if you love immersing yourself in local culture, you can't miss a visit to the Central Market, Europe's largest covered market! 🇪🇺 There, you'll likely find all the ingredients needed to prepare some culinary specialties 😋. And if you're a nature lover 🌳, you'll feel right at home in Mezaparks, the city's affluent neighborhood, where you'll find a forest, an amusement park 🎢, and some sandy beaches 🏖️.
We'll see you at the Rimi Riga Marathon to enjoy a weekend at the crossroads of sport, performance, sightseeing, and new experiences 🫢.
For the marathon: €50 until December 31, 2023, then €59 until February 28, 2024, then €50 until April 30, 2024, and finally €59 until May 17, 2024.
For the half-marathon: €35 until December 31, 2023, then €45 until February 28, 2024, then €50 until April 30, 2024, and finally €59 until May 17, 2024.
For the 10 km race: €21 until December 31, 2023, then €26 until February 28, 2024, then €30 until April 30, 2024, and finally €39 until May 17, 2024.
For the 5 km race: €16 until December 31, 2023, then €19 until February 28, 2024, then €25 until April 30, 2024, and finally €29 until May 17, 2024.
For the "DPD Mile" race of 1,609 m: €5 until March 1, 2024, then €10.
For the kids' race "Sprint King and Queen" of 60 m: €3.
For the "Virtual Race": €19.
To participate in the children's day: €0.
You can register until May 18, 2024, at 8 PM, except for the "Happy Babies" races of 200 m and 400 m, where the deadline is set to May 18, 2024, at 12 PM.
For the marathon: born before May 7, 2005
For the half-marathon: born before May 7, 2005 or a minor with permission
For the 10 km race: born before May 7, 2005 or a minor with permission
For the 5 km race: born before May 7, 2005 or a minor with permission
For the "DPD Mile" race of 1,609 m: born before May 7, 2005 or a minor with permission
For the kids' race "Sprint King and Queen" of 60 m: under 12 years old.
For the marathon:
Race number and results
Baggage check and bike storage
Support from the Garmin Pace team
Science in Sport electrolyte drinks
Science in Sport energy gels on the way
"Mangaļi" water along the route and at the finish line
Post-race lounge
Finisher medal
Gjensidige insurance
Rimi photo points on Sportfoto.com
For the half-marathon:
Race number and results
Baggage check and bike storage
Support from the Garmin Pace team
Science in Sport electrolyte drinks
Science in Sport energy gels on the way
"Mangaļi" water along the route and at the finish line
Finisher medal
Gjensidige insurance
Rimi photo points on Sportfoto.com
For the 10 km race:
Race number and results
Baggage check and bike storage
The Science in Sport electrolyte drink in action
"Mangaļi" water on the course and finish line
Special commemorative medal
Gjensidige insurance
Rimi photo points on Sportfoto.com
For the 5 km race:
Race number and results
Baggage check and bike storage
"Mangaļi" water on the way
Finisher medal
Gjensidige insurance
Rimi photo points on Sportfoto.com
For the "DPD Mile" race of 1,609 m:
For the marathon: 6 hours
For the half-marathon: 3 hours
For the 10 km race: 2 hours
For the 5 km race: 1 hour 30 minutes
For the "DPD Mile" race of 1,609 m: 30 minutes
Have more questions? You can contact the organizers:
by mail: SIA "Nords Event Communications", Brivibas iela 40-34, Riga, Latvia LV-1050
by email: marathon@necom.lv
Bibs can be picked up on May 17 and 18, 2024, from 10 AM to 8 PM, with the confirmation letter and an ID, at the Rimi Riga Marathon Expo.
International runners participating in the "DPD Mile" can pick up their bib on May 18 at the Expo, from 8:30 AM to 9:45 AM. A special last-minute pick-up service for international runners will be available on Sunday. For €5, you can order bib delivery starting April 3, from your registration profile. This service must be paid for by May 12, 2024. On May 19, 2024, participants can receive their bib at the Info Centre on November 11 Embankment.
To have a bib with your name and surname, you must register before April 1, 2024.
You can make this change from your profile, on the website, for free, until March 31, 2024. After that, this change will cost €15. After May 31, 2024, it will no longer be possible to change races.
To take action, you need to make a request to the service and fill out the form at this link.
If unsure, you can send an email to: marathon@necom.lv
You can make this change from your profile, on the website, until April 16, 2024, for €25. After May 12, 2024, it will no longer be possible to change races.
To take action, you need to make a request to the service and fill out the form at this link.
If unsure, you can send an email to: marathon@necom.lv
Please note, it is not possible to switch to a longer distance if your original race was the "DPD Mile".
You can transfer your bib to someone else for free until March 31, 2024. From April 1 to May 12, 2024, this transfer will cost €15. After this date, it will no longer be possible to transfer your bib.
To take action, you need to make a request to the service and fill out the form at this link.
If unsure, you can send an email to: marathon@necom.lv
You can transfer your bib to the year 2025 until May 12, 2024, for an additional €15.
To take action, you need to make a request to the service and fill out the form at this link.
If unsure, you can send an email to: marathon@necom.lv
There are 2 simple ways to do this:
The team leader registers the whole team and indicates that payment will be made by invoice/credit card
Each member registers individually using the unique registration code provided. The code will include the expiration date and the number of participants. After the specified period, registration is closed, and the invoice is ready.
Replacing a team member for the same distance is possible until March 31, 2024, for free. After that, and until May 12, 2024, this change will be charged €15. After this date, it will no longer be possible.
To take action, you need to make a request to the service and fill out the form at this link.
If unsure, you can send an email to: marathon@necom.lv
Team representatives can request that bibs be assembled and delivered to an office in Latvia, via DPD courier service. For this to be possible, the invoice for participation and delivery must be settled by no later than May 13, 2024, at 6 PM. The form to fill out is available here. They will be distributed starting May 13, 2024.
Here is the fee:
Up to 50 bibs, for assembly and delivery: €100 excluding VAT, which equals €121
For a team of 51 bibs or more, for assembly and delivery: €130 excluding VAT, which equals €157.30
Yes, a baggage check will be available at Doma Square. You will only be able to store your official bag by selecting it in advance. This information must be provided during registration, until April 30. It's a free service.
You can find the results on this page.
For the marathon: starts on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at 8 AM, from November 11 Embankment
For the half-marathon: starts on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at 8 AM, from November 11 Embankment
For the 10 km race: starts on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at 12:30 PM, from November 11 Embankment
For the 5 km race: starts on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at 2:30 PM, from November 11 Embankment
For the "DPD Mile" race of 1,609 m: starts on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 10 AM, from the Freedom Monument
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