Everyday runners are being given the chance to compete alongside elite athletes in the first World Treadmill Championship, a new global 5km competition.
Runners have until 24 January to complete 5km, for free, at their nearest official Run X centre. After that, the top 25% of runners in age categories from 18 to 75+ will represent their nation at the regionals, before the 10 best men and women in each category advance to the world finals in Italy next March. There are currently only 20 countries taking part, and the list of elite runners registered has not yet been disclosed. Organisers hope to entice more participants, alongside the cash prize, with wildcard entries to events like the 2027 World Road Running Championships in China.
Despite the treadmill sometimes being referred to anecdotally as the 'dreadmill' due to the repetitive nature of indoor running, World Athletics president Lord Coe told BBC Sport it's a "great opportunity" to introduce a new audience to running. "It's across a whole range of age groups," he says. "It's very important that we continue to innovate and it's really important that when we innovate, we use technology that attracts more young people into our sport." The ambition for treadmill running doesn't stop there, with hopes the discipline can also be included in Esport competitions in the next five years.
Luke Townsend, education manager at Technogym UK, one of the co-organisers, says the 5km distance is the most accessible starting point. "We know there are a lot of long-distance challenges but nothing at that 5km mark," he tells BBC Sport. Members of the 'She Strides' run club, including Hollie Thackway, its founder, also took part at Run X in Southampton. They usually run together outdoors but wanted to highlight the safety benefits of treadmill running. "Unfortunately, so many women in the winter have to change their routines of running outside because they don't feel safe," Thackway says.
With the clocks going back this weekend, many runners will soon be spending more of their training time in the dark. Thackway added that running indoors means runners "don't have to stop your training" and can keep working toward their goals throughout the winter.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing