World Athletics Launches Inaugural Treadmill Championship
Amateur runners have the opportunity to compete alongside elite athletes in a new global 5km event aiming to broaden the sport's appeal.
World Athletics has introduced the first World Treadmill Championship, a new global 5km competition that invites amateur runners to test their abilities against elite athletes. The event, co-organized by Technogym UK, aims to make running more accessible and engage a wider audience, particularly younger participants.
Runners have until January 24 to complete a 5km distance on a treadmill at an official Run X center. Multiple attempts are permitted, with only the best time counting towards qualification. There is no official 5km treadmill world record recognized by World Athletics, though existing records for track and road races at the 5km distance are significantly faster than what typical amateur runners might achieve.
The competition is structured to allow a broad range of participants. The top 25% of runners in age categories ranging from 18 to 75 and older will represent their nations at regional events. The top 10 men and women in each category will then advance to the world finals, scheduled to take place in Italy in March.
A prize pool of $100,000 is allocated for the overall podium finishers in both men's and women's categories, across seven age-group divisions. The specific distribution of these funds has not yet been detailed.
British marathon runner Charlotte Purdue, who holds the third fastest British female marathon time, expressed enthusiasm for the event. "I personally love the treadmill and I've always used it in my training," Purdue stated, noting that she believes treadmills are often misunderstood. "It's definitely added motivation," she said about the championship, though she humorously added, "But I wish it was a marathon on the treadmill, I think I'd have a better chance!"
World Athletics president Lord Coe views the championship as a "great opportunity" to introduce new participants to running. "It's across a whole range of age groups. 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," Coe told BBC Sport. Organizers are also exploring the possibility of including treadmill running in Esport competitions within the next five years.
The 5km distance was chosen for its accessibility, serving as a "real big starting point," according to Luke Townsend, education manager at Technogym UK.
The event also highlights the role of treadmills in maintaining training consistency, especially during darker winter months. Hollie Thackway, founder of the 'She Strides' run club, noted that many women alter their outdoor running routines in winter due to safety concerns. "By being able to run inside on a treadmill, it means you don't have to stop your training," Thackway explained, emphasizing that treadmills allow runners to adhere to their training programs and achieve their goals regardless of external conditions.
Currently, 20 countries are participating, and the list of registered elite runners has not been disclosed. Organizers hope to further boost participation through wildcard entries to events such as the 2027 World Road Running Championships in China.