The Streets of Riga Are Crowded with Thousands of Marathon Runners 0 18

The professional runners were the first to hit the course, followed shortly by the other participants.

On Sunday, the running celebration continues with long distances — a half marathon, which has a record number of participants registered — 7,142 runners, as well as a marathon, which will gather 3,569 participants for the first time. The relays "Signet Bank," where participants run the half marathon and marathon in pairs or teams of four, have gathered 223 teams this year for the first time.

In the afternoon, at 12:30, 8,022 participants are expected to take on the 10-kilometer distance, while the largest running event in the Baltics will conclude with the most popular distance — 5.7 kilometers, with starts scheduled for 14:30 and 15:30. This event includes 11,538 runners who, like the long-distance participants, will run past the Freedom Monument.

As previously reported, 46,313 participants from 116 countries registered for various distances of the "Rimi Riga Marathon" this year, setting a record for the number of registered runners and a new scale of international representation, the marathon organizers announced.

Last year, 40,122 runners registered for the marathon.

The running festival was opened on Saturday with Children's Day, featuring 9,433 young runners. Meanwhile, for the Latvian Championship in the mile run — DPD Mile Run, where Arturs Niklavs Medveds set a new record for Latvia among men, 6,780 participants registered on Saturday morning.

The marathon in Riga has been held since 1991.