Running in Latvia has grown from a niche pursuit into a vibrant part of national culture. Today, it is embraced not only as a competitive sport but also as a communal lifestyle. Thousands now take to Riga’s streets and parks in organised races, social jogs, and even world-class championships. How did Latvia develop such a thriving running scene? The story begins with the earliest marathons of the independence era and continues to today’s grassroots clubs and international events, reflecting just how far the country has come.
From the first strides to setbacks
The first recorded marathon on Latvian soil dates back to 1927 in Liepāja, 15 years after Latvian athletes debuted in the marathon at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. In the late 1980s, amid Latvia’s national reawakening from the Soviet era, running became intertwined with the independence movement. The “Folk Song Marathon” drew thousands of participants during the Singing Revolution period, with hundreds completing the 42.2 km distance. This unprecedented mass race, named after Latvia’s beloved folk song festivals, symbolised how running and national identity started mixing.
The collapse of Soviet rule brought new opportunities and challenges for Latvian running. In the summer of 1991, Riga hosted its first international marathon amid heady, chaotic times. On the 27th of July, 1991, with Soviet OMON forces’ recent attacks on pro-independence protesters still fresh in memory, runners toed the start line by the Freedom Monument for the inaugural Riga International Marathon. Organisers handed out what were, at the time, exotic bananas at the finish line and awarded a generous prize of 500 German marks each to the male and female winners. The event drew 919 participants – a mix of local enthusiasts, around 30 runners from Western countries, and several hundred from across the disintegrating Soviet Union.
Without stable sponsorship or international recognition, the Riga Marathon struggled to draw participants throughout the 1990s. After the initial excitement of the first edition, numbers quickly declined. New visa requirements kept many runners from former Eastern Bloc countries away, while Western athletes were hesitant to travel to a post-Soviet state in flux. Latvia’s economic instability, marked by hyperinflation and shifting currencies, made organising events even harder. In 1993, entry fees had to be accepted in three different currencies: the old Latvian ruble, the newly introduced lats, and the German mark. Participation hit an all-time low in 1999, with just 53 local runners completing the 42.2 km distance.
Riga Marathon: a national celebration
In the 2000s, Latvia’s flagship race found a second wind. The breakthrough came in 2007, when the longtime organiser Jānis Karavaičiks stepped aside, and Aigars Nords, a young communications professional with bold ambitions, took the helm. That year brought a series of firsts: the course was officially certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, and for the first time, it crossed the Daugava River via the Vanšu Bridge.
The marathon also gained a new title sponsor, Nordea, and introduced several modern features: online registration and payment, a redesigned website, and an ambitious communications campaign. The impact was immediate. Compared to the previous year, numbers more than doubled, as 224 completed the marathon, 358 ran the half marathon, and over 1,300 took part in the 5 km “mini-marathon.” The long-standing course record from 1991 was finally broken by Kenya’s Johnston Changwon, who clocked 2:18:30 and received an eye-catching €10,000 prize from Nordea for the achievement. In later interviews, Aigars Nords joked that “only utter idiots and rookies” would hand out such a sum “for such a lousy result,” despite it being the new record.
What followed was a period of remarkable growth. From its reinvention in 2007, the Riga Marathon steadily grew into one of Northern Europe’s fastest-rising running festivals. In 2019, the Riga Marathon earned the prestigious World Athletics Gold Label, placing it among the world’s elite events. That year, more than 38,000 runners from 82 countries participated across various distances. Marking its 35th anniversary in 2025, the Riga Marathon reached a new milestone, attracting over 40,000 registered participants from 109 countries – a record-breaking turnout highlighting its growing global stature. Today, it is the largest participatory sports event in the Baltics, a source of national pride, and a key destination for international running enthusiasts.
Izskrien Rīgu: running through Riga for everyone
Latvia’s running boom extends well beyond its flagship marathon. Just as vital has been the rise of community events that encourage people of all ages and fitness levels to get moving. A prime example is Izskrien Rīgu, which can be roughly translated as “Run through Riga.” This open-to-all race series has become a cherished part of the city’s summer rhythm. Held on Thursday evenings in various parks and neighbourhoods across the capital, Izskrien Rīgu transforms running into a festive ritual. Participants complete laps of a roughly one-kilometre course, with options to run 5km, 10km, or a non-ranked “health distance,” making the event accessible to both seasoned runners and newcomers alike. For many, the focus is less on competition and more on community, as they enjoy Riga’s green spaces with friends, family, and even strollers in tow.
Over the past decade, Izskrien Rīgu has evolved from a modest initiative into one of the capital’s standout community traditions. In 2024, it marked its 10th season – a clear sign of its enduring appeal. That year, interest surged to the point where organisers capped registrations for the first time. The opening stage in the newly renovated Uzvaras (Victory) Park drew a record turnout of around 1,300 participants.
Riga Run Club
Few developments capture Latvia’s evolving running culture better than the rise of informal running clubs. A standout example is the Riga Run Club – a grassroots movement that unexpectedly exploded into one of the capital’s most vibrant social phenomena. It began in April 2024, when a small group of university students in Riga decided to organise casual Saturday runs. The goal was simple: meet up, move together, and connect across backgrounds. Their first run drew just six people. A week later, there were eight. Then 47. Within a month, the Saturday runs were already drawing crowds of over 200, and the club’s Instagram had attracted more than two thousand followers.
Held in various parts of the city, the runs start with a group warm-up and are followed by a 5 km jog split into two pace groups. But what sets Riga Run Club apart isn’t the running itself. As one of the founders put it, “We’re not a sports club. We’re not aiming for records. The real purpose is to bring people together.” That spirit is clear in the post-run coffee chats, where many participants connect with like-minded people and often leave with new friends.
Run entirely by volunteers, the club resembles grassroots movements like the November Project, founded in Boston, Massachusetts, and London’s Run Dem Crew. All communication is in English, which makes the club especially accessible to Riga’s international community. It prioritises inclusion and enjoyment, built on the belief that running doesn’t need to be competitive to be meaningful.
Post-pandemic momentum and a global stage
Several recent trends have further accelerated Latvia’s running movement. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a surge in outdoor exercise. With gyms closed and social life restricted, many Latvians turned to running as one of the few accessible ways to stay active and clear their heads. As in many places, the number of recreational runners grew noticeably during this period. By the time in-person events returned, a broader and more motivated running community had emerged. The timing was ideal, as Latvia was preparing to host a landmark international event that would place running firmly in the national spotlight.
In October 2023, Riga proudly hosted the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships. The city’s streets welcomed the world’s top athletes competing in the mile, 5km, and half marathon alongside thousands of recreational runners who tackled the same courses in mass-participation races. This groundbreaking format, which allowed amateur runners to participate in a World Championship event and earn official finisher’s medals, energised the local running community. The result was staggering: 13,334 participants from over 100 countries descended on Riga, making it one of the most internationally diverse sporting events in Baltic history. Two road mile world records, in both the men’s and women’s events, were set on Riga’s course, firmly putting Latvia on the global running map.
Hosting the 2023 World Road Running Championships gave Latvia’s running community a surge of inspiration and pride. According to Riga Marathon organisers, the event sparked a marked rise in international interest, with many foreign runners signing up after seeing the city showcased on the world stage. The impact was clear – the 2024 edition drew over 33,000 participants, nearly 10,000 more than the previous year.
More than a sport
Latvia’s running culture has gained remarkable ground, evolving from scattered initiatives into a powerful and unifying movement. Today, running is not only a means of personal challenge or fitness, but also a way to connect with others, celebrate the city, and take part in something larger than oneself. With the Riga Marathon drawing tens of thousands, neighbourhood runs like Izskrien Rīgu filling parks, and community groups like Riga Run Club redefining how young people gather, it’s clear that running in Latvia is here to stay. It’s no longer just a sport – it’s part of the rhythm of everyday life. And with every kilometre covered, more people fall into stride.
