First World Treadmill Championship Debuts in October 2026

CESENA, Italy, Oct. 22, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The first World Treadmill Championship, a groundbreaking indoor running competition, is set to kick off on October 23, 2026, involving athletes, amateurs, and beginners across 400 fitness centers in 20 countries. This event, a joint venture between Technogym, the world leader in wellness and official supplier to the past 10 Olympic Games, and World Athletics, the international federation for athletics, aims to make running more accessible and inclusive.

Technogym and World Athletics have created a unique platform for runners of all levels to compete on a global stage. The Qualification Phase, which runs from October 23, 2026, to January 24, 2027, invites participants to complete a 5 km trial at their nearest participating fitness center. Thanks to the connected technology of the Technogym Digital Ecosystem, performances will be automatically certified, and runners can track their progress on a live global leaderboard.

The competition will feature five Global RUN X Days: October 24, November 14, December 12, January 16, and January 23, 2027. These days will see runners from local fitness centers compete, with the top 25% from each country advancing to the Regional Phase. The Regional Phase, from January 30 to February 28, 2027, will see qualified runners from each country compete at a regional level.

The World Final, scheduled for March 20-21, 2027, will crown the top 10 male and female runners in each age group. These winners will receive an invitation to the Technogym Village in Cesena, Italy, where they will compete for the first world titles in treadmill running. The event promises a significant prize pool of US$100,000, with World Athletics also awarding wild card entries to the respective Member Federations of the overall male and female winners for the 5 km race at the 2027 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Yangzhou, China, taking place one week after the RUN X™ final.

Global ambassadors Jimmy Gressier and Sara Hall will inspire runners throughout the competition. The journey begins on October 23. Step on to the treadmill, connect your run, and see how far you can go. The World Treadmill Championship is set to redefine the way runners experience the sport, making it more accessible and engaging for all.