World Athletics is partnering with Technogym to launch a global indoor running competition: the World Treadmill Championship, also called Run X, in 2026. The exact date and final location remain TBD.

The announcement by Technogym Founder and CEO Nerio Alessandri, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe and world 10,000m champion Jimmy Gressier took place on Monday in Milan.

“We are delighted to partner with Technogym for the World Treadmill Championship. Together, we aim to create a virtual competition space that builds a global community, entertains and motivates amateur runners to compete and connect with a worldwide virtual community,” Coe said in a news release. “By combining the best of Technogym’s running technology with the reach and universality of athletics, this event promises to revolutionise the world of e-sports.”

🌍 How It Works

Distance: 5 kilometers (3.1 miles)

Venue: Participating gyms and wellness clubs with Technogym treadmills connected to the Technogym Digital Ecosystem

Eligibility: Open to recreational and professional runners worldwide

Format: Runners compete in their local Technogym-equipped gym. Times are uploaded automatically. A real-time global leaderboard will display rankings. The top runners from each age group advance to regional championships, then to a world final (top 10 men and women).

What’s at stake: Run X will feature a $100,000 prize pool. World Athletics will also grant wild cards for select World Athletics Series events, including the World Road Running Championships.

Background

In November 2024, The Daily Mail was reported that World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon was considering the concept of a treadmill championships as a way to extend track and field’s reach by tapping into the fast-growing virtual and indoor fitness market.

At the time, World Athletics was nearing a partnership with a technology provider to set the groundwork for a global treadmill competition akin to successful models already seen in other endurance sports. Indoor rowing has held a World Championships since 2018. Cycling’s UCI Cycling Esports World Championships have been held on platforms like Zwift.

It’s an attempt by World Athletics to see if treadmill competition could serve as a bridge between casual and elite runners.