The organisers hope that the popular and democratic race will appeal to the runners of all levels and abilities—from those who want to have a light workout or a good time with their families to seasoned runners willing to test themselves in the mile to Latvian Championship title contenders for whom the DPD Mile will be a steppingstone on their way to participation in the 2023 Road Running Championships.
The goal of the mile run supported by the Rimi Riga Marathon’s new sponsor DPD Latvia—a courier services provider—is to help folk sports re-emerge from the pandemic and to support Latvia’s best runners on their way to the Road Running Championships in Riga.
“The 1609.34-meter-long distance is short enough to entice beginners, families and children to participate in the race and long enough to challenge champions and speed fans. We are very much looking forward to the mile run being included in the 2023 Road Running Championships in Riga; if that happens, the Rimi Riga Marathon in May for Latvian runners will be the first significant step towards successful participation in the World Championship in the Mile Run in Riga,”
says Aigars Nords, the Rimi Riga Marathon Director and Head of the Riga Road Running Championships Team of Organisers.
DPD Mile to start and finish near the Monument of Freedom
On 14 May, the start and finish of the brand-new race will be set at the very heart of the Latvian capital—the pedestal of the Monument of Freedom, taking the runners of the 1.6 km distance along Brīvibas and Kalpaka boulevards, as well as Elizabetes and Valdemāra Streets. On the afternoon of 14 May, the DPD Mile will wind up the Children’s Day of the Rimi Riga Marathon, replacing the Family Run—the traditional 4.2-kilometre race taking place at the closing hours of the Children’s Day.
“Marathon is the word best encapsulating the daily routine of DPD Latvija couriers, who make hundreds of miles a day around Latvia, delivering shipments and bringing joy to the recipients. The greatest prize of our marathon is the recipients’ smile, joy, and thanks! That is the best reward of our race and motivation to pursue the delivery miles ahead. We encourage everyone who already runs or wishes to take on running to purse their goals by joining the DPD Mile run. By joining the race, you will symbolically step into our couriers’ shoes, feeling joy and positive emotions,”
adds Jānis Grants, DPD Latvia’s Chairman of the Board.
Registration for the DPD Mile and other Rimi Riga Marathon races
To register for the Rimi Riga Marathon’s DPD Mile and other races, such as marathon, half-marathon, 10 and 5 km events, visit the Riga marathon’s official homepage at www.rimirigamarathon.com.
Organisers also wish to remind you that registrations completed by 28 February come at a better price, and what’s more, until 15 April, participation may be postponed to 2023 or given to another runner.
Registration of children under 12 for the Children’s Day shorter races will open on 1 March. In spring, registration for the traditional Latvian School Cup will also open, where kids for a symbolic fee will be able to participate in a number of running races, including the DPD Mile.
Also, the organisers encourage everyone to start getting ready for the Rimi Riga Marathon early individually or through training programs and advice on the event’s homepage, as well as by taking part in the challenges thrown down by the Virtual Running Club.
About Rimi Riga Marathon
Riga has organised a marathon since 1991. The 32nd Rimi Riga Marathon will take place on May 14–15, 2022. The 31st Rimi Riga Marathon in 2021 was run on August 28–29, welcoming over 10 000 registered participants. The summer of 2021 was the second year in a row when the Rimi Riga Marathon organised the Goodwill Kilometres campaign, a charity event which raised over EUR 20 000 for physically handicapped children in partnership with the Children’s Hospital Fund, Rimi, and Latvian Television. Since June 2020, when the Rimi Riga Marathon’s Virtual Running Club was launched, it has called together more 60 000 runners at virtual running events. Since 2007, NECom organises the marathon in partnership with the Riga City Council. The general partner: Rimi. Sponsors: DPD Latvija, WESS Motors Toyota, Sportland, Nike, Neste, Tet. Partners: natural mineral water Mangaļi, Garmin, Gjensidige Latvija, Mēness aptieka, Science in Sport, Balticovo, Happy, Klotiņi & Serģis, LSFP, LVS, VSK Noskrien, and others.
Media partners: LTV, LSM.
