When the details of the European Running Championships were unveiled at the European Athletics Congress on Saturday morning, a gasp echoed around the main room at the Crowne Plaza in Belgrade.
Even though many of the delegates from 49 Member Federations knew vaguely of it – planning having started prior to last year’s European Running Business Conference and its appearance on the Congress agenda also gave the game away – many aspects of the forthcoming European Running Championships had been deliberately not been revealed so that it could make as big an impact as possible in the Serbian capital.
And, in a similar manner to the astonishment that accompanied Sifan Hassan’s London Marathon victory barely 24 hours later, make an impact it did.
After critical elements of it were presented, the vote was unanimous: European Running Championships became the latest addition to the European Athletics competition calendar.
The countdown starts
The first edition of this innovative new event will take place in over two days April 2025 and consist of 10km, half marathon and marathon races for both genders.
After that, it will become a biennial spring event so the second edition will be in 2027.
“What we were looking for with the European Running Championships was a way to give every runner the chance to experience the feeling of running in a championship but one that they can enter directly themselves,” said European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov.
“I believe we have done that by not only offering every single runners on the start line the opportunity to rub shoulders with those national team competitors who will be battling for European titles and medals but by adding an extra dimension to the races with an exciting new country rankings format that embrace all participants, and also give them a chance to get medals and recognition in this competition," he added.
European Athletics Running Unit Director Marko Vasic continued: “We are working on the technical details of the latter and will have much more to say about them very soon, but the European Running Championships has already generated considerable excitement and will very quickly become the focal point for the running community in Europe.
Get that championship feeling
“I envisage it providing a unique opportunity for runners at many different levels as it will be a championship like none that has ever gone before," said Vasic.
“At other races, such as the big city marathons, a runner – let’s say a good standard club runner who might be a 2:35 male marathoner or his female equivalent who might have a best of around 2:55 – gets a finisher’s medal, perhaps a T-shirt in his or her goodie bag and some memories to treasure, especially if they have run well.
“However, what the European Running Championships aims to do is add much more value to the emotional experience of running in a major road race because it will be part of a championship,” he commented.
The half marathon distance will remain part of the Rome 2024 European Athletics Championships programme while the marathon will still be contested at the Birmingham 2026 European Athletics Championships.
However, from 2027 onwards, the focus will shift. European road race titles will then only be contested at the European Running Championships.
Host to be announced soon
Inevitably, the one question everyone wanted to know in Belgrade was, “Who will host the first European Running Championships?”
Vasic had an answer already scripted. “This was one of the reasons we talked a little about this event at the European Running Business Conference in Stockholm last September.”
“We wanted to generate curiosity and excitement with potential hosts. I’m very pleased to say that we have had some very strong declarations of interest from several strong candidates.
“The proposals are being evaluated and I’m hopeful that in a few months’ time we will be able to make an announce. Whoever is going to be the first host city, I can guarantee they will make the first European Running Championships a terrific experience for every participant,” added Vasic.
More details about the European Running Championships will be announced soon but for the moment, but pencil it into your calendar for a weekend in April 2025.
As European Athletics CEO Christian Milz concluded to rapturous applause on Saturday, “Welcome to the future, welcome to the European Running Championships!”
For information, please contact the European Athletics Running Unit at; [email protected]