Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Technogym and World Athletics have announced RUN X™, a new 5km global treadmill running competition, during the RUN X™ programme launch on Global Running Day, June 3, at Technogym Village in Cesena, Italy. The event will allow runners of all levels to compete on connected treadmills at affiliated centres worldwide, with results displayed on local and global online leaderboards.
Fitness centres, universities, corporate facilities, and hotels can now register to join the RUN X™ network, hosting the qualification phase of the inaugural championship from October 2026. Participants may also train at home using Technogym-connected equipment, with their performances certified via the Technogym Digital Ecosystem.
Qualified runners at the national level will advance to the regional stage beginning January 2027. The final event is scheduled for March 20-21, 2027, at Technogym Village in Cesena, Italy, where top male and female runners will compete for the world treadmill titles.
RUN X™ offers a total prize pool of US$100,000. World Athletics will also grant wild card entries to the top male and female athletes, allowing them to compete in the 5km race at the 2027 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Yangzhou, China, after the RUN X™ final.
The competition was created through collaboration between Technogym, a global leader in wellness and athletic training, and World Athletics, the international governing body for athletics. Their goal is to attract more runners, foster inclusivity, and overcome barriers related to location, weather, or time constraints through connected running facilities.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe stated that RUN X™ aims to broaden the athletics community by integrating treadmill running in fitness and wellness environments worldwide.