Using Formula 1 tracks team-based RunGP running league gets global launch

Aiming to combine elite competition with mass participation elements, endurance racing series RunGP, the flagship series of the Global Running League (GRL), has been launched.

Backed by four-time British Olympic gold medallist Sir Mo Farah, the most successful male track distance runner in the history of the sport, the series will repurpose Formula 1 circuits as its running venues.

With the first event to take place at the Lusail International Circuit in the Qatar capital of Doha on the 9th and 10th May, the series will be streamed by sport streaming platform DAZN, a part of a distribution agreement.

Designed to merge elite competition, mass participation and entertainment, the newly established series aims will introduce a team-based format, integrating pro athletes, influencers and celebrity backed squads.

The main event will be a team relay, with four squads competing over seven one kilometre laps while, prior to the main event, runners of all levels will be able to participate in a mass participation race over 7.032 kilometres - one-sixth of a marathon distance.

The project will also see Farah spearhead a youth-focused event called ‘One Mo Mile’.

Launching the series, RunGP Chief Executive, Marcel Muenster stated “for too long, running has been treated as an individual pursuit.

“We’re introducing a new, commercially viable format where the spectacle matches the sport, where technology enhances the viewing experience and where participation is accessible to all. The potential for innovation in running has been untapped, and we intend to change that.”

Explaining his backing for the series, Farah told The Independent “when I watch athletics, to me, it’s not as exciting as it once

“How do we make athletics exciting? How do we make running exciting? How do you make running this big global event?

“And that’s what we’re trying, in every way. But this idea really is to make this league something that has never been heard of and make history.”

The two-day debut event in Qatar will consist of the RunGP Qatar Final, the elite team relay, the mass participation RunGP Qatar 7.032, the Moonlight Circuit - an immersive night race featuring LED lit tracks and visual storytelling and the One Mo Mile.

The GRL was initially introduced last year as the first structured, team-based competition in running. Farah has been brought on board as an advisor, with organisers seeking to create an “evolution” in how running is experienced and commercialised through the use of live biometrics, digital overlays and enhanced fan engagement.

Muenster went on to say “running is the most accessible sport in the world, but it has lacked a structured competitive league. RunGP provides the missing piece, creating an experience that excites both runners and spectators.

“With elite team competitions and mass participation at iconic circuits, we are turning running into something bigger than ever before.”

Events are also promising to reinvent the premium race day experience by shifting away from traditional alcohol centric VIP setups to wellness driven, movement focused hospitality, aligning with the league’s sustainability ethos.

RunGP has also pledged to put sustainability at the heart of its events, with Sports For Nature on board as its official sustainability partner. It has also made Sweat Economy a founding partner, which will allow runners to earn $SWEAT, a cryptocurrency, through running in its events. Fans and runners will be able to track their movement progress and access rewards through the Sweat Wallet platform.

The launch of the breakaway series presents a challenge for World Athletics, already impacted by Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson’s professional athletics league Grand Slam Track.

In addition, there is the more established Abbott World Marathon Majors series.

On the prospect of RunGP co-existing with Grand Slam Track and World Athletics’ long-established Diamond League, Farah stated “Michael Johnson is a friend of mine.

“He’s doing an amazing thing to create more in athletics. We’ve got to get athletics back on the map.

“But if you look at that, that’s purely done from sprint or 5K. We’re talking about the distance here. We’re going to go full out, we’ll do the marathon, half marathon and beyond. But really this event is for the masses, not just the elite level, for everyone and everyone. From kids to all the way through.”

Images: Britain's Sir Mo Farah wins the London Marathon in 2018 (top, credit: Shutterstock) and Qatar's Lusail International Circuit will host the first Global Running League event on 9th and 10th May (below, credit: MotoGP).