The new platform helps runners find participating facilities and join the first World Treadmill Running Championship.

RUN X, the first World Treadmill Running Championship developed through a strategic partnership between Technogym and World Athletics, is expanding its global reach with the launch of its official Club Finder.

Available now at www.runx.org, the Club Finder helps runners discover participating facilities around the world. For fitness operators, it offers a new way to increase visibility, connect with local running communities and attract prospective members. Ahead of the kickoff, 300 facilities worldwide have registered to participate, with more expected to join.

By joining RUN X and appearing on the Club Finder, facilities can:

  • Increase visibility among local runners and endurance athletes.
  • Attract prospective members through official qualifying events.
  • Support member engagement and retention through a global competition.
  • Build connections with local running communities and clubs.
  • Join an international network supported by Technogym and World Athletics.

Beyond the competition itself, RUN X aims to establish a new indoor sports discipline that brings runners and fitness clubs closer together.

Inclusivity at the Core: Why 5,000 Meters?

The 5,000-meter format was selected to encourage broad participation, giving runners of different experience levels a shared competitive platform:

  • An Accessible Starting Point: The 5 km distance offers a more approachable entry point than longer endurance events, while giving experienced and elite runners an opportunity to test their speed.
  • Real-Time Motivation: Through integration with the Technogym Digital Ecosystem, participants compete on connected treadmills and track their performance on a live global leaderboard. Club standings and worldwide rankings add a shared competitive element to each runner’s effort.

The Rise of Hybrid Training

RUN X taps into the growing interest in hybrid training, as more athletes combine strength work with endurance exercise. For this community, lifting and running are complementary parts of a broader approach to performance.

With its focus on measurable results and competition, RUN X gives hybrid athletes another way to challenge themselves, benchmark their running performance and compete within a connected global community.

A Strategic Opportunity for Fitness Clubs

For participating clubs, RUN X offers more than another event on the calendar. It creates opportunities for local marketing, community outreach and member engagement:

  • Connections with Local Running Clubs: Facilities can engage nearby running groups by offering an indoor training and competition option during winter months, as well as a setting for focused workouts such as intervals and speed tests.
  • Foot Traffic and Member Acquisition: Hosting official qualifying events can bring new runners into a facility, introducing them to its equipment, programming and broader membership offering.

To help clubs make the most of the format, Technogym hosted the inaugural RUN X Summit from September 24 to 26 at Technogym Village in Cesena, Italy, welcoming representatives from more than 300 participating clubs.

The three-day event connected partner clubs with international master trainers and industry leaders. Workshops and practical sessions focused on the strategic, commercial and technical tools operators can use to introduce RUN X and build participation in their local markets.

The Road to Technogym Village

The RUN X competition will progress through three stages:

  • October 2026: Official qualifying events begin at participating fitness clubs worldwide.
  • January 2027: Continental finals determine the athletes advancing to the championship.
  • March 2027: Qualifiers compete in person at the World Championship Final at Technogym Village in Cesena for a $100,000 prize purse.

The challenge is officially on. Register your club at www.runx.org.

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