Riga Marathon 2025

  Three weeks after a breakthrough performance in Kaunas, I found myself on the start line again - this time in Riga.So coming into Riga, I knew recovery would be tight, but I still felt mentally ready to face the challenge...

 We arrived in the city the day before race day. After checking in at the expo center to collect our bibs, we settled into our hostel, which was conveniently located just a short walk from the start line. Riga had a different energy - bigger scale, international runners, and that sense of occasion that comes when a city really embraces its marathon.

  In Riga, if you want to start at the front with the fast runners, you need to get a 'fast runner' sticker at the Expo. To get that sticker, you have to show an official marathon result from the past two years. For marathoners, the qualifying time is under 3:15. So, I did it by showing my last marathon result and got the sticker...

  After the Expo, we headed back to our hostel, which was conveniently located just a short walk from the city center and start line. Riga greeted us with old-town charm, cobbled streets, and a quiet pre-race calm...

  Race day began with rain. A steady drizzle painted the morning gray, but it didn’t dampen the spirit. We walked about 1 km to the start with an umbrella in one hand and adrenaline in the other. The marathoners kicked off early—7:05 AM. I was in that first wave. Diana had a later start at 9:00, so we wished each other good luck and parted ways at the gate...

  I’ve found that I really enjoy running marathons fast — it not only feels great, but it also means I don’t have to run in a crowd. This time, there were over 3,000 runners behind me and fewer than 100 in front...

 

 The race itself was a grind. Compared to Kaunas, where I felt in control and smooth throughout, Riga demanded more. The rain barely let up for most of the course. My legs didn’t have the same spring. But I pushed through and finished in 2:54 - just one minute slower than Kaunas, despite the tougher conditions and shorter recovery window...

 Right as I finished, the rain finally decided to stop - classic timing. Out of 3149 marathon distance participants, I placed 83rd...Diana finished her half marathon with a new personal best of 2:08.... 

  Another medal, another memory. Riga, you were wet, wild, and worth it...

 There’s something special about racing in another country. The unfamiliar streets, the international field, the scale of it all - it adds an emotional layer that’s hard to describe but easy to feel. Riga reminded me that running isn’t just about time. It’s about the experience, the challenge, and the story you take home...