Running News Daily

Doha’s 2019 world championship marathon to start at midnight

The International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) has announced an innovative and fan-centered schedule for the 2019 IAAF World Championships.

The spectacular Midnight Marathon is the highlight of the competition schedule for the IAAF World Championships Doha 2019. The new championship format enables spectators to have an exciting and engaging event experience.

Details for the IAAF World Championships’ first-ever Midnight Marathon have also been announced with a stunning setting that will showcase the events like never before. The spectacular midnight marathon will take place along Doha’s iconic Corniche with the city’s iconic night skyline as a beautiful backdrop, providing stunning imagery for TV’s global audience.

Lights along the entire route will bring the full marathon to life with spectators enjoying family-friendly activations to give the event a festival atmosphere for athletes and fans alike, the IAAF has reported on its official website.

The popularity of night running events has grown considerably over recent years with Doha 2019 embracing the latest trend of the biggest global movement to bring a unique and different element to the World Championships. 

Canada’s Reid Coolsaet, who was ninth at the Boston Marathon said, “I just don’t understand why it’s not at like 10 PM. Unless maybe by midnight the roads have actually cooled down, I imagine the sun’s so hot there, the heat coming off the roads you’ll still feel it hours after the sun goes down.”

The world championships will be held from Sept. 28 to Oct. 6, 2019 in Doha, Qatar, when temperatures typically see nighttime lows of 71F to daytime highs of 92F.