Two-time Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen has spent most of 2025 sidelined with harm, however he and his brothers have nonetheless discovered methods to remain busy. Final month, the Ingebrigtsens launched a world run membershipand it was solely a matter of time earlier than they took the subsequent step—race directing.
On Thursday, the brothers introduced RUNFEST, a brand new race sequence set for September 2026.
In keeping with the press launch, the target is to deliver runners of all ranges collectively, from leisure to elite, and have them compete towards each other. RUNFEST can be held in Ingebrigtsen’s hometown of Sandnes, Norway, from Sept. 24-26, 2026, with distances of 1,500m (naturally), a 5K, 10K and half-marathon.
“It is a dream that my brothers and I’ve had for a very long time,” mentioned Jakob within the press launch. “Runfest must be a celebration of the enjoyment of working, each for younger and outdated. It is going to be a avenue working competition and a public competition the place the world’s finest runners are a part of the present, however the place everybody can take part.”
Registration for RUNFEST 2026 opens on Sept. 26, 2025.
Ingebrigtsen’s harm woes proceed
With the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Japan now 4 weeks away, one of many largest questions is whether or not Jakob Ingebrigtsen can be wholesome sufficient to compete, not to mention contend for a medal. The 24-year-old Norwegian has but to race this outside season as he continues to get well from an Achilles harm sustained final fall.
His final look was on the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing in March, the place he received gold in each the 1,500m and three,000m. Jakob had been scheduled to run the 1,500m in Silesia and Brussels on Aug. 16 and 22, however his spokesperson, Espen Skolandmentioned he’s nonetheless recovering and “engaged on eliminating the harm,” including, “he would very a lot have appreciated to have the ability to take part.”
By lacking the Silesia and Brussels Diamond League meets, Jakob will seemingly not have sufficient factors to qualify for the Diamond League Last in Zurich on Aug. 27–28. Whereas he holds an automated spot within the 5,000m (as defending champion), and has the world championship normal within the 1,500m, the dearth of races earlier than worlds leaves him and his workforce with a troublesome determination.
Ingebrigtsen has mentioned he intends to race on the World Championships in Tokyo from Sept. 13–21, however it’s unclear whether or not he’ll contest each occasions, or shift his focus to the one he has dominated for the previous three seasons: the boys’s 5,000m.
