There’s an IKEA Marathon Happening This Year—and You May Have to Self-Assemble Your Medal (Of Course)

An IKEA-themed marathon is set to take place inside the Croydon store on Sunday, December 13, making it a world-first event. The entire route will stay indoors, winding through aisles, tills, and the warehouse, with runners likely completing about 17 laps to cover the full marathon distance.

The race is scheduled to run from 6 p.m. to midnight, and organizers expect it to be a novelty event with a very limited field. Only 80 public entries are expected to be available, with tickets likely going on sale on Friday, June 26, through event registration sites.

The event was created by a race director from Sussex Trail Events, and it is being pitched as a fun, unusual challenge rather than a standard road race. There is even talk of aid-station meatballs, which fits the store’s theme. RW