World half-marathon championships coming to a desktop near you

@lannimarchant leading the charge at the World’s Best 10K this morning in Puerto Rico. #canadianrunning #puertorico #worldsbest10k

A photo posted by canadianrunning (@canadianrunning) on Feb 28, 2016 at 10:50am PST

Sit back, relax and enjoy the race on Saturday morning. Athletics Canada announced on Tuesday that the IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships will be streamed live to Canadians on the weekend.

The championships are being held in Cardiff, Wales as six of Canada’s top distance runners, three men and three women, will toe the line. The event is beginning at 9:35 a.m. EDT on March 26.

Women’s race start time

9:35 a.m. EDT – 1:35 p.m. local

Men’s race start time

10:10 a.m. EDT – 2:10 p.m. local

Men’s team
– Reid Coolsaet
– Rob Watson
– Brandon Lord

Women’s team
– Lanni Marchant
– Laura Batterink
– Tarah Korir

Berlin Marathon Weekend Canada, introducing your current fastest male marathoner, Mr. Reid Coolsaet. 02:10:29. @reidcoolsaet – major congrats buddy. Gram by: @paceandmind #marathoner #together42 #newbalancecanada #bmcommunity #pmberlin #marathoner

A photo posted by canadianrunning (@canadianrunning) on Sep 27, 2015 at 9:25am PDT

Both teams feature contenders in the men’s and women’s races including Canadian marathon record holder Lanni Marchant, Reid Coolsaet, the second fastest over 42.2K in Canadian history, and 2013 world championships team member Rob Watson.

Marchant will be arriving in Wales from Flagstaff, Ariz. where she spent the past month training at altitude. She was part of the two-person team that won gold at the North America, Caribbean and Central America (NACAC) 10K Road Race Cup in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Feb. 28.

Watson, a resident of Vancouver, has had a stellar start to 2016 running a qualifying time at the Houston half-marathon and several fast 5Ks recently. He’s coached by his brother, Pete, as is University of Georgia graduate Brandon Lord, the third member of the men’s squad.

In addition to Marchant, Laura Batterink and Tarah Korir will make up the rest of the three-athlete women’s squad. Batterink ran one of the fastest 10,000m times in Quebec history in December while Korir will be travelling from Kenya to the race.

@rwatson26point2 cruising to victory at Sunday’s #Pioneer8K in 23:47. @nwodakruns wins the women’s race (26:31). Full recap up now on our website. Photo: Victoria Sports News. #canadianrunning

A photo posted by canadianrunning (@canadianrunning) on Jan 11, 2016 at 9:54am PST

The event will be streamed via AthleticsCanada.tv.

Canadian Running caught up with team member Reid Coolsaet in Guelph, Ont. recently to discuss training ahead of this weekend’s championships. Video can be found below: