The third annual Tallinn marathon, which will take place between 7:00-18:00 on Sunday, September 9, will put a halt to all tram traffic and limit access to the city center, Pirita tee and Terminal D at the port.
Catering to recreational contestants, the running event attracted nearly 18,000 runners last year and the number is expected to increase, said a statement released by the organizers.
A number of traffic changes are planned for Sunday, while runners endure 42.1 kilometers of sweat and possibly rain. A 21.1-kilometer half-marathon will start at 11:30 and a 10-kilometer event starts at 13:30.
The city notified that many buses will have alternate routes on Sunday, and trams will remain in depots between 8:00-16:00.
Travelers heading for the passenger port are advised to plan extra commuting time and use Toom puiestee and Põhja puiestee routes.
Public transportation is free on Sunday to anyone with a valid driver's license. The route of the marathon can be seen here.
Robin Ilves
WELCOME TO ESTONIA’S BIGGEST RUNNING PARTY!
The Tallinn Marathon has won a sure place in the competition calendar of runners and has become an attractive destination for running tourists looking for new experiences. It can safely be said that the SEB Tallinn Marathon, this year taking place on September 8 and 9, together with the traditional Autumn Run, is going for a record again. A total of 17,890 hobby sportspeople participated in all distances last year – this year the number is estimated to be exceeded!
Hobby running, particularly marathon running is becoming a trend in Estonia, similarly to several sports-intensive countries. This is evidenced by the fact that the number of marathon runners in Estonia has increased nearly four times in three years! A contribution to this has surely been made by the Tallinn Marathon, which is included in the top fifty most prestigious marathon runs of the world this year and has become a good challenge for many hobby runners. Also, more and more runners from abroad are visiting Estonia’s largest hobby sports event. Last year there were runners from as much as 40 countries in Tallinn.
As traditional, the region’s largest hobby sports event taking place in Tallinn on the second Sunday of September will offer marathon, semi-marathon and 10-kilometer distances. Fitness walkers and Nordic walkers are also welcome. A day earlier, on September 8, the competition centre on Vabaduse Väljak will host children’s running competitions and the opening ceremony of the Tallinn Marathon. Similarly to most well-known international running events, the route of the Tallinn Marathon will run in city centre, passing through both the Old Town and the modern centre and by several well-known sights. The beach promenade of Pirita offers a classical view on the silhouette of the Tallinn Old Town. The route conforms to international standards and is relatively fast; the weather of the region in September should also be favourable to hobby running. This attracts fast runners from countries with strong running traditions and allows hobby runners to attempt breaking their own records as well. But the main benefit is the joy of moving together with thousands of great hobby runners.
We wish you pleasant running experiences in the capital of Estonia!
Mati Lilliallik
Head Organiser of the Tallinn Marathon
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