Tallinn half-marathon

Another autumn begins, and with it a new running season.

Every September, Tallinn hosts the largest running festival in the Baltic countries. Over one weekend, thousands of participants gather to run distances from 5 km to the full marathon. It’s the biggest and most vibrant event of its kind in the region. If you count all the finishers the number is greater than 1% of the entire population of Estonia.

Choosing the Half-Marathon

As usual, I signed up for the half-marathon. My goal was simple: to enjoy the race without any pressure about results.

The course in Tallinn is flat. It is flatter than most half-marathons in Europe. This makes it a great choice for both beginners. It is also ideal for experienced runners chasing a personal best.

The Race Experience

The organization was excellent. Runners received free public transport for three days. Drinks were available every 4 km. At kilometer 12, energy gels were handed out. The atmosphere was festive: live bands played along the route, jugglers entertained, and spectators cheered with genuine warmth. There were no frustrating interruptions. No pedestrians suddenly crossed the track. At the finish, runners had the option to buy online their race photos.

The weather was perfect too: cool, dry, and comfortable for running.

Mistakes Along the Way

Still, I made several mistakes that cost me the race. The start was at 9 AM, and my hotel served breakfast only from 7:15. I ate too much, too late, finishing at 7:35, which left me no time for a proper warm-up.

The first kilometer is downhill, and I ran it too fast—5’08”, much quicker than my target pace. Almost immediately, I felt the food rising back up, and by kilometer 5 I was close to dropping out. From there until kilometer 12, every step was a struggle. Fortunately, gels and water helped me hold on.

I shifted my focus to simply finishing, ignoring the clock. In the end, I crossed the line in 2:26, my slowest half-marathon ever. But I accept full responsibility. The race was perfectly organized; the mistakes were mine alone.

As the Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen once said: “Have you not succeeded? Continue! Have you succeeded? Continue!” That’s what I intend to do.

Running with Friends

My colleague Bogdan had an excellent performance, finishing in 1:44, a strong start to the season. Running alongside friends always makes the experience better, no matter the result.

Post-Race Joy

After the race, we headed to Tallinn’s beautiful city center for lunch and to share impressions. On one street, a singer was performing pop songs. Soon, a group of joyful runners joined him. They sang together, people from Sweden and other countries, united by music and the shared experience of the race.

It was a beautiful moment: strangers from across Europe celebrating together, voices blending in the heart of Tallinn. That’s the Europe I love.

A Personal Milestone

On a personal note, this race also marked a symbolic milestone for me. I’ve now run the equivalent of 300 marathons. This is a total of 12,660 km since I started running ten years ago. It has been an incredible journey so far, and despite setbacks like this race, I’m excited to continue.

Tallinn half-marathon is a race I highly recommend. The course, the atmosphere, and the city itself make it unforgettable, even if this time, it wasn’t my best day.