Two weeks ago today I ran my first ever international event, Helsinki City Running Day. As the name states, it was a day, actually two days of running events, starting with the children’s run on the Friday with the Mini Marathon, this was broken down into age categories (this information has been gleened from the website, I have no mini marathoners).
The other event on the Friday is the City 5k, it can be completed at any time on the Friday, without the pressure of timings.
The Saturday holds the main events, the full marathon, starting in the morning, along with the marathon relay; then in the afternoon was my event, the half marathon. The marathon, half, double, and relay all have the same route, a single lap for the half, two and a twiddle for the full, with the same lap for the double.
I have never had an event that wasn’t in the morning or evening, so a 2:30 start was confusing, what was I supposed to do for food when I was too nervous to eat properly?!? So due too nerves, I arrived at the start venue 2hrs early, and got to enjoy the atmosphere as well as cheering on many marathon finishers.
The start was the outside of the 1952 Olympic stadium. The route runs along the main road Mannerheimintie, that has been on every bit of publication about it, so it seemed important to add. The route was incredible well supported, people along almost every stretch of the run. There was a police band between 1-2km, which was amazing to have their support. From 5k onwards the route was around the harbour, island hopping, the views were breathtaking, which was hard as I had no breath to spare. The bridges did add the challenge at times of steep and short inclines, and then them bouncing around while being on them, a very unsettling feeling! But the views made up for it!! Sadly, I took no pictures while I was actually running, as I was on a mental timer. There were 5 water stations along the half marathon route, all had water and sports drink available, which allowed for some tactical fuelling, the further few Also had gels and bananas, but by that point I didn’t need anything else. Along the route there were 9 organised cheer stations, all very well supported.
Partway, approx 13k round I ended up keeping pace with a lovely gentleman (for about half a km) a fellow Brit who was running the double, so he had already completed the full marathon and was now doing a half marathon, just because he could!! I was inspired, still slow, but inspired, he quite quickly lost me, but he was amazing.
The finish was slightly cruel, up hill for about half a kilometre, round the corner and then I to the stadium, finish in a Olympic stadium does beat finishing a race in a field!! Something to remember, the Europeans give sparkling water after events, which I didn’t take, but I did take and enjoy the non-alcoholic beer!!
The run numbers had your name and nationality, by flag, printed on it, allowing for supporters to cheer you individually, also it meant that they were always cheering in Finnish, almost everyone spoke in English, just as well as all I picked up at that point was Kiitos (thank you)
The run was so amazing I have already signed up for next year.
– Beckie Draper
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