Kivimäki Marathon

3.10.2004
MY FIRST HALF-MARATHON IN SAARIJÄRVI WAS A HILLY EXPERIENCE


Last two autumns I have run eCross (18km-run) on the nice forest paths of Leppävaara. This year that was not to be counted in my plan due to WOC in autumn. I still wanted to run some competition this year, so I searched and found Kivimäki-Marathon in Saarijärvi, Mahlu. I noticed that the course is great for an orienteer, because there were lots of hills and the route was mostly on a gravel road. Of course, I didn't think of running the whole marathon - too long for me, but instead I enjoyed running the half-marathon route. It was measured by an IAAF controller, so it's exactly 21,1km. In the half-marathon route there was 124 meters of altitude difference and total climbing of 330 meters. My time was a respectful, 1h13m48s, though it's impossible to say whether it really is a good time or just average. Anyway, nice experience for me. I even had a good travel companion, Miika Takala, who is concentrating on Frankfurt Marathon and aiming at a time of 2h26m - respectful enough. He was 7th in Finnish Track and Field Championships in 5000m of time 14m40s. We ran together first 12km and discussed quite a lot, but then I pushed a little harder and got away. Finally, I won 49 seconds. Miika has run two times under 1h10m last year, so I think this route is at least five minutes slower than an average half-marathon route without special climbing. It feels good at the end of the orienteering season, when just a few wonderful relay competitions are to come.

-jani-