Photo: Adam Illingworth

Tartu Forest Marathon, known as the biggest cross-country running event in the Baltics, brings around 10 000 participants to the track each spring. In today's situation, where sports and mass events are prohibited, the organizers decided that this year the 38th Tartu Forest Marathon will take place as a virtual race.

“We want to encourage people to keep optimistic mind and positive attitude in these extremely challenging and changing circumstances,” says Indrek Kelk, the Race Director of Tartu Forest Marathon. “Regular outdoor activities help to survive the crisis more easily, to stay healthy and to keep up with the good physical shape. The virtual marathon motivates people to continue their everyday training, and while running such a marathon, there is no need to fear the risk of infection in a large crowd of runners. Everyone can choose their favourite place to run - it can be also all alone in the nearest forest or hiking track,“ he adds.

Participants can choose between the 4 traditional distances of the regular forest marathon: 42, 24, 10 or 5 km. It is up to each participant to decide where to run. Marked trails of Tartu Forest Marathon can be used, but also forest and city trails that are most comfortable for the participant, are suitable. The selected distance must be completed within the two weeks period between May 1st to May 17th and the running log sent to the organisers. All virtual runners will be awarded with a magnificent medal of Tartu Forest Marathon.

Race regulation and specific details are currently under development. The organisers will provide more info about the virtual race of 38th Tartu Forest Marathon as soon as possible.