Tallinn soars to new heights in anniversary year

This year, the 105th anniversary year of the Republic of Estonia, Tallinn Marathon’s unique medals depict Estonia’s national bird – the barn swallow.

The three-day program of the grand event that involves both top runners and thousands of amateurs, begins on Friday, September 8 with the five-kilometer Nike Youth Run, continues on Saturday, September 9 with the 21.1-kilometer half-marathon and the 10-kilometer RIMI Autumn Run, and ends on Sunday, September 10, with the classic marathon race (42.2 km). The program also includes the Limpa Kids’ Race and the virtual Marathon Combo, an event that has gained popularity among enthusiasts and will be ongoing throughout the month of September.

This year, the Tallinn Marathon is dedicated to the 105th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia.

The spectacle at the start/finish line at the foot of Pikk Hermann (Tall Herman) tower promises to rise to lofty and spirited heights as participants of Estonia’s biggest national sports event are expected to appear on the track in blue-black-white T-shirts and all finishers of the main events receive at the finish line a unique participation medal, on which Estonia’s beloved national bird, the swallow, spreads its wings.

Priit Verlin, the medal’s designer, is visibly satisfied and notes that this medal for Estonia’s biggest sports event is one of the most beautiful medals ever designed by him. “It is a rare masterpiece, worthy of Estonia’s anniversary in every way, that participants can wear with pride and keep as a souvenir. The barn swallow is a beautiful but demanding motif, which is why it has been used relatively little in designs. In addition to these Tallinn Marathon medals, the national bird, that has served as a symbol of Estonian culture and heritage for over sixty years, is also depicted on the identity document of every Estonian citizen and on the former highest-value banknote of the newly independent Republic of Estonia – five hundred Estonian kroons,” Verlin itemizes cases where the swallow motif was used.

The master craftsman of the Marathon medal further points out another fact that emphasizes the uniqueness of the medals: “This time, the medals are by their nature environmentally friendly and green, helping promote reuse of materials and valorization of old things. The medals of Estonia’s biggest sports event contain parts of former electronic devices and old printing plates – old metal has thus been given a new, dignified life. Tallinn is the first European capital where participation medals for an international sports event are made from used consumer electronics waste,” Verlin praises the joint initiative of Tallinn, the European Green Capital, and the organizers.

Thanks to the help of the Ministry of Culture, the City of Tallinn, the Estonian Athletic Association, and supporters, Tallinn Marathon for the first time classifies as a World Athletics Elite label running event in both the marathon and half-marathon categories – this increases the interest of top runners as well and expands the geography of exercise enthusiasts, significantly animating Estonia’s tourism sector. This year, more than twenty thousand participants can be expected to take part in this international sports event that attracts the largest number of participants in Estonia, of whom almost one third are foreigners.

Register for the biggest event of the Be Active Year 2023 at a discount price until August 31 at www.jooks.ee.

Also visit www.jooks.ee to purchase T-shirts in Estonian national colors. Depending on the race type, the official T-shirt of the Tallinn Marathon is either free or available at a discounted price for registered participants.