The Sunday weather was perfect for VO2 Vantaa Marathon. It was very chilly and frosty in the morning. Once the sun got up it was wonderful - although still chilly and frosty. We are definitely heading towards winter here.
Vantaa is the northern suburb of Helsinki, which has been an independent town since 1974. Anyway it's easily accessible by train and the race is one of the fastest and best organized in Finland. There are usually less than 500 marathon runners so it's possible to show up 30 minutes before the start, buy a race number, change clothes and go for it.
VO2 is a Finnish sports TV program. They filmed the race for their next show.
Unfortunately I felt less than perfect when the race started at 11 AM. After the first of the four 10.5K loops I gradually gave up. I didn't make any mistakes. However there was nothing I could do about it. Just one of those days when the legs are not there when you need them.
My finish time 3:25:20 is way slower than what I hoped for, but nevertheless my fastest marathon result this year.
My lap times were as follows:
- 0:44:52 (10.5 km), placing 8. in M45 age group
- 0:49:45 (21.1 km), total 1:34:37, 12./M45
- 0:53:41 (31.6 km), total 2:28:18, 16./M45
- 0:57:02 (42.2 km), 3:25:20, 18./M45.
Special thanks for musician Lenni-Kalle Taipale and his family/neighbours for the loud percussion-based cheer station along the way. That provided a nice contrast to the otherwise quiet and somewhat dull course.
RD Harri Mannermaa is a super-fast marathoner himself, and it shows in every detail of the efficient race organisation. This time the all the work he has put up for the race took up its toll as he DNF'd after 35K and took a taxi to to the finish line - where he continued working of course.
The overall winner was Harri Nissinen with 2:28:26.
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