Tiirismaa Trail takes you to the heart of the UNESCO Geopark's most beautiful landscapes – nature, history and exercise meet on the route.

Few Finnish trail running events offer such a diverse range of unique natural sites as the Tiirismaa Trail. The event, which runs on the border between Lahti and Hollola, utilizes the most impressive ridge, forest and bog landscapes of the Salpausselkä UNESCO Global Geopark, as well as the area's ready-made outdoor trails, which provide an excellent setting for year-round nature exercise. The Tiirismaa Trail routes run from Messilä through the shores of Lake Vesijärvi to Tapanila, then through Kintterönsuo back to Messilä and to the top of Tiirismaa, the old ski slope, the shores of Lake Tiilijärvi and the Soisalmi bog. Along the way, runners get to experience ridges shaped by the ice age, glacial lakes, rugged cliffs, old forests and vast bogs – all during the same event. One of the special features of the event is that the routes run near the highest points of both Lahti and Hollola. The Tiirismaa region offers exceptional elevation differences for Southern Finland, which make the routes both experiential and physically diverse. One of the area's most famous attractions is Pirunpesä, an impressive rock crevice whose history dates back to the melting stages of the Ice Age. Although the competition route does not pass through Pirunpesä itself, it runs very close to it, next to one of the most famous natural sites in Salpausselkä Geopark. There is also a strong history of sports along the route. Parts of the routes run on the same terrain that was used in the 1989 World Ski Championships in Lahti. Harri Kirvesniemi fought for the world championship in the same landscapes, and decades later the area still offers a top-class training and competition environment for endurance sports. The Laason lift shaft has become almost legendary among trail runners, as it is one of the most spectacular climbs in the competition. – The Laason lift shaft is widely known in trail running and endurance sports circles. People also come to train there from further afield in Southern Finland. The fact that the Strava segment is known as the ”Laason kansanskerääjä” (The People’s Gatherer of Laason) also speaks to the difficulty of the climb, says the competition’s course master Juha Sorvisto. Some of the competition routes run on the Salpausselkä Trails cross-country trails maintained by the City of Lahti. The city has built and marked an extensive trail network for walking, trail running and mountain biking, and these high-quality routes form an important part of the Tiirismaa Trail route complex. The hiking trails maintained by the Municipality of Hollola also complement the whole and together form a diverse, year-round outdoor network, making the area one of the finest nature sports destinations in Southern Finland. The competition routes touch and run near several valuable natural sites, such as the Tiirismaa nature reserve, the Kintterönsuo nature reserve and the Soisalmensuo Natura 2000 area. In the Soisalmensuo bog, competitors will also be able to walk on new boardwalks that allow them to enjoy the bog nature without consuming it. Taking nature into account is a key value for the event organizers. “Nature is our playing field. Preserving nature conservation areas is one of the most important values of the event. We inform all participants about the location and significance of nature conservation areas, and the event will be carried out in strict compliance with the rules, permit conditions and official instructions of the areas,” Sorvisto emphasizes. Tiirismaa Trail utilizes existing marked outdoor routes and paths, which supports sustainable movement in nature. At the same time, the event highlights the unique natural, geological and cultural values of the Salpausselkä UNESCO Global Geopark and encourages people to explore the area outside of the competition day. Tiirismaa Trail shows that right near Lahti and Hollola lies one of Finland's finest natural sports environments. Salpausselkä's ridges, elevation differences, clear-water lakes, bogs, sports history and a high-quality trail network form an entity that offers an exceptional setting for hiking, trail running and organizing a high-quality trail running event.

Tiirismaa Trail takes you to the heart of the UNESCO Geopark's most beautiful landscapes – nature, history and exercise meet on the route. Read More »

Tiirismaa Trail is being organized

When talking about event partners, the discussion often turns to financial support, prizes or visibility. Of course, they add a lot of value to the event and are extremely important, but from the perspective of the event organizer, partners who enable the high-quality implementation of the event itself are at least as valuable. At best, a partner is not just a sponsor – they are part of the team organizing the event. Messilä offers Tiirismaa Trail a fantastic event environment. The race center is located in the finest start and finish area in Finland, and we also have access to all the facilities important to the event: showers, toilets, dining areas and other infrastructure. Without a functioning race center, building a high-quality event would be significantly more challenging. The city of Lahti enables the organization of the event in many ways. In addition to marketing support, we receive race center material, such as fences, tables and cones. In addition, the city enables the organization of the event by granting the necessary permits for the use of the area. This kind of cooperation is invaluable. In addition, we naturally utilize the areas of the municipality of Hollola. Printtipiste is responsible for the visual appearance of the event. They provide banners, beach flags, signs, route signs, marking materials, small tickets, event clothing and many other details that make the event look finished. A clear and high-quality visual appearance improves both the participants' experience and the safety of the event. And finally, perhaps the most important resource - Lahden Suunnistajat -37. The club's decades of event expertise and a large group of active, happy and encouraging volunteers are one of Tiirismaa Trail's greatest strengths. Year after year, in the feedback from participants, the volunteers emerge as one of the best things about the event. It is great to read that feedback, because it speaks of a spirit of togetherness that money cannot buy. The success of an event does not come from one thing or the work of one person. It is built on cooperation, trust and partners who genuinely want to be part of building the best possible event experience for the participants. We are especially grateful for that. 💚

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Tiirismaa Trail 2026 grows to a new level – Salpausselä is emerging as the leading trail running area in Southern Finland

Trail running is growing in popularity in Finland, and in Päijät-Häme the sport has become one of the fastest growing forms of exercise in recent years. Tiirismaa Trail, organized in the stunning ridge landscapes of Messilä and Tiirismaa, is strongly involved in the development – and 2026 will bring unprecedented innovations, new participant groups and an even stronger community feel to the event. Tiirismaa Trail, together with two other events, forms the new Tiirismaa Tripla, which offers experiential trail running and outdoor activities all year round in the most famous landscapes of Salpausselkä. Tiirismaa Tripla consists of the following events in 2026: Tiirismaa Winter Trail 14.–15.3.2026 Tiirismaa Trail 1.8.2026 Messilä Vertical 19.9.2026 The Tripla will start in just over a month in March, when Tiirismaa Winter Trail brings runners and outdoor enthusiasts into the atmosphere of early winter on Saturday by the light of headlamps. On Saturday evening, the program includes 10 km and 14 km routes, and on Sunday, 10 km, 14 km and 25 km routes are available, as well as a new hiking series, where you can also participate in the event in peace and without a time limit. Registration for the winter event is already open. Tiirismaa Trail main event on August 1, 2026 – new ultra-distances and a one-lap trail marathon for Salpausselkä After winter, however, all eyes will turn to the biggest trail adventure of the summer, when Tiirismaa Trail returns on August 1, 2026, even bigger and more diverse. For the first time, the event will offer Salpausselkä challenges of a completely new scale. The most anticipated new features of summer 2026 include a 42-kilometer continuous trail marathon, which will loop through the ridges, lakes and technical forest trails of Salpausselkä Geopark in one lap. In addition, the event will launch a completely new 63 km ultra, which combines the marathon and half-marathon sections and forms one of the most demanding ultra routes in Southern Finland. – The goal is to offer an exceptional trail ultra in Southern Finland, combining a physical challenge and stunning nature. This route will not leave anyone indifferent, says Juha Sorvisto, the event's course manager. Registration for Tiirismaa Trail opened on 8 February, and the cheapest first price tier is valid for only one week, until 15 February. The joy of trail running for everyone – low-threshold routes and family series included Tiirismaa Trail is not just for top runners. In 2026, there will also be a new, easier 8 km route, which is ideal for first-time runners and fitness enthusiasts. In addition, the event's Free Trails series allows runners to run 8–42 km routes at their own pace without competing or timing. The routes are marked and service points are open – the joy of movement is at the heart of it. For families, there is also the popular Tiirismaa Trail Kids (1.6 km), which has both a competitive series and a free For Fun series. All children will receive prizes. UNESCO Salpausselkä Geopark puts Päijät-Häme on the trail running map The routes of the Tiirismaa Trail run in the Salpausselkä Geopark, which has been granted UNESCO Global Geopark status, and whose ridges and elevation differences shaped by the ice age provide an exceptional setting for trail running in Southern Finland. – This is one of the most spectacular and best trail running areas in all of Southern Finland – right next to Lahti, Sorvisto describes. Free joint runs strengthen the growth of the local trail running boom Tiirismaa Trail is also building a year-round community around the event. Before the August competition, free trail running exercises and joint runs are organized under the guidance of professional coaches. – Last summer, we organized four training sessions, which at best attracted about 20 participants. This year, the goal is up to ten joint training sessions between March and September, says Aleksi Anttolainen, who is responsible for the training. FACTBOX 1) Tiirismaa Winter Trail 14.–15.3.2026 Messilä, Lahti Routes: Sat 10 km & 14 km (by lamplight) Sun 10 km, 14 km & 25 km New: hiking series Registration open now 2) Tiirismaa Trail 1.8.2026 Messilä & Salpausselkä Geopark New in 2026: 42 km one-lap trail marathon 63 km Ultra New easier 8 km route Free Trails series & Kids series First price tier valid until 15.2. 3) Messilä Vertical 19.9.2026 Messilä ski slopes The culmination of autumn, where the power of ascent is measured on the slopes of Messilä. The Vertical event offers a close and spectacular competition in a unique environment. The routes run through the UNESCO Salpausselkä Geopark area. Free trail running exercises from spring to autumn www.tiirismaatrail.fi

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Tiirismaa Trail 2025 – Messilä Hoka Vertical and Trail Kids lit up in Messilä

Tiirismaa Trail 2025 – Messilä Hoka Vertical and Trail Kids lit up Messilä On Friday, August 8, 2025, a hill running celebration was experienced on the Karhu slopes of Messilä in Hollola, when Tiirismaa Trail 2025 started on the traditional Hoka Messilä Vertical and on the children's own Trail Kids race course. The evening offered runners and the audience varying conditions: sometimes the sun shone from the full sky, sometimes the sky burst into rain – but the atmosphere remained summery and energetic the whole time. Hoka Messilä Vertical – an ultra-spirited hill climb The Vertical ran 1.2 km long laps, with each lap gaining about 100 meters of ascent. After every fourth lap, the pace was increased, and the competition continued until only one runner remained at the target pace. The men's top three, Lintala, was the last to stay in the tightening speed limits and emerged as the winner. Mikkola held on almost to the end, only trailing by a lap, while Parjanne was ultimately eight laps behind the winner. Women's series Haapaniemi was the only competitor in the women's series, but performed convincingly, leaving behind a large number of male competitors. Team sprint – as a team to the slope A strong team spirit was seen in the team competition. Three Campuses (Ibai – Heini – Eero-Pekka) – 16 laps, 3:00:15 The team worked steadily from start to finish and clearly took the victory. Tiirismaa Trail Kids – young hill racers The children's own Trail Kids offered fresh energy and joy on the steep slope. The route was 1.6 km long and included about 100 meters of ascent. The battles between the young people were perhaps the most colorful battles of the entire evening. Boys 14 years old – battle for seconds The trio managed to fit in eight seconds – the audience was left excited on the final straight with their nails white. Girls 14 years old – alone but proudly Daniela ran bravely as the only participant in her category and stylishly finished the hilly race. Boys 12 years old – shoulder to shoulder to the finish In a very tight race, silver and bronze were only decided at the finish line after a tight fight. Girls 12 years old – strong performance Aino Tenhunen took the win ahead of Elli Ohrimovitsch Boys 10 years old – young lions Lehtonen escaped the others, Inkinen and Bruun completed the podium. Girls 10 years old – stylish top three Väli-Klemelä held a clear lead, but the Hollola duo Gustafsson and Inkinen decided the fainter medals with only a five-second difference. The changeable weather created the atmosphere During the evening, the sky offered the full range of Finnish summer: it rained heavily, shoes got wet and the paths became slippery – but soon the sun shone in full force, illuminating the slope with golden light. The changing conditions made the competition even more exciting: the hill tested not only physical fitness but also adaptability.

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Tiirismaa Trail 2025 Joint runs

Four free joint training sessions in the Tiirismaa terrain - technique, endurance and the joy of trail running. Training sessions led by professional trainer Coach Anttolainen! You will need to bring training equipment suitable for the weather. Recommended shoe: trail running/mountain running shoe or otherwise patterned running shoe. The main parts of the training sessions can also be completed with normal sneakers (20.7 downhill technique is the most difficult) Schedules and themes Goals Information and additional information

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Tiirismaa Trail 2024 Saturday offered the best again!

On Saturday, we continued where we left off on Friday. The morning sun started to warm the atmosphere and the wonderful event center built in front of the Messilä manor began to fill up with smiling and maybe a little excited trail runners. The day started with traffic in the familiar style of the marathon runners, who were sent off at 9:00 a.m. towards the slopes of Messilä and Tiirismaa along the curly and wonderful paths. Tiirismaa Trail 42 km under the starting arch of the official travel partner Hoka, a total of a record 60 participants lined up. Jonathan Tolksdorf, a well-known man from Tiirismaan Trail, took over the pace from the start, accompanied by Henrik Borenius. Parivalkakko arrived at the middle of the race chest-to-chest, with a time of 2:01:01. Aki Ylitalo arrived in third place at the halfway mark, only +1:44 behind the top two. In fourth place is Esa Lehti +9:26 and Vitalii Protasov +10:16 ahead of the striking distance. In the end, the second grueling round didn't bring any change to the top trio, but Tiirismaa Trail conqueror Jonathan Tolksdorf finally took his own as a continuation of the previous years' bronze positions and now 2024 is now a clear champion with a difference of more than six minutes to the next one. Can the difference of six minutes on this grueling journey even be said clearly? Anyway, it was so hard to play this marathon trip in these terrains. Tolksdorf's winning time was an amazing 4:14:11, which means that the pace remained comfortably almost the same in the second round, even though Tolksdorf didn't make it to his own time last year in this scorching heat. Henrik Borenius was second under the finish line of the Tiirismaa Trail with a time of 4:20: and Aki Ylitalo was third. The women's same distance saw clearer fluctuations in the rankings along the way. At the halfway mark, Villa Tötterön's Adonika Ella held the lead in the competition center with a relatively clear difference from the others. Ella had spent 2:38:49 at this point. Marisanna Laukka from Espoo's Tapiot Running Club arrived at the race center in front of the crowd in second place, the difference to the top at this point is +8:17. Teija Reijonen took third place (+19:04) and Suvi Niemivuo (+19:34) was just behind in fourth place. In the second round, however, the situation changed and the top three and four changed. and in the hot terrains of Tiirismaa. At the finish line, the woman smiled as she competed with the sun at the end of a tough performance. In the end, Adonika Ella, encouraged by the home crowd, took second place, only +1:29 ahead of Laukka, and third was Suvi Niemivuoma with an even draw, +12:45 ahead of the winner. All in all, great performances from the entire 42 km group. The second start of the day was the Tiirismaa Trail 8 km, whose travel partner was Druimaar. In the 8 km start, there were young racers under the age of 16 and participants of the Trekki fitness series, a total of almost 50 people. Friday's Kids Trail under-14 champion Axel Koiranen (Hollolan Urheilijat -46) took his own again in the under-16 8 km distance and thus renewed last year's double championship. Axel's winning time was 38:57. So it's about a really tough young man and we'll certainly hear about him in the future. Leo Lehtonen (Hollolan Urheilijat -46) finished second with a wonderful run, only 1:21 slower than Koira. It should be mentioned that Lehtonen is only 9 years old. Arttu Juutila (Lahti Suunnitajat -37) ran third, + 1:37 to the top. The entire top trio of boys are Tiirismaa Trail's weekend doubles and double medallists. M8KM Top3: 1. Axel Koiranen (Hollolan Urheilijat -46). 2. Leo Lehtonen (Hollolan Urheilijat -46), 3. Arttu Juutila (Lahdi Suunnitajat -37) Ella Ylimäki ran to a clear victory in the girls' 8 km distance. Ylimäki's winning time of 48:23 is really hard currency and it clearly hurt the 10-sack in the entire 8 km series class. Emilia and Aurora Salminen Fernandez fought hard for the second place, which finally turned in Emilia's favor in the final meters, the difference between the girls being only seven seconds. Almost 12.5 minutes were accumulated for Ylimäki, who won by two. N8KM Top3: 1. Ella Ylimäki, 2. Emilia Salminen Fernandez, 3. Aurora Salminen Fernandez The third starting group was the largest of the day as almost 150 participants stared under the starting arc towards the terrains of Messilä and Tiirisma, waiting for their 21 km task. based on the number of eyes) the three-time Tiirismaa Trail men's 21 km champion Team Hoka Juho Ylinen and Team Electrofit's Rebecca Immonen, who became better known from the skiing side, were invited to the half marathon. Salomon Finland's Lari Takanen and Madesimo Trail Running Club's Sofia Haajanen on the women's side were cautiously raised as the overall challengers. The tip was formed right from the start of the above-mentioned four. Unofficially, based on the split times, on the men's side, Ylinen and Takanen rallied on the route with small differences and the situation was still open at 5 km. In the end, Tiirsmaa Trail's kunkku Ylinen slowly broke the gap along the way and the gap started to grow slowly. Takanen, who is in good shape, responded to the pace excellently, but couldn't do anything better. So Ylinen raced to the fourth Tiirismaa Trail championship in front of the audience, with the beautiful Vesijärvi glistening in the background. In the end, the difference between the men at the finish was 1:54 in favor of Ylisen. Benjamin Holmgren (Team MyMax) took third place behind the top two with a great run, +10:45 ahead of the winner Ylis. On the women's side, there was a wonderful and even tougher battle for the Top 3 positions. The pre-favorites held their ground, but the difference between the best of the day could not be made. Hills were trudged up and down at small intervals for the entire 21 km of Tiirismaa. Even in the steep ascent of Laaso's elevator shaft (the people's rally), the game seemed to be open. Rebecca Immonen led the trio, but Sofia Haajanen and Kaisa Laapas, who joined the fight wonderfully, were not far behind. As Immonen flashed back, it looked from the running camera that it was going to be an all-out struggle. However, the difference between the ascent of Laaso and the descent to the competition center was sufficient, and thus Immonen was able to win the championship of the women's 21 km series. Laapas, who finished third, was only 1:27 away from the winner. N21KM Top3: 1. Rebecca Immonen (Team Electrofit), 2. Sofia Haajanen (Madesimo Trail Running Club), 3. Kaisa Laapas The starting cycles of the day ended with the wonderful and popular 12 km series participants, which this year were amazingly more than 100. In the editorial's advance speculation, the names Jussi Raasakka (Helsingin Suunnitajat), Juho Westerlund (Koovee), Miika Heikkilä (Espoon Ski Club) and Joni Solonen took to the paper. And not entirely in vain. The top was made up of these men. Even in Jukola, Raasakka, who made a strong mark in the colors of the hard-rocking Helsingin Suunnitatije, took command in the early stages and by the time Tiirisma was put on top, the game was already relatively clear. Of course, Raasakka didn't get to it easily, and the hot weather also made this young man with light feet hard. The second place finally turned in Westerlund's favor with a difference of 46 seconds before the UpHill champion Heikkilä who came in third. M12KM Top3: 1. Jussi Raasakka (Helsingin Suunnitajat), 2. Juho Westerlund (Koovee), 3. Miika Heikkilä (Espoon Ski Club) The women's 12 km saw a really tight fight for the victory in the colors of Anna-Stiina Erkkilä and Suunta Jyväskylä of the Asics trail team in Venlo in the relay between Anniina Taipale, who had a great start. Erkkilä kept up the pace, but Taipale was lurking behind all the way, 20-40 seconds behind. The downhill and uphill sections at the end of Laaso gave a wonderful picture of Erkkilä's technically skilled and above all strong running, which Kuulutus also noticed. Taipalee's performance until the very end was also a wonderful thing, and the difference between Erkkilä, who took the victory in the end, was only 42 seconds. Editorial

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The hills of Tiirismaa Trail's opening day on Friday were happily conquered!

Tiirismaa Trail 2024 – the weekend was started like last year with real hill festivals in the form of Messilä Vertical, UpHill and Kids Trail, this time in wonderful, quite sunny weather. More than 100 people responded to the challenges of Messilä's steep Karhu slope. At the starting line of the Romuta-sponsored Tiirismaa Kids Trail, which started at 6 p.m., more than 60 enthusiastic skiers lined up, the youngest being under 5 years old. Kids Trail again offered two series: Kilpa and ForFun. It was wonderful to see how many self-challengers and enjoyers came to the 1.6 km Mäkinen route just for ForFu, either alone, with a family member or a friend. In the race series, it was once again really hard and, above all, fast, with the fastest people clocking close to seven-minute times. The solutions in many series were only seen at the very end, in the exhausting final stretch. Axel Koiranen, in the colors of Hollola's athletes, was the first to cross Messilä's streamers and loop in front of the audience's eyes, followed by Arttu Juutila of Lahti Suunnistaije and Hollola's brothers Leo and Lukas Lehtonen. On the girls' side, Kiira Tervo of the Pakkala Palloseura had the hardest ride, leading the troops, right behind Olivia Semeri and Nelly Veikkanen from Lahti Figure Skaters. Like last year, Aino Tenhunen (Lahdi Ski Club) won the under-10 girls' series, ahead of Mikaela Mattila and Lilian Erkkilä (Trail blazers). On the boys' side of the same age, the top three were formed by Leo Lehtonen (Hollola Athletes -46), Akseli Viero (Hyvinkä region athletes), and Aarne Erävuoma (Espoon Ski Club) In girls under 12, the top three was structured as follows:1. Kiira Tervo (Pakkalan Ball Club), 2. Sofia Kiuru (Lahti Ski Club Alppi), 3. Daniela Mattila. On the boys' side, the top three were: Lukas Lehtonen (Hollolan Urheilijat -46), Leevi Bruun (LHS), Toivo Kouki (FC Kuusysi) Kids Trail's oldest age group, i.e. under 14 Top 3: Girls: Olivia Sermeri (Lahden Tailuistelijat), Nelly Veikkanen ( Lahti Figure Skaters), Aliisa Rotko (Lahti Ski Club) Boys: Axel Koiranen (Hollolan Urheilijat -46), who renewed his victory in his new series ahead of Aleksi Juutila (Lahti Suunnistajat -37) In the Kids Trail, teams were also measured in three-person teams in one series. The team could therefore be put together without age or series restrictions. In the team competition, this year we saw many teams from different clubs. The best of the Kids Trail team competition: Girls: 1st. Lahti Ski Club (Aino Tenhunen, Aliisa Rotko, Vilma Vanhamäki)2. Lahti Ski Association Alppi (Sofia Halme, Katariina Rotko, Enni Kiuru) Boys: 1. Hollola's Athletes -46 (Axel Koiranen, Leo Lehtonen, Luukas Lehtonen)2. FC Kuusysi 1 (Toivo Kouki, Akseli Hämäläinen, Topias Toikko)3. FC Kuusysi 2 (Steven-Henry Loodus, Emil Kylliäinen, Vilho Vehko) The fast-paced Tiirismaa UpHill was also sprinted on the same 1.6 km route as the Kids Trail. A total of 13 brave men set out to challenge themselves and their friends to the excruciating ascent and descent of Messilä. From the beginning of Messilä's Karhu nous, it still seemed that the competition was between Miika Heikkilä (Espoon Ski Club) and Ville Hellman. In the end, moving to the serpentine section, Heikkilä was in a class of his own and skied to the stadium in supreme solitude. By the way, let's mention Heikkilä's time; 6:03 am. It's a tough class and everyone can try it. Hellman took second place just as clearly and Uula Vainio fought for third place. In the women's race, Essi Vuorenmaa (Hiekkaharjun Hikipyllyt) was crowned the winner with a fierce move and a new women's course record of 8:14. The women's UpHill series was a celebration of Hikipylly, as second and third place also went to Hiekkaharju by Jaana Wuoma and Emilia Osamal. Thus, the title of the team competition and Sysmä's Luomuherkkujenmyslit deservedly traveled to Hiekkaharju Hikipyllyje. The wonderful first day and evening ended with the communal Messilä Vertical, which had already been packed from 2 pm during the Kids Trail and UpHill. This year's Vertical saw the very best of our country's ultra runners, when Johanna Antila and Juuso Simpanen, who had been boiled in many broths, started together with 35 other brave warriors. The story flowed in the group well into the evening, with Juha Sorvisto pacing the group for a new round. During the check-in and maintenance of the rounds, thanks were heard for this format, which has certainly come to stay in Tiirismaa. The first three or four hours of Vertical were still spent with the thought "everyone was so nice there", but little by little the journey (climbing and speed) started to do its job. Little by little, the group started to thin out, as one by one participant after participant stated with a smile, their legs "numb", that this wasn't enough for this batch. On the women's side, the silver and bronze positions of the medal trio were found out after round 25, when last summer's Tiirismaa Trail 42 km silver medalist Anna Hopia (26 rounds) took the bronze and Ruut Joensuu (34 rounds) the silver. At 8:30 p.m., with the pace already at 7 min/lap (5:50 min/km) and a distance of approx. 46 km, the four-person orchestra Ari-Pekka Joensuu, Juuso Simpanen, Verneri Teppo and the winner of the women's series Johanna Antila could still be seen in perfect harmony. The uphills were still "relaxedly flowing", but the downhills also allowed the running camera of the YouTube broadcast to put one in front of the other. It was not for nothing that Johanna Antila was hyped in advance, the woman flashed such a convincing performance in the company of a trio of men. At the end of lap 41 (first 6:45 min/ lap) we could see the taste of the solution for the men's trio, when Verneri Teppo had to give up and thus the bronze ball after a grueling performance. The next woman's number one, Johanna Antila, who hit the table with an AMAZING 43 rounds, jumped out of the three spots next! In Messilä, the evening began to fade when the two bear-like heroes Joensuu and Simpanen started to race, accompanied by cheers, from round 45. The duo's achievements could be admired until round 49 before the solution was seen. Joensuu fought magnificently up and down the slope, but in the end could not do anything better. In any case, a great bet from Joesuu, who at the same time got the longest run of his life at the same time from Messilä. We will hear more about this man! Thus, Juuso Simpane was crowned the king of Messilä Vertical 2024 with an unimaginable 50 laps. And let it be mentioned here that the distance was more than 60 kilometers, almost 8 hours up and down on a route with 92 m of ascent per lap. You can try and complete! Many competitors heard that Vertical offered exactly what they came for: good vibes and a good workout! The Tiirismaa Trail mountain festival day certainly offered everyone experiences, experiences and everything from joy to pain. You can return to the moments of Friday via the YouTube broadcast, images that slowly load into the photo gallery, and the result service website. Trail running races continue on Saturday in Messilä! Stay tuned! Photos: Susanna Tervo & Marianna Saren

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Tiirismaa Trail towards 2024 – Review of the 2023 event

The Tiirismaa Trail organized for the first time in Messilä gathered not only a record number of participants, but also a huge number of responses (252!) to the feedback survey. The survey carried out by Salmiplatform was part of the cooperation with Visit Lahti. Ruusut (375) and Risut (81) collected from free-form feedback provide a good basis for developing the event towards next season. The route and markings, which have become a trademark of the event, once again gathered mostly positive feedback, of course the difficulty of the route also gathered gravel noises regarding the hilliness. The move to Messilä brought a development to the atmosphere of the event compared to before, as the event center was formed closely next to the Messilä manor. This also made it possible to develop the acclaimed Tiirismaa Trail kids trip for Friday, as well as the implementation of the ultra-social Messilä Vertical. Community spirit was seen not only on Friday but also on Saturday, when guardians and spectators appeared near the race center and further along the route to watch and cheer on the race. Even the post-race meal, which had been hoped for in previous years, was easily possible thanks to Messilä's logistics, mostly garnering praise from the participants. The organizers also did not take advantage of the opportunities offered by Messilä due to their own lack of understanding, which led to feedback regarding the washrooms and especially the toilets. Considering future events, all the possibilities for use have already been clarified. The survey's values of satisfaction (9.24), how likely you would recommend the event (82.78) and participating in the event again (9.36) give the organizer a moment to puff out his chest, praise the people from Talkoo who did a great job, and thank you, the participants of the event! Tiirismaa trail is growing and developing. See you next year, stay tuned soon 😉 #tiirismaatrail #trail running #running #running #juoksija #trailrunning #lahti #visitlahti #lakelandfinland #messilä

Tiirismaa Trail towards 2024 – Review of the 2023 event Read More »

On Saturday, the sun was gentle and the pre-favorites held their ground!

After the storm it's bad weather, that's what Kari Tapiokin also sang. This also applied to Tiirismaa Trail on Saturday, August 5. when the more traditional Tiirismaa Trail trips were enjoyed in the wonderful landscapes of Messilä and Tiirismaa. After Friday's rain, the sun warmed both the participants, the organizers and the public who comfortably arrived at the scenery of the Messilä manor. In traditional style, the first start on Saturday was at 9:00 a.m., when a total of 48 participants of the marathon distance (42 km) set off under the Hoka starting arch towards the slopes of Messilä and the enjoyable trails of Tiirisma. On the 42 km journey, there was a crossing through the event center halfway. At this point, Antti Hartikainen (Team Här-Ski) waved the pace stick in the men's series. Antti Parjanne (Lynx) + 1:45 and Reijo Ronnila (Anti's stable) came in third with already +18:00 from Hartikainen. However, the second round did its job. In the women's 42 km race, the duo Maarja Mägi (Team Untamon Urheilu) and Anna Hopia (Ultra Perros) were seen in the middle groove, Rinna Ikola-Norrbacka (Asikkalan Raikas) arrived in third place. In the second round, however, it mixed things up a bit and did its job, especially on the men's side, small changes were made to the top three. Antti Parjanne was the first to arrive under Lumonite's finish line, who was able to keep up the pace and overtake Antti Hartikainen. The winner of the Tiirismaa Trail 42 km was Antti Parjanne of Lynx with a time of 3:34:33. Antti Hartikainen raced to silver +3:17 and Tiirismaa Trail veteran Jonathan Tolksdorf from Hollola, who made a great climb, took bronze +34:06 from the winner. On the women's side, the lead remained unchanged and Maarja Mäki was able to celebrate the victory in front of the Messilä manor with a time of 4:29:03, second was Anna Hopia +24:27 and third was Rinna Ikola Norrbacka +34:03 slower than the winner. The second start of the day at 10:00 was 8 km, which is aimed more or less as a low-threshold Trek fitness series, but of course there were also young girls and boys under 16 racing series on the starting line. The Trek fitness series attracted a record 39 participants this year. Did the relocation of the event center or the slight increase in the distance by 6 km from the previous year have an effect. The weekend's double champion Axel Koiranen (HU-46) together with his father Jani Koiranen, the fastest in the Trekki series, crossed the final straight of the Messilä children's slope in the same time of 40:27. Second in young boys was Luukas Kirjavainen + 0:52 and third was Leo Lehtonen (HU-46) + 2:04 from the winner. On the girls' side, there were regrettable absences before the race day, and in the end there were no runners at the starting line. Hopefully next year again 🙂 Many happy faces were seen in the Trekki fitness series, and the prize win hit the spot for many. Thank you again at this stage to all the partners for the high-quality prizes. The starting time of the 21 km distance, which was also considered the main start of the day, was at 11:00. The main number was also the largest when a total of 150 eager and excited trail runners were seen under the blue Hoka starting arch, waiting for what the slightly changed 21 km route will bring this year. On the men's side, the mantle of the pre-favorite was naturally placed on the current number one in Finland, Juho Ylisen (Team Hoka), who let off the most steam already on Friday, winning the Messilä Uphill in spectacular style. So Ylinen went to get a double Tiirismaa Trail 2023 for Friday and Saturday, and above all a hat trick from the 21 km distance as a continuation of the previous years' (2021, 2022) championships. Salomon Trail Team duo Tuomas Kari and Eetu Nordman were spotted as the clearest challengers for Ylis. The pre-favorites held their ground. Juho Ylinen's step was delicate from start to finish, and there was no real threat in the others. Thus, Ylinen was able to win Tiirismaa Trail 21 km for the third time with a time of 1:28:43. By the way, time is really hard for the slightly changed route, and at least the changes in the route did not go in an easier direction. This man from Team Hoka is in for a hard fight. There was a tight fight for second place between Kari and Nordman. The solution had to wait until the very last kilometers. The second pole was taken by Nordma with a time of 1:34:57, who was able to get away from Kari on the way up the Laaso lift shaft. Kari's annoying ankle sprains about 1.5 km before the finish took the last blow, and as a result, no chest crease was seen at the end, although the difference between the two was only 5 seconds. Yes, we saw a really tough M21km struggle in Tiirismaa again. What next year!? On the women's side, the pre-favorite cloak was thrown to Karoliina Ukskoski (Perhon Kiri), better known from the orienteering side (or Tiirismaan Trail photographer). Lahti Suunnistajat -37's strong orienteer was finally unstoppable on the climbs of Tiirisma and Messilä, even though Mila Koljonen and Lotta Kirvesmies threw a lot of punch at the carts. Ukskoski tore a clear gap from the others on the climbs of the back leg and was able to enjoy N21km as the winner with a time of 1:57:51. Mila Koljonen took second place with a time of 2:01:46 and Lotta Kirvesmies third with a time of 2:03:30. The last starting group of the day was a 12 km journey that started at 12:00. On the men's side, the interest was particularly focused on the double champion of the Ahkera spring cross-country races in Lahti and Ossi Kekki, the 5000m WC bronze medalist of the Kaleva Games a week ago. On the women's side, Suunta Jyväskylä's Anniina Taipale, who was very successful in Tiirismaa, was perhaps the clearest early favorite. When climbing the first hill, it became clear that Kekki had really come to Tiirismaa to run. and hard, its blood seemed light going Bear 1 in the ascent. Kekki maintained top speed throughout the 12 km distance and stopped the clocks at 50:57. A great ride, and especially when you think about previous years, now we got a real quote even for this 12 km trip. Sure, the route is different and not comparable, but it's okay for everyone to try. Jaakko Ranta (YU-team) ran to second place + 6:23 and third was young Rasmus Töyrylä +11:21 from the winner Kek. On the women's side, Anniina Taipale took her own and improved her silver position from a couple of years ago to gold. Taipale's time of 1:03:42 is also good compared to 2021 (1:02:03). Second place went to Heidi Horttanainen (Imatra Urheilijat) +8:06 and third Anna-Maria Jäpölä (Asikkalan Raikas) +11:52 from Taipale. Tiirismaa Trail 2023 is now slowly being celebrated, but it's always a good moment to get back into the mood, for example through event photos or, for example, to watch the YouTube broadcast afterwards. Thanks to all our great photographers and the results service for all this deliciousness. The Tiirismaa Trail people especially thank all of you participants and spectators, but of course also those who made the event possible; partners, people from Talkoo and others who worked in the background! THANK YOU - We did it, together! We are happy to receive feedback so that we can make Tiriismaa Trail an even better event. Feedback can be sent directly via social media, for example @tiirismaatrail or via email info@tiirismaatrail.fi. A more extensive and detailed feedback survey will be broadcast in the near future. Stay tuned and see you again next year! Tiirismaa Trail – From love to trails!

On Saturday, the sun was gentle and the pre-favorites held their ground! Read More »

Friday's hill festivals offered challenges for many departures

The Tiirismaa Trail weekend, which was expanded to two days for the first time, offered challenges on Friday in the form of various hill races. More than 120 people took part in the challenges of the Messilä Karhu slope in the suits of Messilä Vertical, Tiirismaa Trail Kids and Messilä Uphill, with the performances lasting from less than six minutes to more than six hours. The children's event started with a guided start jump in rainy weather. However, the wet conditions didn't slow down the pace as almost 70 children raced towards the top of the bear slope. Happy expressions, self-exceedings and brave performances were seen at the raffle shop as Pekko Pelikaan and Hanna Hipo cheered on the finishers. The event made possible by Romuta has collected more than €1,600 to support exercise for underprivileged children, with a special mention given to the contribution of our partners Pajulahti Urheiluopisto and Granlund Oy. You also have the opportunity to support the exercise of underprivileged children in the Päijät-Häme area. The link to the donation can be found in the bio and below.https://www.lahjoituslomake.fi/hope-yhdessa-yhteesti-ry/kähet/tiirismaa-trail-kids/ The Messilä Uphill, organized on the same 1.6km route as the children's event, offered the perfect opportunity to test what the body can do. comes off. The rainy weather didn't slow down the participants and the first downhill started with a wild trot like in Jukola's relay. At the start of the bearish rise, Juho Ylinen had taken his place, and after that he didn't look back much. In the man's own words, the quite convincing bet at 5:49 served as a good opening for Saturday's 21km journey. Mikki Lehtonen and Ibai Mendia Iztueta rallied for the next places, the latter also removing the karsts for Saturday. In the women's competition, Katja Sorri was responsible for the best performance, with Tinavuori wolves Jaana Wuoma and Pauliina Louhiala-Hännen taking the next places and leading their team to victory in the women's team competition. After the breathing leveled off, a lot of comments were heard from the mouths of the participants about the steepness of the skiing slope and the difficulty of the downhill cross-country trail, but on the other hand, there were also hopes for more ascents. So should there be more climbs next year, even on the express route? The gladiators of Messilä Vertical were the first to start on Friday evening at 16:00. Even before the event, Messilä Vertical, which was called ultra-spiritual and social, proved the predictions to be correct. Already in the first ascent, the humor flew by the participants. The lap speeds of the first couple of hours (16-14 min lap) gave the entire group of participants plenty of time to maintain and refuel. At this point, many of the early favorites, led by Joni Lepistö, took the lead rather casually. The pace, which accelerates every four laps, started reaping its harvest starting at three o'clock, when the ultra spirit raised its head as the evening grew dark. As the laps progressed, the wetter weather that met Tiirismaa on the trail for the first time added to the challenge, especially when the downhill became quite slippery. On the women's side, 🥇Emmi Löfberg 🥈 Laura Alestalo🥉 Eva Pantelidis went to the longest Karhu slope. In men, there was a fierce battle for the podium places as the 3000m climb approached. Screams of encouragement rang out from the mouths of guardians, co-competitors and organizers alike, as Sami Mänty fought to the last ounce of strength, finally succumbing at 32 laps. Several times Aleksei Grabtchak and Joni Lepistö fought their way to the next round in the last seconds, with Joni Solonen leading the troops. After more than 6 hours, Joni Solonen, the only one who went on the 36th lap, shot a handsome finish to win the first Messilä Vertical 😎 Tiirismaa Trail 2023 is now applauded, but it's always a good moment to get back into the mood, for example through event photos or, for example, to watch the YouTube broadcast afterwards. Thanks to all our great photographers and the results service for all this deliciousness. The Tiirismaa Trail people especially thank all of you participants and spectators, but of course also those who made the event possible; partners, people from Talkoo and others who worked in the background! THANK YOU - We did it, together! We are happy to receive feedback so that we can make Tiriismaa Trail an even better event. Feedback can be sent directly via social media, for example @tiirismaatrail or via email info@tiirismaatrail.fi. A more extensive and detailed feedback survey will be broadcast in the near future. Stay tuned and see you again next year! Tiirismaa Trail – From love to trails!

Friday's hill festivals offered challenges for many departures Read More »

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