Estonia’s oldest health run series, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, once again invites participants to run around Estonia’s lakes this spring and summer. Registration is open for both the Maru Lake Runs series and individual races. This year marks Maru’s sixth year as the series’ title sponsor.
The Lake Runs series was first held in 2002, when the races around Lake Viljandi, Lake Pühajärv, and Lake Ülemiste were combined into a single series. Vjatšelav Košelev and Liilia Kesküla were crowned the first winners of the series. Over the years, the Lake Runs have attracted both renowned elite athletes and recreational enthusiasts, many of whom participate with their families.
According to Urmo Raiend, director of the Stamina Sports Club (MTÜ), which has organized Estonia’s oldest running series for a quarter of a century, the uniqueness of the lake runs lies in the fact that they attract elite runners, recreational runners, and children alike.
The Maru Lake Runs series consists of four lake runs: the Paunküla Reservoir and Harku Lake runs in the spring, and the Pühajärve and Ülemiste Lake runs in the summer. “Held throughout the running season, these races motivate running enthusiasts to train regularly in the spring and summer and thus stay in shape,” explained Raiend. You can only run a lap around Lake Ülemiste on the lake trail that runs right along the shore on this one day of the year, because the area is closed to visitors at other times.
The Maru Lake Runs series also includes shorter distances, which are primarily aimed at young runners. Traditionally, the running day at all stages of the Lake Runs begins with children’s races for running enthusiasts up to age 12.
Raiend noted that the number of runners has increased over the years across all distances. Last year, 1,402 runners participated in the Maru Lake Runs, including 179 participants in the mile runs for young people. A total of 140 runners and walkers recorded results in all four lake runs, with the oldest participant born in 1948 and the youngest in 2010. The winners were Leonid Latsepov and Bret Schär.
Maru Lake Runs 2026
Saturday, April 18
Run around the Paunküla Reservoir – 10.5 km / Paunküla Forest Trail – 1.6 km
Saturday, May 30
Arco Vara Run Around Lake Harku – 6.5 km / Harku Beach Mile – 1.6 km
Saturday, July 11,
Run around Lake Pühajärve – 10.7 km / Pühajärve Park Mile – 1.6 km
Saturday, August 29,
Tallinna Vee Run Around Lake Ülemiste – 13.7 km / Ülemiste Forest Run – 3 km
In addition, the Pühajärve Park Triathlon will take place on Sunday, July 12.
Additional information: Urmo Raiend, Director of Stamina Sports Club, , +372 501 9572