Lahden satama parkrun varareitillä

Posted on elokuu 23, 2023 by lahdensatama

Lahden satama-alueen ollessa muiden tapahtumien käytössä siirrymme varareitille kauemmas keskustan humusta, eli tapaamme Proomukadun ja rantabulevardin risteyksessä kuntoilutelineillä. Kuntoilutelineiltä reitti kulkee Ankkurin näköalapaikan kupeeseen ja takaisin, ja tämä rantaa seuraileva lenkki juostaan kahteen kertaan.

Varareitillä tulemme olemaan nyt kaksi seuraavaalauantaita eli 26.8. ja 2.9. (Ironman World Championship ja Suomen Tivoli) sekä myöhemmin syyskuussa 23.9. Kalamarkkinoiden takia. Talvella varareitti voi myös olla hyvinkin lyhyellä varoitusajalla käytössä mikäli sataman tienoilla alusta on liian jäinen turvallisesti juostavaksi.

Juhannuksen parkrun – Midsummer parkrun

Posted on kesäkuu 28, 2023 by lahdensatama

Happy midsummer - hyvää juhannusta - from Lahden satama parkrun

It was so lovely to be up here in Lahti (the start of the lake land area of Finland - at least in my book!) and RD here today …. and was so encouraged that a nice group of people turned up to walk / run and support the event.

This was the 41st parkrun here … and my first time in summer. There’s a very different vibe at this time of year … and luckily the trees near the front provide some shade for us volunteers on the start/finish line.

I have nominated Lumi, our golden retriever, as the poster dog for parkrun as she waited so nicely this morning for the pre-run course check (done by those who set up the course) to come in. We got the ‘all clear’ with the advice to pay attention to the geese and their delightful goslings on the Pikku-Vesku part of the route. All went well!
(Sorry no photos of them, you’ll have to run here in two week’s time to see them, though they’ll be much bigger by then, I’m sure!)

Huge thanks to everyone for making me feel so very welcome, yet again … and for putting up with my less than brilliant Finnish and also to Jana for taking Lumi with you for the gosling-free section of the route (a lovely fast 3km run for her!)

It was really lovely that a new parkrunner from Jyväskylä, Katri, recognised me from last week’s Mattilanniemi parkrun #4 and came over to say ’hello’ well done on what is your fastest parkrun so far (even though it is credited as ’first timer’.

Congratulations too to the young Junior, Emmi, who ran her very first parkrun with an excellent time and a very fast sprint finish; and also to Roni and Peetu and also Sari and Claus who got excellent PBs today! Just Brilliant. Well done everyone!

Parkrun is run entirely by volunteers … and huge thanks to all who volunteered today to make today’s event possible, especially Raita who excelled at timekeeping! If you could offer help in the future we would really appreciate it; please drop us an email or leave message on Facebook.

Don’t forget : next Saturday there is no parkrun in Lahti because of the triathlon. Why not pop across to Vääksy instead … or venture a little further to one of the other parkruns in Finland? (There are now 7 in total)

Hope to see you all again before too long.
Thanks again for a wonderful midsummer parkrun. It’s been marvellous!

Lorna, from Turku.
One day we WILL have a parkrun of our own, but not yet!

Lahden satama parkrun #35

Posted on toukokuu 20, 2023 by lahdensatama

Lahden satama parkrun #35
By Stuart McTeer

The temperature display said 9 degrees, making the morning cooler than the recent heatwave. The blue skies, though, were just about managing to fight off the clouds as we arrived on this special day to find a beautiful lake backdrop stretching into the distance. It was the first time parkrun in Finland had been able to stage an extra event on Ascension Day, and Lahden satama was among five across the country offering an opportunity to join a bonus 5k at 9.30am on a Thursday morning.

The welcoming vibe so familiar to parkrun had started for me earlier that morning at the town’s railway station. Staggering off an early train from Helsinki I spotted others on the platform who could only have arrived for a similar adventure. We were initially strangers, but very quickly Sam, Timi and I were following the directions from Alan who had also
travelled from the UK with family members Karen and Anna. As we photographed each other standing beside the LAHTI sign on the waterfront, we were soon joined by a growing number of parkrunners from across the UK, Denmark and Germany.

‘It’s lovely to see you all today’, said Run Director Noora as she explained the route that would take us around a pretty park and then out and back along the lakeside. Some of us nervously noted the blustery breeze, but experienced regulars had reassured us that these were easier conditions than the snow that covered the route for much of winter. In a lovely gesture, Noora name checked individually the volunteers who were giving up their time so we could run, walk or jog our 5k, and we clapped each one appreciatively. It was interesting to hear how many of those helping were from Noora and her husband Reima’s family, who week in, week out put on this event in Lahti after discovering parkrun whilst living in the UK.

Then off we went, along the flat course that took us along a bustling lakeside where preparations were being made for a bike show, and past the Kariranta café where we knew there would be amazing cakes waiting for us along with our post parkrun coffee. We were clapped enthusiastically every time we passed what would be the eventual finish spot, and while the wind was strong at times, large parts of the route were sheltered making it even more enjoyable in the sunshine. The atmosphere was lovely, and it was great seeing so many people of different nationalities and ages enjoying this event together.

36 people completed Lahden satama parkrun that morning, with Heino Aalto becoming first finisher in 20.51 just ahead of visitors Pete Scolls and Paul Whelan. Heino also had the highest age grade of 79.70%. Karen Hulme was first female finisher in 25.21 and congratulations to Jana, Lyyra, Matti and Suvi for achieving a personal best time.
For 26 people, this was their first time at Lahti. I had travelled from Dartford, which is just outside London, many others had travelled much further. However, it was lovely to see that for two participants, this was the first ever parkrun. Welcome Heimo and Valtteri! I hope you return and become regulars; it does become addictive.

Ja lopuksi, kiitos yhdelletoista vapaaehtoiselle, joka teki aamusta niin mukavan. Meitä onnisti saada osallistua niin kivaan tapahtumaan. (Finally, thank you to the 11 volunteers for making the morning so pleasant. We were all lucky to take part in such a nice event)

Aarni ERESMAA, Noora ERESMAA, Raita ERESMAA, Reima ERESMAA, Outi ERESMAA-SILVONEN, Danielle HUTCHINSON, Neil HUTCHINSON, Annicea MADINE, Stuart MCTEER, Pete SCOLLS, Paul WHELAN

Lahden satama parkrun voimissaan

Posted on toukokuu 9, 2023 by lahdensatama

Meta on toistaiseksi tuntemattomasta syystä poistanut Lahden satama parkrunin facebook-sivun - olemme kuitenkin edelleen toiminnassa. Seuraavat tapahtumat järjestetään normaalisti, eli Lahden satama parkrun #34 lauantaina 13.5., helatorstain ekstratapahtuma torstaina 18.5. ja Lahden satama parkrun #36 lauantaina 20.5.

Tervetuloa mukaan kuntoilemaan!

Meta has suspended Lahden satama parkrun facebook page but no need to worry; Lahden satama parkrun is still on and everything is going ahead as planned! While we're working on to reinstate the Facebook page a quick reminder of our next events: Lahden satama parkrun #34 on Saturday 13th May, the Ascension Day Special Event on Thursday 18th May, and Lahden satama parkrun #36 on Saturday 20th May.

Welcome to join us in Lahti Harbour!

Lahden satama parkrun #23

Posted on helmikuu 23, 2023 by lahdensatama

Another fantastic, successful parkrun in Lahti
Lahden satama parkrun #23

A privilege to RD at this well-organised parkrun (my second time) to enable the ED Noora and regular RD Reima to run for a change.

It’s no mean feat putting parkrun on in the winter in Finland - because of the ever changing conditions in winter! The route was checked on Thursday morning (not good), Friday evening (park of the alternate route was ankle deep icy water) and again early on Saturday morning ‘we’re good to go!’ … and off the nine participants went.

The route is lovely and it was especially nice to be able to enable participants to run the normal ‘there and back’ full course - with the normal cautionary winter advice “avoid the icy patches!” Locals run in spiked running shoes throughout the winter in these conditions, which is always advised but of course not mandatory.

It’s great volunteering and today our on the start/finish line I was supported by three teens - timing, scanning and giving out tokens. They worked willingly and well, and are great ambassadors for parkrun - telling interested passers-by about the event and giving out flyers. Great job!

Today there was a new face - Eero - who was also our first finisher! Jana, our tail walker, brought up the rear in a very fast time today too, and the friends just before her had a fabulous run - doing intervals and chatting most of the way! I love that!

Parkrun coffee was at the wonderful Kahvila Kariranta, which serves the most amazing range of home made cakes and pastries, and gives everyone time to catch their breath after the event and for the volunteers to warm up!

Huge thanks again to Noora and family for all they do to make Lahden satama parkrun such a success.

If you can offer a hand (timekeeping, scanning or eg helping set up) please do volunteer. You can drop us an email or send a message via Facebook or instagram

Lorna, from Turku
Still dreaming of having parkrun in Turku someday!

PS. Lahti is easy to get to by public transport (even early on Saturday mornings) and trust me, you’ll be glad you made the effort as the parkrun route is so nice and the core team and regulars really friendly and welcoming.

Vuoden 2023 ensimmäinen Lahden satama parkrun

Posted on tammikuu 8, 2023 by lahdensatama

New Year's Day parkrun at Lahden satama parkrun #17

A milestone run for me

My 101st parkrun … but my very first on New Year’s Day!

Hip Hip Hoorah!

Huge thanks to the whole Eresmaa family, especially Noora and Reima, who made this run today possible! We were so lucky to be able to parkrun on New Year’s Day!

At Christmas the weather was fantastic Finland …. but sadly on Thursday (29th) the weather here in southern Finland turned, and it gradually worsened and worsened so much so that every parkrun in Finland ended up being cancelled on Saturday (New Year’s Eve)! Boo hoo!

Cancelling is not a decision that is ever taken lightly but - once the RDs and those responsible for checking the route had seen how dreadfully icy (think uneven icing rink with puddles on top!) the conditions were - it was absolutely the right call to make!

It was disappointing of course … but in Lahti, however, it was almost immediately time to start weighing up whether the special parkrun event day on New Year’s Day could go ahead as planned the next day ~ or not!

There was a real sense of deja vu on Saturday morning when we started the process of checking the conditions of the route yet again.

On Saturday morning (at the time parkrun would have happened) we walked it (it was way too icy and slipping and sliding everywhere (even wearing icebug walking boots) confirmed that the right call had been made for Saturday)… BUT … the forecast suggested conditions MIGHT improve so we waited! Early on Saturday evening (just as the first fireworks were starting) we walked the course again, and it has improved enough to make the decision NOT TO CANCEL … YET… and the final check very early on New Year’s Day by the early birds (Noora and Reima) resulted in a green light as the alternate route was runnable (the few remaining icy patches easily marked and avoided - though someone did throw some of our cones in the rubbish bin along with firework debris (luckily Noora noticed and retrieved them!)

Lahti had a New Year’s Day parkrun! Hurrah!

11 of us turned up - including a lovely group from Vääksynkanava parkrun (not on on NYD) - to walk or run the course, and we were glad we did! We were treated to a marvellous sunrise as we ran/walked the course and although the wind was cold, the light was amazing and I stopped to take several photos en route..The alternative route is a simple double ’there and back’ and Tinka the golden retriever treated every participant at every stage as a long lost friend! She and I were lucky enough to interval run with our 11 year old friend, who pipped us at the post and denied me what would have been my best ever finishing position (albeit in one of my slowest times ever (and we weren’t even tail walking!)).

The lovely cafe in Lahti is taking a well-deserved break for Christmastide but we were served piping hot juice (from a thermos) ginger snaps and delicious (almost frozen) chocolates after the event. Much appreciated!

Really huge respect for Noora and Reima who checked the course something like 8 times over the past three days and thanks to improved conditions and a well-gritted alternate route, managed to pull off the only parkrun in Finland over the New Year weekend. Thank you so much!

Lahden satama parkrun is every Saturday at 9:30am.

The normal meeting place is at the iconic LAHTI sign, although if the alternative route is being run (likely again next week on 7th January) then you can, (after parking in the normal spot), make your way to the outdoor gym by Vesijärvi at the end of Proomukatu!

Remember parkrun is free and for everyone!

You can walk, jog, run or even skip the 5k course and volunteers are warmly welcome too! You can sign up here lahdensatama@parkrun.com

Or leave a message on Facebook.

Hope you can join us at parkrun somewhere next Saturday ~ or any other Saturday ~ morning.

If you are planning to come why not invite a friend to join you or bring some of your family down to join in?

Remember ~ you don’t have to run, it’s very ok to walk and you can push a toddler or baby in a buggy and dogs of course are welcome too - woof woof (one dog per participant)

Lorna from Turku

One day we will have a parkrun of our own!

Uuteen vuoteen liikkuen

Posted on joulukuu 7, 2022 by lahdensatama

Normaalien lauantaiden lisäksi parkrun on mahdollista järjestää kahtena erikoispäivänä vuodessa. Toinen näistä päivistä on kaikissa parkruneja järjestävissä maissa uudenvuodenpäivä, ja nyt myös Lahdessa on mahdollista aloittaa uusi vuosi reippaasti kuntoillen parkrunin merkeissä.

Tervetuloa mukaan!

Lahden satama parkrun #10 – run report

Posted on marraskuu 28, 2022 by lahdensatama

Lorna Koskela oli meillä Lahdessa vierailevana run directorina 12. marraskuuta. Tässä hieman hänen kokemuksiaan parkrunin vapaaehtoistoiminnasta.

Why volunteer at parkrun?: Lahden satama parkrun #10 Nov 12th

I get asked that a lot!

It’s easy to answer too … it’s a JOY to me to ensure that parkrun happens, and while I really love running the routes it’s great to volunteer so that others can run too!

It was really important for me that the ED, Noora, and her husband Reima, who’ve worked so hard to get this newish parkrun event up and running, could get to run too, so I travelled up to Lahti yesterday (about 3 1/2 h by coach from my home town, Turku) in order to be the RD today.

It was perhaps the easiest gig yet.

They’d worked hard to get a volunteer team together, sent out the reminders and even processed the results after the event … so all I had to do, really, was help set up and check the course (with them!) and then oversee the event, cheering walkers and runners on!

It went very smoothly and was FUN!

We’ve had awful weather for a few days here in Finland, but today the sun shone - and while there was a really fresh wind “raikas ilma!” (that made the lake seem more like the sea with spectacular crashing waves) it was unseasonably warm and lovely to be out and about!

Today, in addition to the core volunteer team, there were 23 participants, six of whom (including the tail walker) got a PB! Well done also to Katia who participated for the very first time and was the fastest finisher today! There were two other first timers today too and two newbies who haven’t yet registered* - we hope you liked it enough to come back again soon!

My thanks to everyone for making me so welcome. I look forward to running and volunteering with you again in the future!

Lorna from Turku, one day we will have a parkrun of our own!

*participation in parkrun is free for everyone. To see your time you do need to register (just once!) - your results are sent directly to your email address and posted on line. Register here

https://www.parkrun.fi/register/?eventName=lahdensatama

Lahden satama parkrun #4 1.10.2022 – run report

Posted on lokakuu 2, 2022 by lahdensatama

Lahden Satama Parkrun Event #4 ~ sunshine, showers and so much fun!

Today was only Lahden satama parkrun’s 4th event and it was wonderful to be part of it.

I came here for the inaugural four weeks ago but today was Cristian’s first time (and only his second time in Lahti) so I interviewed him.

How did you get here today?

I took the train from Tampere early this morning and walked from the station. Luckily the train connections worked out ok so getting up early to catch the 7 am train to get here was worth it! It took only 20 minutes to walk from the station to the start … it was a really pretty walk too.

What did you think of the parkrun route?

It was very inspiring; so much so that I got a PB … yippee - of course it IS the flattest of the six parkruns in Finland but still a PB is a PB! It’s always lovely to run by the water and I was charmed by the really lovely dancing fountains (by the pond) and the very nice autumn colours along the route too.

Did you go to parkrun coffee?

Of course …and it was great; although next time I’ll know to order to a jätti (giant coffee) My tip:

If you can’t decide between the pulla (cinnamon bun) and the croissant …take both! Everything was really delicious and everything is homemade. I bought some archipelago bread to take home with me too. Nice!

Did you meet any new people today?

To be honest, that’s not really the main thing for me … but we did speak to a family from Melbourne, Australia and I was able to recommend other parkruns in Finland to them too. It was also lovely to get to know Lahti’s ED, Noora, and today’s RD Reima a better today too.

What do you like about parkrun? Why did you come today?

I was planning to come to Lahti at some point anyway because I wanted to try the new parkrun route, so when I heard you (Lorna) and Nina were coming to Lahti today that sealed it as it’s always nice to see familiar faces … (thanks too Nina for the lift back to Tampere in the camper van!).

I know that you, Cristian, were instrumental in helping set up the parkrun in Oulu last year. How is that going?

Really well …it does take time to build up a core team and get a group of committed participants (particularly over the winter) … but today at Pokkinen there were more than 30 participants plus volunteers, which was really great.

Do you ever volunteer at parkrun? What’s your favourite role?

Yes, without volunteers parkrun can’t happen. I’ve done all of the roles (except the new parkwalker). In the winter I like tail walking the most! A few weeks ago I served as the VI guide for a visually impaired runner. That was a really new and interesting experience for me, and I was really glad to enable the runner. It’s great that parkrun really is for everyone!

Anything else you’d like to say?

A fun fact was that Lahti’s tap water is internationally renowned and so we got to test that too. Thanks for that information Reima!

So that’s the report today

A quick summary

38 Participants

15 first timers and several newbies who hadn’t yet registered

11 Volunteers

10 PBs at the event today (people who’ve run at Lahden satama parkrun at least twice and improved their time - including yours truly, Lorna and Nina.

If you would like to help as a volunteer in the next few weeks please drop us an email at lahdensatama@parkrun.com or leave a comment on Facebook.

Special congratulations to Tuomas Kaihlavirta who has not only run all the parkruns in Finland but has been the first finisher at every event too.

*Note Cristian’s PB is an overall result- the fastest parkrun he’s ever run and isn’t Lahti specific.

Reported written on the way back to Tampere from Lahti

By Lorna Koskela from Turku (one day we will have a parkrun of our own)

Photos by Ilia Timoshkov

Lahden satama parkrun #1 10.9.2022

Posted on syyskuu 11, 2022 by lahdensatama

Ensimmäinen Lahden satama parkrun!

Parkrun-toiminta Lahdessa päästiin käynnistämään upeassa alkusyksyn säässä. Mukaan juoksemaan ja kävelemään oli saapunut 61 kuntoilijaa: mukana oli juoksijoita niin Lahdesta kuin kauempaakin aina Iso-Britanniaa ja Liettuaa myöten. Osa juoksijoista oli täysin uusia parkrun-osallistujia, osalla taas oli useampi sata parkrunia jo takana.

Tällä ensimmäisella parkrun-kerralla teimme yhteistyötä Mukkulan kartanon kanssa, eli urheilusuorituksen jälkeen hiet pääsi huuhtomaan yltään Mukkulan rantasaunassa. Sauna ja pulahtaminen järviveteen olivatkin hieno kokemus ainakin osalle brittituristeja.

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