Juhannuksen parkrun – Midsummer parkrun

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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.

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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.


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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

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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.

Lahti sign

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.

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‘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

 

Vuoden 2023 ensimmäinen Lahden satama parkrun

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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_newyear
Lorna from Turku
One day we will have a parkrun of our own!
 

Lahden satama parkrun #10 – run report

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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!

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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 #1 10.9.2022

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Ensimmäinen Lahden satama parkrun!

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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.

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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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