Paavo Nurmi Marathon route map
raceindex.org has a GPS course file for Paavo Nurmi Marathon, so runners can inspect the route line on the map. Elevation charts and ascent figures appear only when that file includes usable elevation data.
Paavo Nurmi Marathon
This race edition
- Race date
- Date not confirmed for this distance
- Race timezone
- Timezone not confirmed
- Edition status
- Status not confirmed
Entry options
2026 edition
Entry options are not yet confirmed for this edition. Check the organiser before making plans.
Modelled energy-cost change 0.3% versus flat · net elevation -2 m
Decision summary
Paavo Nurmi Marathon at a glance
- Route ascent
- 179 m
- Cut-off average pace
- 8:32/km
- Typical conditions
- 64/100
- Evidence depth
- 48 verified facts
Lower than 80% of comparable mapped races
6:00:00 total limit divided by distance. Check gun/chip timing and intermediate limits; allow time for stops.
Historical race-date favourability, not a forecast
Stored GPS route
Quick answers
What runners ask first
How hilly is the Paavo Nurmi Marathon?
The Paavo Nurmi Marathon route has 179 m of ascent, 181 m of descent and an estimated 0.3% grade-adjusted pace penalty versus a flat route.
Where does the Paavo Nurmi Marathon route go?
The Paavo Nurmi Marathon route starts at Kauppatori (Market Square), Turku city centre and finishes at Kauppatori (Market Square), Turku city centre. Underfoot, expect road / paved streets and park roads. It passes Kauppatori (Market Square), Aurajoki (River Aura), Varvintori, Pansiontie and Ruissalon silta (Ruissalo bridge). The certified route runs from Kauppatori in the historic city centre, along the banks of the River Aura, over the Ruissalo bridge onto the green island of Ruissalo and past its botanical garden, then back to the centre.
What should runners know on race day for the Paavo Nurmi Marathon?
Bag storage at Cygnaeus skola (men) and Puolalan koulu (women) near the start/finish. Official pacers are provided for multiple pace groups in the marathon and half marathon. A two-day festival: the children's MiniMarathon (5pm), 5 km and 10 km (8pm) are run on Friday 14 August.
Race character
Scenery
- Riverside
- City
- Historic
- Parkland
- Island
- Coastal
- Waterfront
- Forest
Atmosphere
- Community
- Festival
- Scenic Tour
Terrain
- Road
- Elevation character
- Flat
- Technicality
- Non Technical
Entry, logistics and records
Records and field
- Men's course record
- 2:18:58 (Noriaki Kiguchi)
- Women's course record
- 2:37:22 (Volha Yudenkova)
- Field size
- Organiser materials reference around 5000 runners across all distances; the marathon itself has historically drawn roughly 500-1000 participants.
Entry requirements
- Entry status
- Past event: The listed edition date has passed.
- Cut-off
- 6 hours overall; runners must reach halfway by 14:05 to continue.
- Sold out
- No
- Qualification status
- None open public road marathon, no qualifying time required
Race day logistics
- Pacers
- Official pacers are provided for multiple pace groups in the marathon and half marathon.
- Bag drop
- Bag storage at Cygnaeus skola (men) and Puolalan koulu (women) near the start/finish.
- Expo / packet pickup
- Race-number pickup and event office at Intersport Hansa in central Turku, 13-15 August 2026.
- Race village
- No
- Medal
- All finishers receive a medal at the finish line.
Access and course status
- Start
- Kauppatori (Market Square), Turku city centre
- Finish
- Kauppatori (Market Square), Turku city centre
Course facts
- Course type
- Laps
- Surface
- Road / paved streets and park roads
- Landmarks
- Kauppatori (Market Square), Aurajoki (River Aura), Varvintori, Pansiontie, Ruissalon silta (Ruissalo bridge), Jarno Saarisen tie, Ruissalo island, Kasvitieteellinen puutarha (Botanical Garden), Linnankatu, Turun linna / Turku Castle area
- Notable features
- A two-day festival: the children's MiniMarathon (5pm), 5 km and 10 km (8pm) are run on Friday 14 August
- the half marathon and marathon (11:00 and 11:10 starts) on Saturday 15 August. AIMS-approved with officially measured courses
- The certified route runs from Kauppatori in the historic city centre, along the banks of the River Aura, over the Ruissalo bridge onto the green island of Ruissalo and past its botanical garden, then back to the centre. The half marathon covers this loop once (start/finish 0-21.1 km)
- the marathon completes it twice
How hilly is the Paavo Nurmi Marathon?
- Steep descent 1%
- Descent 6%
- Flat 87%
- Climb 6%
- Steep climb 0%
- Total ascent
- 179 m
- Net elevation
- −2 m
- GAP factor
- 0.3%
- Longest climb
- 310 m at 3.7%
What are typical race-day conditions?
- 17°CTypical temperature
- 18 kphTypical wind
- 4 mmTypical rainfall
- 64Favourability /100
More race details
Is the Paavo Nurmi Marathon flat?
Its normalised GAP factor is 0.3% slower than a flat course, with about 179 m of total ascent.
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