My marathon races so far:

Date	Marathon	Time (net)	Target
Sep 2008	Berlin	2:55:00	3:00-3:10
Sep 2009	Berlin	2:45:58	2:50
Apr 2010	Hamburg	2:40:53	2:40-2:42
Oct 2010	Amsterdam	2:37:53	2:40
Sep 2011	Berlin	2:37:16	2:36
Sep 2012	Berlin	2:35:00	2:35
Sep 2013	Berlin	2:31:44	2:33
Sep 2014	Frankfurt	DNS	<2:30
Sep 2015	Berlin	2:42:38	<2:45
Sep 2016	Berlin	2:44:25	<2:40
Sep 2017	Berlin	2:43:39	<2:45

The first marathon in Berlin (2008) was a very POSITIVE experience and a boost to the running inspiration. The fact that finishing time (2:55) was well ahead of the target (3:00-3:10) is kind of beside the point. Importantly, being able to complete the first marathon with a strong finish was a great confidence boost, and an unforgettable experience shared with more than 40,000 fellow runners. I truly believe that it is of utmost importance that the first marathon amounts to a positive experience. This means playing it somewhat safe by going out a bit slower, and gradually picking up the pace throughout the race, with the last few kilometers being the fastest ones. I was fortunate not to face any problems and felt I could have run a bit faster.

when you cross the finish line feeling that it has been a great adventure you just know that you will do it again.

The second marathon in Berlin (2009) started off VERY WELL with everything going according to plan. Until about 40 km, that is. Then disaster struck in terms of cramps, and I had to stop to stretch. Fortunately, this was quite late into the race, and I managed to complete the race running, although the cramps did not fully disappear. Must have been a quite a sight, and a first hard lesson that the marathon really starts when you are approaching the finish line. Never been happier as when crossing the finish line well ahead of the target time!

A little bit of problem solving during the race means that you tried hard enough and made it.

The third marathon in Hamburg (2010) was a GREAT experience. I decided to go out on the safe side, and run the first five kilometers a bit slower after the late race problems in the previous marathon. Pacing went pretty much according to plan. No mid-race problems but, on the other hand, nothing more to give when crossing the finish line. I still think that Hamburg (so far) has been the best marathon in relation to the undertaken training during my short marathon career.

The key to running success is learning to run close to your limits without overdoing it.

The fourth marathon in Amsterdam (2010) started in a PROMISING way. It was a beautiful, with almost perfect weather conditions (a bit too much wind). Preparations were a bit affected by sore throat and slight fever early in the race week, but on race day everything was fine. Pretty good start, but I fell a little bit behind my target pace during the first 20km. From 30km to 38km things went very well, but at a drinking station some three kilometers from the finish line I felt a cramp while reaching out for the water. I tried to slow down a little bit to "play it safe" but too little too late. It was quite a show: run-cramp-stop-stretch-run-cramp-stop-stretch….you get the picture. At the end of the day I do not think too much time was lost because I could run at good pace in-between the cramps which temporarily disappeared after stretching.

It is very easy to be a bit too hungry early in the race, and pay the price during the last kilometers.

In the fifth marathon in Berlin (2011) the AMBITIOUS target was to run a time of around 2:35-2:36 (target pace around 3:40/km). At 20 km I felt quite strong, started to run with a faster group, and the kilometer pace increased quite significantly for roughly five kilometers. In retrospect, this was a mistake since at 36 - 37 km my old friends - the muscle cramps - paid a visit, after having felt quite fine until 35 km. I simply could not believe it! Four brief stops and stretching. Fortunately, a strong last two kilometers saved the day, and enabled a new personal best of 2:37. On a positive note, I almost qualified for the Finnish female team for the 2012 London Olympics ;)

The good thing about going out with fast pace early in the race is that one day you might make it to the end.

In the sixth marathon in Berlin (2012) I managed to clock a personal best of 2:35:00. On Sunday everything was set for a new record: 10-16 degrees warm, sunshine, the support of my wonderful wife together with more than one million spectators and 40 bands along the course. The weather was good with the exception of a wind of some 5 m/s. The only "slight" drawback was that I managed to forget my racing shoes and had to run in heavier training shoes. The pacing strategy was to go out with a pace aiming for a time around 2:33-2:34. The marathon started out well with a comfortable running pace in place after the first few kilometers. At 15 kilometers my group started to slow down and there was no alternative but to take the lead despite headwind. The pace picked up again with full attention on running even paced kilometers in a relaxed way. At 30 kilometers the legs started to feel stiff but mental strength was riding high. Unfortunately, the saying that the marathon starts after 35km proved true once again. Between 36 and 37 kilometers there was no alternative but to stop stretching twice because of cramps. Energy and fluid intake went according to plan throughout the race, implying insufficient muscle endurance. After a couple of (..painfully) slow kilometers (~ 4:10/km), it was again possible to maintain a sufficient pace to break a new record. The last six kilometers were memorable in many ways ;)

Sometimes one just knows that everything is in place before a race no matter what will happen.

In the seventh marathon in Berlin (2013) I managed the "perfect run" resulting in a significant improvement in my personal best to 2:31:44, which actually at the end of the day ranked me number 8 in Finland. No problems whatsoever in a race with a faster second half (first half 1:16:07 vs. second half 1:15:37), with the last two kilometers being the fastest ones. Furthermore, the weather during the race was almost perfect with sunshine and a temperature around 8-10 degrees. In addition, more than one million cheering spectators, and some 80 bands along the course. Finally, in good shape after the run, and everything (of course) rounded off with cold beers in the sun.

The race started well with the first kilometer at 3:40, and no energy wasted at the start. During the next few kilometer it was easy to find a good rhythm with relaxed running, and the first 10 kilometers were almost bang on target pace. Around 10K+ I fell a bit behind my running group, mainly because I had some problems to get a drink at the refreshment station. Consequently, the next few kilometers were too fast since I really wanted to catch the group of runners in front of me. At the end of the day this calculated risk was probably quite important. Consequently, 10-15K were faster with an average pace of 3:35/km, including some sub 3:30 kilometers. During 15-20km our running group grew bigger, which was great fun! However, during some windy stretches nobody really wanted to take the lead, which translated into some slower kilometers. Between 20-30K (...the no man's land of the marathon) I really tried to focus on keeping the pace and running in a relaxed way. By now, the bigger running group was dispersed, and was replaced with packs of 1-2 lonely riders. I remember thinking that now there is only a "standard" marathon pace 20K training session left, and that thought actually did not feel too bad. Running a bit faster than target in a relaxed way at this point was an important factor for the new PB. At 30K the legs started to feel more tired, but nothing dramatic. Between 30-35K I was running together with a gentleman from the UK, and I think we gave each other a lot of good energy and positive fighting spirit. The pace slowed a bit during this interval. After 35K I knew that it will be a new record, even though disaster would strike with 1 or max 2 cramps. Not a bad situation at all. Between 36 and 39 I was running side-by-side with another runner, still careful not to get too carried away with the pace. Finally, the last 1-2 km were memorable, with a strong finish and average pace around 3:23/km. This is really where the marathon time morphed from "good to great".

When running through the Bradenburger Tor it was clear that it was worth every meter and second of the 20 week training effort.

Final remarks:

A new level of stamina, mileage, marathon specific training and mental toughness is needed since it is getting harder and harder to improve the results.

Then again, this is what makes marathon running fun!


For the eight marathon in Frankfurt (2014) the training went well, but at the end of the day I did not make it to the marathon because of gradually increasing pain in the left leg. At some point it seemed possible to beat the pervious PB based on training session quality but it did not quite make it to the starting lane. Eventually, it turned out to be hamstring syndrome / tendinosis, which completely stopped running for many months, and has meant a reset for the marathon ambitions.

In the ninth marathon in Berlin (2015) my aim, following the leg injury of 2014 and so-so preparations, was to run each kilometer between 3:50-3:55 throughout the race with a finishing time between 2:40 and 2:45. With a finishing time of 2:42+ I was a happy camper. At around 20K the thighs started to gradually stiffen. Until 30-35K it was still possible to keep the pace, but with more and more effort. I enjoyed a positive mental momentum throughout the race, but the thighs turned out to be the weakest link this time, and during 35-40K it was really quite a struggle. Fortunately, the last 2K were better again, with a sprint finish along Unter den Linden. All in all very satisfied given the difficulties, and I think I managed to give what I had without any cramps.

Evidently it is easier to run close to 2:30 when you are in shape than around 2:40 when you are not.

In the tenth marathon in Berlin (2016) I did hit the wall after 30K but still managed a decent time given the struggle. This year I was aiming for a sub 2:40 time, and until 30K everything went according to plan with splits well ahead of previous year. At around 30K it became clear that the legs simply were not up to the challenge, and it became impossible to keep the pace. At 33K I kind of knew that there would be cramps at some point, and fortunately I managed to keep the cramps away until 41K, where I had to stop to stretch. The last 7-8 kilometers became slower and slower and there was absolutely no firepower left for a fast finish. The last hour of the marathon was such a struggle that I am still quite satisfied with the end result.

Tougher training sessions across the board are required to make running great again.


In the 11th marathon in Berlin (2017) I did one of my best races given the amount of training leading up to the race. This year I was aiming for a sub 2:45 time, and decided to start at a slower pace compared with year 2016. This turned out to work well, and running felt great until about 30K in almost perfect weather conditions. After 35K the speed slowed down with some 5-10 seconds per kilometer towards 4/km, and small muscle twitches started to warn about potentially upcoming cramps. At the end of the day, I did manage to run the race without stopping to stretch because of cramps, but it was a very close call.
It would be great to improve with perhaps 5 minutes next year.



In summary, there was nothing more to give, nothing more to gain, and a lot more to potentially lose. In conclusion, a perfect run!