Vaarojen Maraton / Marathon of Dangers will be held for the 6th time 8th October 2011 in Koli National Park and its surroundings. The race offers several categories from 15 km to 86 km. The 86 km race is a qualifying race for The North Face®Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc®. To be able to enrol for the UTMB, one needs to have acquired a minimum of four points in qualifying races. By completing Marathon of Dangers 86 km, one gets two points for UTMB. It is also possible to take part in the event in 2-person-teams. In this duo-category, a team needs one bicycle. The teams plan in beforehand points where the team members have a possibility to change the technique: the one who did running first, can start biking and the first biker can start running. Following this system, the team members change technique and can divide their roles according to their own preferences. The biking route follows gravel roads mainly, not the hiking route (with one exception of some 1,5 km).
Each participant will take care of his own service during the race. It is not allowed to leave any gear before or during the race on the route (except trash in a trash pin in service points). The service by organisers covers two water points. Ultrarunners, after finishing the first 43 km lap, have a possibility to eat / drink in the race center before heading to the second lap. Entrance fee includes a map, first aid, meal and sauna after the race.
Registration: The registration for the event was closed on Mo 5.9. The number of participants has reached the maximum amount 500 persons. See the list of participants
Place: Koli, Finland (location of the race center) Organiser: Karelian Seikkailu-urheilijat Categories: a) Solo (Male/Female) 43 km, b) Solo Ultra 86 km (M/F), c) Solo 15 km (M/F), e) Duo (with a bicycle), f) Trekking 43 km (M/F)
Race start:
Ultra 86 km: 7:00
Duo: 9:45
43 km
Runners with expected running time less than 5 h: 10:00
Release of liability:Download the form, fill it and bring it to the race center so that you get the race bibs, map and other race material.
Entrance fee (prices will rise after 9th September): Solo 43/86 km 50 e/person, 15 km 30 e / person, duo-team 60 e / team, trekking 50 e / person. The price includes participation fee, a map, dinner and sauna after the race, prizes (3 best in each class). Number of participants: Max 500 persons.Participation is confirmed after you have paid the participation fee.
Mandatory equipment: See the race instructions document (link above).
Accommodation: Several options (hostel, hotel, holiday house) available in the area. When booking the accommodation, pls mention that you are attending Vaarojen Maraton event.
1) Sokos Hotel Koli / race center Prices start at 90€/day/single room and 110 €/day/double room. Prices include breakfast and sauna. Bookings: tel. +358 20 1234 662, email:
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. Introduction: http://www.sokoshotels.fi/en/hotels/koli/ Situation 7.9.2011: The hotel is fully booked. It is possible to leave your name on a waiting list in case of cancellations.
2) Future Freetime 13 km from the race center. Rooms and holiday houses. Prices from 33 e / person / day onwards. Sauna and breakfast included. In total, 75 beds. You can check pictures and get more info at http://www.futurefreetime.fi/
3) Koli Inn (Fully booked) 9 km from the race center, Vanhan Koulun Majatalo "Old School Inn" is a cosy and reasonably priced place to stay. 11 rooms. 2-6 persons/room. In total. 42 beds. Prices: 2-person-room 50 €/day, 3-person-room 70 €/day, 4-person-room 85 €/day. The prices are with own bed linen. Bed linen on the house: 8 €/person (bed linen & towel). Breakfast 8,50 €/person (to be booked in advance). The kichen is available for do-it-yourself -cooking. More info and bookings:
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, +358 50 343 7881, www.vanhankoulunmajatalo.fi.
4) Koli Carelia: new villas by the lake Pielinen The KoliCarelia villas on the islands of Paalisaari and Hattusaari (15/21 km from the race center) offer luxury accommodation for 8(+2) persons. All the villas have been built of big round logs. Generous accommodations of 114 square metres on two floors. Each villa is situated on a half-hectare lakeside plot at the great Lake Pielinen. Separate sauna building by the lake. Prices: Weekend (Fri-Sun, 2 nights) 250 e. week (Sun-Sun, 7 nights) 500 e. Bed linen and cleaning up on departure on behalf of the house 10 e / person and 85 e. Booking and more info: www.kolicarelia.fi
5) Karelia Expert: Online reservation system with more than 100 holiday houses around Koli In the online reservation system, you can search and book a suitable holiday house according to your own preferences. The rents vary according to the standard and furnishings of the cottage. The price includes pots and pans, bed linen, firewoods as well as the use of the sauna. Reservations even for 1 night possible. You can find the online reservation system at http://webshop.kareliaexpert.fi/ (Here, choose "Koli" as your destination when marking your preferences on the search engine.). You can also call +358 50 408 1051 or email
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Additional information: The English name “Maraton of Dangers” of the event does not indicate that it would be more dangerous than any other similar events. The word “vaara” [va’ra] has however a double meaning in Finnish: it is either 1) danger/hazard/risk, OR 2) "a hill (especially in Eastern Finland)". The other option, if we want to be split hairs and to be 100% correct, is to translate the name of the event as “Marathon of hills (especially in Eastern Finland)”. But the version “Marathon of Dangers” is more dynamic and it fits easier to websites. Therefore, we prefer to use it instead.