Entry through the organiser
Entry details on the organiser’s site →
The organiser, a third party. We take no entries and have no part in the race.
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Helsinki City Half
At a glance
- Race day
- The 2027 race
- Start
- 14:202:20 PM
- Distance
- 21.1 km13.1 mi
- Half marathon
- Entry fee
- €59
- For the 2027 race
- Time limit
- 3 hours
The course
The half marathon finishes at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, after a start beside the Paavo Nurmi statue.
- The half finishes inside the Olympic StadiumStart at the Paavo Nurmi statue, finish at the Olympic Stadium.
- Seven waves from 14:20 and a three-hour limitFirst wave 14:20, last 15:08; the limit is 3 hours.
- Five stations, and a Red Bull one at 3 kmDrink stations at 3.5, 7.2, 9.6, 13.5 and 17.1 km.
Course notes 3 short reads on the course
Whole courseFinishThe half finishes inside the Olympic StadiumStart at the Paavo Nurmi statue, finish at the Olympic Stadium.
The organiser puts the start at Mäntymäentie next to the Paavo Nurmi statue and says half marathon runners cross the finish line at the Olympic Stadium. Runners are given their finisher medal after the line and can continue to the post-race refreshment area. The route is AIMS certified.
Sourced
Whole courseTacticsSeven waves from 14:20 and a three-hour limitFirst wave 14:20, last 15:08; the limit is 3 hours.
Waves are set from the estimated finish time given at registration, and results are on net time, so there is no need to rush the line. Bibs for the half marathon are collected at the Olympic Stadium race office no later than an hour before the start, and the 3 hour limit is counted from the moment the last runner crosses the start line. Every runner finishing within 3 hours receives the finisher medal.
Sourced
Whole courseConditionsFive stations, and a Red Bull one at 3 kmDrink stations at 3.5, 7.2, 9.6, 13.5 and 17.1 km.
The organiser lists the stations at Kellosaarenranta (3.5 km), the Lauttasaari sports park (7.2 km), Lehtisaari (9.6 km), Tammisairaala (13.5 km) and Tilkanvierto (17.1 km), with sports drink offered first. The Red Bull station at Länsilinkki serves it diluted 50:50 with water. These are the 2026 positions.
Sourced
Race weekend
Saturday 8 May Race day
-
07:307:30 AM
Race office and expo open The race office for adults and the expo area open at the Olympic Stadium. -
13:201:20 PM
Half marathon bib pick-up closes Half marathon bibs must be collected an hour before the start. -
18:156:15 PM
Olympic Stadium finish area closes The finish area at the Olympic Stadium closes. -
18:306:30 PM
Bag drop closes Bag drop for the half marathon and the storage for valuables close. -
Time not published
Half marathon time limit Maximum running time counted from the moment the last runner crosses the start line. 3:00 limit: 8:31/km for 21.0975 km3:00 limit: 13:43/mi for 13.1 mi
Other races (2)
-
13:001:00 PM
Bag drop opens for the half marathon The bag drop area for the half marathon opens. -
14:202:20 PM–15:083:08 PM
Half marathon starts Mäntymäentie, next to the Paavo Nurmi statue. Seven starting waves, one every 8 minutes: the first wave at 14:20, the last at 15:08. The start is at Mäntymäentie by the Paavo Nurmi statue.
Times as published by the organiser, in Helsinki time, checked . Confirm on their site before you travel.
The forecast for Saturday
Race morning, on the record
We hold no start time for this race, so the record is read at 09:009:00 AM, local time.
Add to calendar .ics file, times in Helsinki time
Entry
Race fuel
Energy gel
2 gels for Helsinki, plus 1 spare
Finish
One every 40 minutes, by the clock:
Under about 75 minutes most runners need no gel: water at the aid stations does it.
- km 7.3mile 4.6
- km 14.7mile 9.1
For your long training runs:
Our pick: SiS BETA Fuel gel, box of 6, strawberry and lime. 40 g of carbohydrate a gel, about twice a usual gel, from two kinds of sugar your body takes up side by side. Enough for race day and two test long runs.
Easy to forget on race morning: pack them with your bib the night before.
Get it on Amazon
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In Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Salted Caramel, 24-pack, the best seller there.
Outside the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the UK and Ireland, Spain and Portugal, Italy, the rest of the EU and Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Chocolate Outrage, 24-pack on Amazon.com, the best seller there.
Anti-chafe
Compeed anti-blister stick, 8 ml
An invisible layer before the start keeps seams, straps and shoes from rubbing skin raw.
Put it on before you leave for the start: heels and toes, inner thighs, under a bra or heart-rate strap.
Try it on a long run first, like everything you use on race day.
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We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Number belt
Compressport Race Belt
Holds your bib without safety pins through your top, with loops for up to 8 gels.
Clip the bib on the night before, so it goes on with your shorts in the morning.
Keep the number on the front, where officials and photographers can see it.
Get it on Amazon
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Electrolytes
SiS Hydro electrolyte tablets, tube of 20
One tablet in a bottle puts back some of the salt you sweat out.
One tablet in 500 ml of water in the hour before the start.
Only if you have used them in training: nothing new on race day.
Get it on Amazon
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Blister plasters
Compeed blister plasters, medium, 6
One in a pocket cushions a blister if one starts.
Put it on clean, dry skin and leave it until it comes off by itself.
Give a couple to whoever comes to cheer, so they are there at the km you need them.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Questions about the Helsinki City Half
- When is the Helsinki City Half 2027?
- Saturday 8 May 2027. The start is at 14:20.
- How do I enter the Helsinki City Half?
- Entry is through the organiser. Entry fee: €59 (for the 2027 race). Entry details on the organiser’s site
- What is the time limit at the Helsinki City Half?
- Runners have 3 hours to finish.
Keep exploring
More races to look at after the Helsinki City Half.
