Race report: Tartu Half Marathon 2024

4 weeks after the Tallinn half marathon, it was race time again. This time in Tartu.

It was supposed to be my last race of the season before I enjoy a bit of off-season. So I literally ran into my off-season that day.

I knew that this race would be faster than Tallinn. I had 4 more weeks to do specific tempo sessions and I could feel those sessions really working. So my goal was to run a 1:55 half marathon.

The weather was perfect that day. The sun was out. Blue, clear sky. 12 degrees. Best conditions for me.

Usually, on the first 100m, I know what the race is going to be like. This time it was different. Already on the way to the start line, I could feel it’s going to be a good race day for me. I had the legs and the feeling.

And the first metres after the start confirmed it.

My legs felt light and I immediately got into a running flow, running faster than in Tallinn but with less perceived effort. I was running 10 seconds per kilometre faster than in Tallinn and it felt easy and comfortable.

I literally felt like I was flying most of the time.

But Tartu also has a few hilly sections that really make you work hard. Especially the last climb at 19km up Lossi. I knew it was coming. You try to prepare yourself mentally. But it's always different when you actually run it.

It's not a very long section, but it seems endless. When I finally got to the top of Toomemäe park, my legs were crying and my brain was asking me what the hell I was doing here. I knew I had lost some time here.

But on we go, right?

So we ran around the cathedral and through the park to get down to the final stretch to the finish line.

But I was a bit too optimistic and went so fast that I lost my breathing flow. I ended up with a nasty side stitch on my right side in the last 200m.

That went against my plan to have a super sprint in the last 100m. My legs were ready. My mind was ready. But the body's protective mechanisms were working against it. The faster I ran, the more pain I got from the side stitches. So my body automatically slowed down to avoid more pain.

So my final sprint was slower than expected, but all right. I finished in 1:56. The last climb to Toomemäe cost me time, so I couldn't finish in 1:55. But that's okay.

Tartu half marathon marked the perfect end to my season. The autumn vibes in Tartu are always great. So this race wasn’t just a physical challenge but also a treat for the mind and soul.

Now I am officially in off-season until December. Lifting heavy weights more than just twice a week. Lots of easy cycling. Increasing my swimming hours.

And I am confidently looking forward to a great season in 2025.

Katharina and Maris after the half marathon in Tartu, October 2024.