GENERAL INFO

Bag drop is located at the Olympic Stadium northern market square (Pohjoinen Stadionintori). The bag drop is divided by the distances. It is open on event day as follows:

Saucony Helsinki City Marathon: 8.00 a.m. – 4.30 p.m. (8 – 16.30)

Ice Power Helsinki City 5: 8.30 – 11.30 a.m.

Ice Power Helsinki City 5 Walk: 8.30 – 12 a.m.

Helsinki City Run: 1 – 6.30 p.m. (13 – 18.30)

The bag drop area will be guarded.  For bag drop, you can leave things in your personal, closable bag or backpack, to which a removable bag drop tag from the bib number is attached. The runner must attach the tag to his bag himself with a tie obtained from the race office. You may collect the bag with your bib after the race.

Please note that the organizer is not responsible for lost items. A separate storage service for valuables is recommended for items such as wallets, cell phones, and watches etc.

Helsinki City Double runners’ bag drop is located inside the Olympic Stadium, on Floor -1. The entrance to Double’s bag drop goes through the Race Office lobby (a staircase next to the Race Office entrance).

Read more about bag drop for Marathon Relay in the specific info about events.

Storage for valuables

Small valuables that fit a normal sized envelope (phone, money, watch etc.) can be left to the storage for valuables during the race. The storage is located at the Olympic Stadium northern market square and it is open on Saturday from 8 AM to 6.30 PM (8.30-18.30). The cost of the storage is 5 € (card only). 

All rights to changes reserved.

Bib number
Bib number is personal and it cannot be given or transferred to another person without re-registration. In case of a misuse, the runner might be disqualified from the race. The bib number must be attached in front of a shirt and be visible during the whole race.

The bag drop tag on the side of the bib number must be removed before the race. After the run, if you have used bag drop, you can get your bag by showing your running number.

Bib number pick up

Each runner picks up the bib number from the race office no later than 1 hour prior to the start time. The bib number can be collected by showing a QR code. The QR code will be  sent about a week before the event by email and a few days before the event by text message. When you arrive at the race office, take out the QR code message well in advance. 

 You friend may also pick it up for your with your QR code. 

Timing
Helsinki City Running Day timing system works with bib tag attached to the bib number. Bib number is personal and it cannot be given or transferred to another person for safety reasons. 

Net time (time from crossing the starting line to crossing the finish line) and gross time (from firing of the gun to crossing the finish line) will be given for each runner. The  results are based on runners’ net times. Please do not start/stop your watch simultaneously as you cross the timing mat in order not to cover the bib tag with your hand and possibly disturb the timing.

All rights to changes reserved.

Event area map 2023

To be updated for 2024
Click the picture to get better view of it.

The schedule for Helsinki City Running Day 2024

Friday May 10th

Minimarathon

08:00 a.m.  Minimarathon Race Office opens at Pallokenttä 1 (Urheilukatu 1, next to the Olympic Stadium). Please notice the location!

3 p.m. The Minimarathon activity area opens at Pallokenttä 1

5 p.m.  Minimarathon bib number pick up closes at Pallokenttä 1. Minimarathon starts begin. The youngest children start first.

7 p.m. Minimarathon event area closes

Friday May 10th

8 a.m. – 8 p.m. (8-20) Saucony Helsinki City Marathon, Helsinki City Run, Saucony Helsinki City Marathon Relay, Ice Power Helsinki City 5, Helsinki City Double and Minimarathon Race Office as well as Running Expo Area is open at Helsinki Olympic Stadium (Paavo Nurmen tie 1). 

Please note that the rush hours on Friday are between 03:30 p.m. – 06:30 p.m. We recommend that you visit the Race Office outside the rush hours, if possible. 

Please note that you need to know your bib number when picking it up from the Race Office. Another person may pick up your bib number and t-shirt on your behalf. In that case, please give your bib number information to the person picking up your race package.

Saturday May 11th

7.30 a.m. The dressing rooms at the Swimming Stadium opens

7.30 a.m.  Saucony Helsinki City Marathon, Helsinki City Run, Saucony Helsinki City Marathon Relay, Ice Power Helsinki City 5 and Helsinki City Double Race Office and Expo Area opens at Helsinki Olympic Stadium. Please note that the rush hours on Saturday are 8 – 9 a.m. and 11.30 am – 1.30 p.m. We recommend that you visit the Race office outside the rush hours, if possible. 

8.00 a.m.  Bag drop area for Saucony Helsinki City Marathon and the storage for valuables open at Olympic Stadium (northern market square)

8.30 a.m. Saucony Helsinki City Marathon participants’ possibility to deliver own drinks  ends

8:30 a.m. Saucony Helsinki City Marathon and Marathon Relay bib number pick up closes

8.30 a.m.  Bag drop area for Ice Power Helsinki City 5 open at Olympic Stadium (northern market square)

9.00 a.m. Ice Power Helsinki City 5 & City 5 Walk bib number pick up closes

9.15 a.m.  Saucony Helsinki City Marathon’s, Helsinki City Double’s and Marathon Relay’s first leg runners to be gathered at the starting area (southern Olympic Stadium square)

9.30 a.m. Saucony Helsinki City Marathon and Marathon Relay starts at Mäntymäentie, close to the Paavo Nurmi statue

9.30 a.m.  Olympic Stadium stands (B1 & B2) are opened for spectators

9.45 a.m.  Ice Power Helsinki City 5 participants to be gathered at the start area (southern Olympic Stadium square)

10.00 a.m. Ice Power Helsinki City 5 starts. The start of Ice Power Helsinki City 5 Walk immediately after the start of the run. 

11.30 a.m. Bag drop area for Ice Power Helsinki City 5 closes

12 a.m. Bag drop area for Ice Power Helsinki City 5 Walk closes

1 p.m. (13.00) Bag drop area for Helsinki City Run opens

1.20 p.m. (13.20)  Helsinki City Run half marathon bib number pick up closes

2.05 p.m. (14.05) Helsinki City Run’s participants to be gathered at the starting area (southern Olympic Stadium square)

2.20 p.m.-3.10 p.m.  Helsinki City Run starts. Six starting waves with one wave leaving every 10 min. All participants will be informed about their starting time closer to the race. 

03:00 p.m. (15:00)  The HCRD Expo and the Intersport running shop closes. The Race Office is still open. 

04:30 p.m. (16:30) Bag drop area for Saucony Helsinki City Marathon closes

6.15 p.m. (18.15)  The Olympic Stadium Finish area closes

6.30 p.m. (18.30)  Bag drop area for Helsinki City Run and the storage for valuables closes

6.30 p.m. (18.30)  Race Office closes

All rights to changes reserved.

Helsinki City Running Day Expo Area and Race Office are located at Helsinki Olympic Stadium (address: Paavo Nurmen tie 1, Helsinki).  The entrance to both the Race Office and Running Expo Area is located at the western side of the Olympic Stadium (50 meters from the Olympic tower). 

Minimarathon’s office is located under southern curve of the Olympic Stadium, on Olympic Stadium Square. The office open at 8 a.m. on Friday.

Race Office and Expo opening hours:

Friday May 10th: 08:00 a.m. to 08:00 p.m. (08:00-20:00)
Saturday May 11th: 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (7.30-18.30) Expo is open until 3 p.m.

Minimarathon: Friday May 10th: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Bib-number must be picked up 1 hour prior the start time. 

Please note that the rush hours on Friday are 3.30 p.m. – 6.30 p.m. and
on Saturday 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. and 11.30 am – 1.30 p.m.  If possible, we recommend that you visit the Race Office outside the rush hours. 

All rights to changes reserved.

To be updated for 2024

Helsinki City Running Day’s official race hotel is xx. The HCRD runners will get special price for Smart room (95 euros / night)  and for Comfort room (115 euros / night) for 1-2 persons. The price includes breakfast. The hotel’s wellness-section is included in the Comfort room and for the Smart room the wellness section can be purchased for an additional price of 10 euros (normal price 30 e).

The Valo Hotel special price is valid from May 10th until May 14th, 2023 (Wednesday-Sunday) with a promo code PROHCR23 at There is limited amount of special price rooms per day.

Hotel’s customer service serves you on weekdays from 9 am – 4 pm by email and by phone +358 10 340 4000

MEDICAL SERVICE
Medical service can be contacted from all the refreshment stations along the route and at the finish. Medical staff is available along the route. In case of an injury, an illness or other reason, which forces you to discontinue the race, please contact the nearest event official.

DISCONTINUING THE RACE
If you need to drop out of the run, there is transportation organized from the route to the finish area. Contact the closest service station. Your pickup will be organized from there.
There are checkpoints to control the time along the route. The maximum running time must be met also at the checkpoints.
Participant is noticed to have discontinued the race if he/she does not arrive to the finish line within the maximum time or he/she does not arrive to the refreshment point within the maximum time of the race.   
A runner who stays behind the control personnel continues the run at own risk.

DISQUALIFICATION
A runner short cutting the marked route, disturbing other runners, or not following the rules and regulations stated by the organizer will be disqualified from the race. His or hers participation right for other Finnish Athletics’ events might also be denied in the future.

MAXIMUM RUNNING TIME
Maximum running time is counted from the moment when the last runner crosses the starting line. The maximum running times per event are:

Helsinki City Run: 3h
Saucony Helsinki City Marathon: 6h
Helsinki City Marathon Relay: 6h
Ice Power Helsinki City 5: 1h

All rights to changes reserved.

Get your result engraved on the medal after the run!

The engraving station is located at the Northern Stadium Square, and it serves from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m (marathon, half marathon and double runners). The price of the engraving is 10 e (card payment or MobilePay).

To be updated for 2024

The official after run party Helsinki City Running NIGHT is at the Apollo Live Club on May 14th, 2022. All the HCRD runners will get a free entry to Apollo by showing a HCRD medal.

International elite runners: Helsinki City Running Day may offer a free participation for elite runners depending on the best result last/this season. To get a free entry, please send us a DIRECT link to your best result this year or last year.

Qualifying times for: 2h16 men/2h38 women for marathon, 1h04 men/1h16 women for half marathon and 13.50 men/15.50 women for 5K.

Unfortunately, we don’t pay accommodation or travel costs and cannot provide any assistance with the Visa process (= HCRD does not send invitation letters). 

During the event, our photographing partner Marathon Foto will take pictures of runners before, during and after the race. Photos for participants can be found here.

All pictures taken will be available online after the event only for runners who have given their permission to photos while registering to the event or later in their entry-profile. 

The organizer has the right to use the pictures and videos taken at the event.  

All rights to changes reserved.

SPECTATORS

To be updated for 2024
At the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, spectators can use stands B1 and B2 (entrance below the main stairs) and stands A11 and A12 (entrance above the main stairs) to cheer on runners.

TRAFFIC INFORMATION
The HCRD event will affect the traffic in Helsinki on race day. Please see the traffic information below.

To be updated for 2024

Traffic information 2023 (in Finnish only)

Cancelling participation

Helsinki City Running Day entry fees are non-refundable under all circumstances. In case you are unable to participate in the event, you are not obliged to inform the event organiser about possible the cancellation. 

Deferring your participation to next year with the transfer insurance fee 

When you have bought the transfer insurance fee when registering you are entitled to defer your participation to next year’s event with a medical certificate. If you wish to use your transfer insurance and defer, please contact maraton@sul.fi no later than the week after the event and include the medical certificate. The medical certificate must be dated no later than the day of the event. Please note that it is not possible to buy the transfer insurance after registration. 

A deferral can only be made for yourself and only for next year’s event. A deferred participation cannot be transferred again next year. The transfer insurance must  be bought when registering, it is not possible to buy transfer insurance afterwards.

Transfer to another runner 

A bib number is personal and should not be given to another person without re-registration. It is however possible to transfer your bib number to a new runner with a re-registration fee of 10 euros (the new runner pays the fee). 

Instructions:

1. Log into your entry profile by using the login link that you received with your entry confirmation e-mail. You can also log into to your profile through the hcrd.fi page, by choosing “Log in” from the upper right-hand corner and by entering your login credentials.

2. Your personal entry profile will appear. Click the “Transfer Entry to Another Runner” link.

3. Confirm your transfer. After confirming the transfer, the system will create a voucher which you need to deliver to the new participant. Please note that after having confirmed your transfer to another runner, you can no longer neither cancel your transfer nor log into your profile.

3. After the confirmation, a voucher will appear on the screen. Please copy this voucher (code) and send it to the person to whom you want to transfer your entry. The transfer voucher can only be used for registering to the same running distance (as you registered for).

4. The new runner need to register for the event as a new participant through the hcrd registration page. In the payment section of the registration, the new participant needs to insert the voucher which she/he received from you. After inserting the voucher, the entry fee will change to 10 euros. The fee will need to be paid by credit card or online payment.

Transfer of Entry to Another Runner

How to change the distance 

If you have already registered for the event, and would like to change your distance, please send an e-mail to maraton@sul.fi. You will then receive instructions on how to pay the price difference between the events (if you change to a longer distance). In case you like to change to a shorter distance (less expensive distance), we will not refund you for the price difference. You can do the change for a shorter distance yourself, by logging in to your profile, until race week’s Thurday. After that, all changes are made at the race office.

All rights to changes reserved.

CONFIRMATION EMAIL
If you haven’t receive a confirmation email when registering, please check your junk-mail.

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION
Please make sure that the event organizer has your correct e-mail address in order to receive the participation information e-mail. You can easily update your e-mail address and other registration information on your personal entry profile page. Username and password are sent to participants by e-mail together with the registration confirmation e-mail.

Runners that belong to the Finnish Social Security system (KELA) have a chance to buy an optional insurance for acute illness and injuries sustained during the race on May 11th, 2024. The insurance is valid from the time the runner enters the starting area to the time the runner has left the marked finish area. For Life Helsinki City Marathon Relay runners that belong to the Finnish social security system (KELA) the insurance is automatically included in the entry fee.

For the insurance to be valid, runners must first contact the official medical staff at Helsinki City Running Day.  See more information about the insurance from Finnish HCRD website.

International runners participate in the HCRD on their own risk. 

The start list for Helsinki City Running Day 2024 can be found from following link here.

Helsinki City Running Day Terms and Conditions

All rights to changes reserved.