Marathon Details - Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon

International Marathons > Finland > Rovaniemi > Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon

Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon & Half Marathon, 12 KM Run and Walk

Rovaniemi, Finland

June 14, 2014

http://www.santaclausmarathon.com

Contact

Name:	Lapin Lukko
Address:	Koskikatu 36-38 96200 Rovaniemi Finland
Phone Number:	00 358 403 44 7770
Fax Number:	00 358 403 44 7771
Email:	Email the organizers



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Reviews

Course 4.1

Organization 4.0

Spectators 2.3

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Number of comments: 17 [displaying comments 1 to 11]

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]

H. K. from Hawaii (12/28/2010) "Awesome First Marathon" (about: 2010) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 My first marathon; I loved that it was not busy with a lot of people. I ran a lot by myself but I enjoyed the scenery. I was picked up at the airport, taken to the hotel, and called and given times for all events - awesome help. Do the extra trips; they're well worth it and a great way to see and learn about Finland. Stayed at Santa's Hotel - I loved it and had a great room. I stayed in town for 5 nights, and I would definitely come back but now I'm looking for a new destination. I flew all the way from Hawaii, so it was quite a trip. Plenty of restrooms and water/aid stops - they even give out pickles. Loved the t-shirt; the medal was cheap, but original and very cool.
D. G. from Helsinki (10/21/2009) "Great novelty race for travelers" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This is a great novelty race. The highlights are 1) traveling to and racing in the Arctic Circle and 2) starting in and running through Santa's Village. Both of those aspects are really enjoyable, especially the beautiful location. After that it's basically a pretty ordinary, very small race (~100 marathoners). The setting is beautiful, but the course largely winds through suburban neighborhoods. And while the staff is supportive and friendly, there are basically no crowds. Having said that, how can a story that starts with, "So I ran the Santa Claus Marathon" not be a great one?!
Sudipto Mukherjee from Manila, Philippines (12/3/2008) "Unique Experience" (about: 2008) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I did the half marathon and my son did the 12K run. We had a great experience, right from the friendly reception at the airport, to the warm welcome when we went to pick up our race bibs, to Santa Claus at the start of the run, to the the markings on the route, to the frequent and well stocked water stations and the warmth of the organizers at the finish line. It was a unique and memorable experience. Most of all, the lovely, scenic route ensured that I really enjoyed my run. Olga was extremely helpful, and I must commend her effort in making this an event that I will relish for a long long time. I only wish there were more participants so that we would not have to run all by ourselves for most of the route.
G. G. from New York, New York (3/28/2008) "More Than Just a Marathon" (about: 2007) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I came to Rovaniemi expecting more from the experience than from the marathon itself. The race was fine, though not flat at all. There are rolling hills, though none too high, throughout. Unfortunately, the run through Santa's Workshop was eliminated because of a construction project, but having Santa start the race at the Arctic Circle certainly makes it memorable! There aren't many spectators, but the spectators that are there make up for the paucity in numbers. The volunteers at the aid stations were supportive and cheeful and friendly - my favorites were dressed as elves. There were plenty of snacks, but I forgot to eat pickles, which I wanted to do, just because it was so unusual to me. The excursions offered are also enjoyable, but be sure to mention if you're vegetarian. I was picked up and dropped off at the airport and made to feel welcome and cared for. I loved my time in Rovaniemi and hope to go back to see it in winter sometime, too.
Charles Dunn from Dublin Ireland (7/5/2007) "Unique - you will never run one like it" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Difficult to get to, it's remote - but that results in beautiful scenery for running and a very small field of runners (but very few supporters also). Running at the Artic Circle itself is an event; add Santa Claus to the start and midnight sunshine - 24 hours of daylight - and you get a memorable experience. Injury forced me back to the 21K, but theres also 10K walk and 42K full. Great organization gives you a "package," so once you arrive it's all arranged. Do the local excursions, it adds greatly to the experience. Worried about the cold? Warm drizzle for the race-day became sunny 26 degrees C the day after; it could be too hot!
Arturo ramirez from Mexico (6/5/2007) "Carefully review all comments about this marathon" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Rovaniemi is a lovely town. The route of the marathon is very scenic and interesting; you must really enjoy it, given that most of the course is going to be just you and yourself, with nothing or nobody else. Olga was really helpful helping me with tips to find cheaper air fair tickets. I have found several contrasting comments about this race. My opinion is that even though the course is not complicated, it is not easy at all, given that it has more than 30 small elevations. I don't even consider them to be hills, because they are not... but still, getting into the race under the misleading description of "completely flat and descending all the time" and finding 30-something tiny-hills may have a physical and mental impact. I did not find any friendly or enthusiastic staff; at the water stations, all of them appeared to be pretty busy talking among themselves, as if no runners were running by. The route was poorly marked and I managed to get lost. I immediately advised the organizers that marking the route for next year would have some room for improvement and told them what happened to me. Instead of acknowledging the message, the response I got was that I was the only one "lost" and the only one with negative comments. I just provided some comments for them to improve next year; I hope they consider them. This space is to share experiences and make events better for the benefit of all of us. If you dare to run this marathon, read carefully all the comments from different runners and make a solid conclusion before you do.
P. W. from New Jersey (8/28/2006) "Awesome Location, Cool Theme, Unique" (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Rovaniemi, Finland is beautiful, and the marathon course is the Best of Rovaniemi. From the Arctic Circle and the touristy Santa Claus Village (sort of Santa's version of South of the Border), through the pretty cool underground Santa Park (which is worth a vist with the kids), along rivers and through forests and eventually into town, the course is truly unique. There are some hills, and for the slower runner, some solitary periods - all the better to appreciate the environment. The T-shirt is cool. Three of my kids completed the 12K walk (no wimpy one-mile walks for the kids - these kids had to go 7+). The Santa Claus Hotel is modern, friendly and inexpensive. The Midnight Sun is a lifetime experience. The race started at 7:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. for us slowpokes) and finished up in town between 10:00 and midnight. Awards ceremony was at about 12:30 a.m. (and, if you are over 50, you are bound to get an award). At 2:00 a.m., we were still hanging out at an outdoor cafe, in broad daylight (or is it nightlight). The one criticism below I can agree with is the paucity of water stations. But, the Europeans do not drink like we Americans do. Used two Big Gulps and cheap 12-packs of Diet Coke.... I was thirsty for the whole two weeks we were in Scandinavia, and the marathon was no exception. Carry water. Great trip. Great race. Great time.
Margrit Birwe from Essen, Germany (7/16/2006) "A fine race with a few organizational problems" (about: 2006) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Hello, Santa Claus Marathon Team, this is the report of the German competitors from Essen. Four runners and 24 walkers from TLV Germania Überruhr took part in the marathon. We all enjoyed to come to know Suomi, and especially Rovaniemi. We met friendly people everywhere. It was a pleasure to run and to walk the scenic and varied route. The stops for food and drinks were alright and all of us had no problems finishing. The care for all of us after finishing was o.k. too. The four runners had nothing to complain about. The walkers unfortunately got some problems and I want to tell you because it will be possible to change. With regard to the bus to Santa Claus Village: most of the walkers wanted to take it at 6 p.m. to encourage the other members of our sports club, but that made it overcrowded. The next bus arrived one hour later - too late for the start at 7 p.m. An extra bus at half past six would be fine. The start time for the half marathon was 8 p.m. We noticed a lot of walkers for the half marathon going to start at 7 p.m. We pointed this out to them but they themselves decided to start one hour earlier because they said they were very slow. Nobody from the organizational team raised objections. The rating itself for walkers and runners together is absolutely not debatable. Even good walkers have no chance compared with all kinds of runners. Therefore a lot of our walkers were unsatisfied with the result. As a matter of form I have to report that you changed the rating for the first of us in the half marathon and for 12 KM. But the others had no success experience even though they gave their best. If you are a walker interested in participating in the race in the future, please change the rating. Considering this change, we'll recommend the Santa Claus Marathon for all walkers and runners we are acquainted with. We were lucky to stay and to start at Rovaniemi, and we hope to see you once again.
J. W. from New Jersey, US (7/13/2006) "Beautiful course, great, small event" (about: 2006) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Please note that this is a quite small event. That must be taken into account when considering staff and fans. My opinion is that this is a great event. The course is beautiful! Be aware that runners are sharing much of the course with other peds, bikes, etc., but for me only one or two bothersome incidents occurred - far fewer than in NYC last year when I almost got run over by spectators darting across... The course did seem hillier than expected, but this is not what I would consider a hilly course. It's just not perfectly flat (few courses are, for that matter). If you want to try a different sort of event, I highly recommend this one. Olga was great, and the whole area is fun and beautiful.
M. S. from Moscow, Russia (7/11/2006) "Misadvertised but still ok" (about: 2006) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 This was my first marathon - which I chose because it was in July, close to Russia (where I live), flat, and - according to the website last year - staffed by friendly, encouraging people and fans. The biggest misleading statement about this race is that it is flat - but it is not. I trained for a flat race and was not prepared for the several low-grade hills on this course. As a result, I almost could not finish the race. Second, I wouldn't characterize the staff as encouraging or friendly - they were quiet and polite if asked a question, but nothing more and nothing less. There were very few fans to speak of and some of the few people I ran by on a river bank even laughed and smirked at the runners. On top of this, during the marathon at two different points I had to dodge motorcycles on the running path and once almost got lost because the trail (where it weaved through a residential neighborhood) was not marked. All of these things said, I would still run this race. Why? The scenery was beautiful and the weather was perfect. The Laplands are truly a unique place and despite the human factors that detracted from the race, nature more than compensated for them.

More Comments: [ < 1 2 > ]

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H. K. from Hawaii (12/28/2010) "Awesome First Marathon" (about: 2010) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 My first marathon; I loved that it was not busy with a lot of people. I ran a lot by myself but I enjoyed the scenery. I was picked up at the airport, taken to the hotel, and called and given times for all events - awesome help. Do the extra trips; they're well worth it and a great way to see and learn about Finland. Stayed at Santa's Hotel - I loved it and had a great room. I stayed in town for 5 nights, and I would definitely come back but now I'm looking for a new destination. I flew all the way from Hawaii, so it was quite a trip. Plenty of restrooms and water/aid stops - they even give out pickles. Loved the t-shirt; the medal was cheap, but original and very cool.
D. G. from Helsinki (10/21/2009) "Great novelty race for travelers" (about: 2009) 6-10 previous marathons COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 This is a great novelty race. The highlights are 1) traveling to and racing in the Arctic Circle and 2) starting in and running through Santa's Village. Both of those aspects are really enjoyable, especially the beautiful location. After that it's basically a pretty ordinary, very small race (~100 marathoners). The setting is beautiful, but the course largely winds through suburban neighborhoods. And while the staff is supportive and friendly, there are basically no crowds. Having said that, how can a story that starts with, "So I ran the Santa Claus Marathon" not be a great one?!
Sudipto Mukherjee from Manila, Philippines (12/3/2008) "Unique Experience" (about: 2008) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I did the half marathon and my son did the 12K run. We had a great experience, right from the friendly reception at the airport, to the warm welcome when we went to pick up our race bibs, to Santa Claus at the start of the run, to the the markings on the route, to the frequent and well stocked water stations and the warmth of the organizers at the finish line. It was a unique and memorable experience. Most of all, the lovely, scenic route ensured that I really enjoyed my run. Olga was extremely helpful, and I must commend her effort in making this an event that I will relish for a long long time. I only wish there were more participants so that we would not have to run all by ourselves for most of the route.
G. G. from New York, New York (3/28/2008) "More Than Just a Marathon" (about: 2007) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I came to Rovaniemi expecting more from the experience than from the marathon itself. The race was fine, though not flat at all. There are rolling hills, though none too high, throughout. Unfortunately, the run through Santa's Workshop was eliminated because of a construction project, but having Santa start the race at the Arctic Circle certainly makes it memorable! There aren't many spectators, but the spectators that are there make up for the paucity in numbers. The volunteers at the aid stations were supportive and cheeful and friendly - my favorites were dressed as elves. There were plenty of snacks, but I forgot to eat pickles, which I wanted to do, just because it was so unusual to me. The excursions offered are also enjoyable, but be sure to mention if you're vegetarian. I was picked up and dropped off at the airport and made to feel welcome and cared for. I loved my time in Rovaniemi and hope to go back to see it in winter sometime, too.
Charles Dunn from Dublin Ireland (7/5/2007) "Unique - you will never run one like it" (about: 2007) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 Difficult to get to, it's remote - but that results in beautiful scenery for running and a very small field of runners (but very few supporters also). Running at the Artic Circle itself is an event; add Santa Claus to the start and midnight sunshine - 24 hours of daylight - and you get a memorable experience. Injury forced me back to the 21K, but theres also 10K walk and 42K full. Great organization gives you a "package," so once you arrive it's all arranged. Do the local excursions, it adds greatly to the experience. Worried about the cold? Warm drizzle for the race-day became sunny 26 degrees C the day after; it could be too hot!
Arturo ramirez from Mexico (6/5/2007) "Carefully review all comments about this marathon" (about: 2006) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 Rovaniemi is a lovely town. The route of the marathon is very scenic and interesting; you must really enjoy it, given that most of the course is going to be just you and yourself, with nothing or nobody else. Olga was really helpful helping me with tips to find cheaper air fair tickets. I have found several contrasting comments about this race. My opinion is that even though the course is not complicated, it is not easy at all, given that it has more than 30 small elevations. I don't even consider them to be hills, because they are not... but still, getting into the race under the misleading description of "completely flat and descending all the time" and finding 30-something tiny-hills may have a physical and mental impact. I did not find any friendly or enthusiastic staff; at the water stations, all of them appeared to be pretty busy talking among themselves, as if no runners were running by. The route was poorly marked and I managed to get lost. I immediately advised the organizers that marking the route for next year would have some room for improvement and told them what happened to me. Instead of acknowledging the message, the response I got was that I was the only one "lost" and the only one with negative comments. I just provided some comments for them to improve next year; I hope they consider them. This space is to share experiences and make events better for the benefit of all of us. If you dare to run this marathon, read carefully all the comments from different runners and make a solid conclusion before you do.
P. W. from New Jersey (8/28/2006) "Awesome Location, Cool Theme, Unique" (about: 2006) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Rovaniemi, Finland is beautiful, and the marathon course is the Best of Rovaniemi. From the Arctic Circle and the touristy Santa Claus Village (sort of Santa's version of South of the Border), through the pretty cool underground Santa Park (which is worth a vist with the kids), along rivers and through forests and eventually into town, the course is truly unique. There are some hills, and for the slower runner, some solitary periods - all the better to appreciate the environment. The T-shirt is cool. Three of my kids completed the 12K walk (no wimpy one-mile walks for the kids - these kids had to go 7+). The Santa Claus Hotel is modern, friendly and inexpensive. The Midnight Sun is a lifetime experience. The race started at 7:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. for us slowpokes) and finished up in town between 10:00 and midnight. Awards ceremony was at about 12:30 a.m. (and, if you are over 50, you are bound to get an award). At 2:00 a.m., we were still hanging out at an outdoor cafe, in broad daylight (or is it nightlight). The one criticism below I can agree with is the paucity of water stations. But, the Europeans do not drink like we Americans do. Used two Big Gulps and cheap 12-packs of Diet Coke.... I was thirsty for the whole two weeks we were in Scandinavia, and the marathon was no exception. Carry water. Great trip. Great race. Great time.
Margrit Birwe from Essen, Germany (7/16/2006) "A fine race with a few organizational problems" (about: 2006) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 Hello, Santa Claus Marathon Team, this is the report of the German competitors from Essen. Four runners and 24 walkers from TLV Germania Überruhr took part in the marathon. We all enjoyed to come to know Suomi, and especially Rovaniemi. We met friendly people everywhere. It was a pleasure to run and to walk the scenic and varied route. The stops for food and drinks were alright and all of us had no problems finishing. The care for all of us after finishing was o.k. too. The four runners had nothing to complain about. The walkers unfortunately got some problems and I want to tell you because it will be possible to change. With regard to the bus to Santa Claus Village: most of the walkers wanted to take it at 6 p.m. to encourage the other members of our sports club, but that made it overcrowded. The next bus arrived one hour later - too late for the start at 7 p.m. An extra bus at half past six would be fine. The start time for the half marathon was 8 p.m. We noticed a lot of walkers for the half marathon going to start at 7 p.m. We pointed this out to them but they themselves decided to start one hour earlier because they said they were very slow. Nobody from the organizational team raised objections. The rating itself for walkers and runners together is absolutely not debatable. Even good walkers have no chance compared with all kinds of runners. Therefore a lot of our walkers were unsatisfied with the result. As a matter of form I have to report that you changed the rating for the first of us in the half marathon and for 12 KM. But the others had no success experience even though they gave their best. If you are a walker interested in participating in the race in the future, please change the rating. Considering this change, we'll recommend the Santa Claus Marathon for all walkers and runners we are acquainted with. We were lucky to stay and to start at Rovaniemi, and we hope to see you once again.
J. W. from New Jersey, US (7/13/2006) "Beautiful course, great, small event" (about: 2006) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Please note that this is a quite small event. That must be taken into account when considering staff and fans. My opinion is that this is a great event. The course is beautiful! Be aware that runners are sharing much of the course with other peds, bikes, etc., but for me only one or two bothersome incidents occurred - far fewer than in NYC last year when I almost got run over by spectators darting across... The course did seem hillier than expected, but this is not what I would consider a hilly course. It's just not perfectly flat (few courses are, for that matter). If you want to try a different sort of event, I highly recommend this one. Olga was great, and the whole area is fun and beautiful.
M. S. from Moscow, Russia (7/11/2006) "Misadvertised but still ok" (about: 2006) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 This was my first marathon - which I chose because it was in July, close to Russia (where I live), flat, and - according to the website last year - staffed by friendly, encouraging people and fans. The biggest misleading statement about this race is that it is flat - but it is not. I trained for a flat race and was not prepared for the several low-grade hills on this course. As a result, I almost could not finish the race. Second, I wouldn't characterize the staff as encouraging or friendly - they were quiet and polite if asked a question, but nothing more and nothing less. There were very few fans to speak of and some of the few people I ran by on a river bank even laughed and smirked at the runners. On top of this, during the marathon at two different points I had to dodge motorcycles on the running path and once almost got lost because the trail (where it weaved through a residential neighborhood) was not marked. All of these things said, I would still run this race. Why? The scenery was beautiful and the weather was perfect. The Laplands are truly a unique place and despite the human factors that detracted from the race, nature more than compensated for them.

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Marathon Details - Santa's Arctic Circle Marathon