FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEB Tallinn Marathon Aims for A Guinness Record
The largest public sports event in Estonia, the SEB Tallinn Marathon takes
place on Sunday, 8 September, and more than 17,000 participants have
already registered. This year, participants are aiming for the Guinness
record.
The Guinness record is attempted at running the marathon distance while
bouncing a basketball through the entire run. The current record holder of
this type of marathon running is an American Mark Ott, who in 2010 ran the
distance while bouncing the ball with the time of 3.23.42. Five men will
try to beat the Guinness record at SEB Tallinn Marathon: Reigo Kimmel,
Martti Medar, Jarlet Mägi, Mirjo Koit and Enar Karlson.
"In order to increase the chances of beating the record and to spur on
other participants, we're welcoming people to cheer along next to the
track. The best places for the audience to cheer for the participants are,
for example, in Schnelli Park, Towers' Square, near the Pirita Bridge and
in several other parks that also house the live kilometre stops, where
different musical collectives, DJs and cheerleaders also spur on the
runners and walkers," said Mati Lilliallik, the chief organiser of SEB
Tallinn Marathon.
The marathon distance of SEB Tallinn Marathon, as part of which the
Estonian Championships in marathon running is also taking place, kicks off
on Sunday, 8 September, at 9 a.m. Semi-marathon runners take to the track
at 11:30 a.m., and people running and walking the 10 km distance start at
1:30 p.m.
Children will run the Haribo children's run a day earlier, on 7 September
at 2 p.m. As tradition goes, Tibu, Jape and the Haribo bear will run
alongside the young runners at the Haribo children's run. Registration for
the children's run takes place at the location, and participation is free
of charge for everyone.
The opening ceremony of the SEB Tallinn Marathon is held at the Freedom
Square in the evening of Saturday, 7 September. At 5:30 p.m., the audience
is greeted by a legendary band Vitamiin, who after a 23 year break is
coming back to the stage with such a line-up: soloists are Marju Länik,
Mait Maltis, Joel Steinfeld and Raul Sepper. At 6 p.m., favourites of the
run are introduced, and the SEB Tallinn Marathon is officially launched.
The evening that is filled with the timeless songs of the band Vitamiin
will end with spectacular fireworks from RUF. The entire opening ceremony
is free of charge for everyone.
The organisers of the SEB Tallinn Marathon are prepared to host a record
number of participants this year. Registration for the competition is
continued on the internet until all the slots have been filled - there are
50 slots remaining for the marathon and semi-marathon distances; 500 slots
for the 10 km run and 10 km walking/Nordic walking.
It is possible to register for the last remaining slots also in the SEB
Tallinn Marathon information desk situated on the Freedom Square, which is
open on 4-7 September from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and in the competition centre
in the morning of the competition day from 7 a.m.
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