“This morning, the organizers went to see the Otepää-Elva track damaged by the weekend’s rainfalls and though, few days back the track was partly skiable with old skis, today the snowy track was replaced in several parts with soil,” said the Tartu Maraton’s race director Indrek Kelk.

A few weeks ago, the organizers began working on a back-up plan, which involved the course being moved to a frozen lake for a 50km course. “Today, the lake is covered with water and making a skiing track on it is impossible,” said Kelk.”

As the weather forecasts promise for the next few days continually warm temperatures and rain, it is unrealistic to have any skiing tracks for the upcoming weekend,” he added.The 43rd Tartu Maraton opening events took place Feb. 8-9 at Alutaguse Recreational and Sports Centre in North-East Estonia. Despite the rain and thaw, the 3rd Tartu Team Relay, Open Track races and the 13th Tervis Pluss Tartu Maraton Ladies’ Race were organized successfully.Refund InfoEveryone, who paid for this year’s Tartu Maraton, which was cancelled due to a lack of snow, get a 25% discount for the next year’s Tartu Maraton.Discount only applies for those who register before the 12^th of December 2014. 25% discount does not apply for those who got a free registration for this year’s marathon.

This means that the discount prices are as follows:

1)      63km distance 30€, for people under 19 years of age 15€

2)      31km distance 18.75€, for people under 19 years of age 9.35€

Other discounts do not apply when registering with the 25% discount.

Additionally, everyone can take out their Tartu Maraton start materials for this years cancelled marathon from Club Tartu Maraton office (Laulupeo pst 25, Tartu, Estonia) until the 14^th of March.

Next FIS Marathon Cup: American Birkebeiner:

– February 22: American Birkebeiner (USA) – 5th FIS Marathon Cup 2013-14 / 50km FT

Other Worldloppet races:

– February 22-23: Finlandia Hiihto (FIN), 50km CT / FT