HISTORY

After the successful launch of Tartu Rattaralli in 1982 and the pressure from runners the first Tartu Sügisjooks (Tartu Autumn Run) was organized in 1983. It was decided that the marathon should definately be run in the city just like other famous marathons in the world. So the course passed the city of Tartu, starting by the river Emajõgi and finish at the stadium of Tartu University.

From the first edition on the event gained popularity and following years the number of participants of the main race already grew to more than 1000. And this number did not include the shorter races – 10 and 4 km. Also, the races for children – MINI and MIDIjooks – were very popular, the highest numbers reached 2000. As for any other popular sport event, the golden period was between 1984 and 1987. And the hardest time was the beginning of the nineties. Fortunately nowdays has been set up new participation records.

While Tartu Maraton and Rattaralli annually grew in the end of the nineties, the running event, that was organized by running clubs, needed a new impulse. The last Tartu Sügisjooks was held in 1999, on a new course. The city atmosphere was exchanged for a more healthier one and the race was taken to South-Estonia, to places known from Tartu Maraton.

Next big change took place in 2000 when the race was taken to spring instead of autumn. Tartu Sügisjooks became Tartu Jooksumaraton. The distances stayed the same – 23 km for the main race and 10 km for the short race. Present course of Tartu Jooksumaraton starts in Otepää and ends in Elva. Where possible, the course follows the track of Tartu Maraton. The changes of the course and program in 1999 are fairly justified – the emotional event in the springtime has become more and more popular since 2000. The main race of Tartu Maastikumaraton is the most popular long distance run in Estonia.  In 2004, a 10 km Nordic Walking was added to the program. It was the first big Nordic Walking event in Estonia and became popular straight away. Since 2007, there is also a 23 km distance for Nordic Walking.

• Timeline

  1983 the first Tartu Sügisjooks with distances 19,2 km was organized in the Tartu city
  1984 childrens' races were added to program
  1986 the course was changed to 20km
  1987 participation record of Soviet times (almost 4500 finishers in all distances together)
  1990 5 km Family run was added to the program
  1992 10 km run was added to the program
  1995 the race course was prolonged to match half-marathon lenght (21,1 km).
  1995 finish area moved from Tartu University stadium to renovated Tartu Song Festival Arena
  1999 Tartu Sügisjooks course moved from Tartu city to forest roads from Otepää to Elva with distance 23 km
  2000 Tartu Sügisjooks was renamed to Tartu Jooksumaraton, event time was moved from September to second Sunday of May
  2008 finishline changed location at Tartumaa Tervisespordikeskus, new lenght of course 23,4km. Started new era of keeping course record.
  2011 startline of 10 km changed location at Tartumaa Tervisespordikeskus
  2013 Charity Run was added to the events program
  2016 Main distance was shortened to 23,3 km
  2017 5 km distance was added to the program
  2018 42 km distance was added to the program, event also got a new name - Tartu Forest Marathon

  2023 start and finish at the same place - Tartumaa Tervisespordikeskus

• Winners

  21 KM WINNERS

  2000	Vjatsheslav Koshelev	EST	Jane Salumäe	EST
  2001	Vjatsheslav Koshelev	EST	Külli Kaljus (Pirksaar)	EST
  2002	Vjatsheslav Koshelev	EST	Külli Kaljus (Pirksaar)	EST
  2003	Vjatsheslav Koshelev	EST	Külli Kaljus (Pirksaar)	EST
  2004	Pavel Loskutov	EST	Maile Mangusson	EST
  2005	Pavel Loskutov	EST	Tiina Tross	EST
  2006	Margus Pirksaar	EST	Olga Andrejeva	EST
  2007	Vjatsheslav Koshelev	EST	Kadri Kadak	EST
  2008	Vjatsheslav Koshelev	EST	Olga Andrejeva	EST
  2009	Yuri Vinogradov	RUS	Külli Pirksaar	EST
  2010	Taivo Püi	EST	Irene Chepkirui	KEN
  2011	Raji Assefa Worku	ETH	Etaferu Wodaj Temesgen	ETH
  2012	Viljar Vallimäe	EST	Evelin Talts	EST
  2013	Roman Fosti	EST	Natalia Sokolova	RUS
  2014	Roman Fosti	EST	Evelin Talts	EST
  2015	Wachira Ibrahim Mukunga	KEN	Liina Luik	EST
  2016	Wachira Ibrahim Mukunga	KEN	Kaisa Kukk	EST
  2017	Wachira Ibrahim Mukunga	KEN	Olga Andrejeva	EST
  2018	Ibrahim Mukunga Wachira	KEN	Kaisa Kukk	EST
  2019	Wachira Ibrahim Mukunga	KEN	Marion Tibar	EST
  2022	Wachira Ibrahim Mukunga	KEN	Kaisa Kukk	EST
  2023	Roman Fosti	EST	Leila Luik	EST
  2024	Julius Muriuki Wahome	KEN	Liis-Grete Arro	EST
  2025	Karel Hussar	EST	Liis-Grete Arro	EST

   

  42,2 KM WINNERS

  2018	Sander Linnus	EST	Tea Pärnik	EST
  2019	Rauno Jallai	EST	Klarika Kuusk	EST
  2022	Ülari Kais	EST	Lilian Jõesaar	EST
  2023	Rait Ratasepp	EST	Anneli Ratassepp	EST
  2024	Rait Ratasepp	EST	Külli Sizask	EST
  2025	Aleksandr Kuleshov	EST	Külli Sizask	EST