Ruskamarathon brought more runners to Levi than in years

Ruskamarathon was held in Levi on Saturday, September 13, 2025, in beautiful autumn weather.

A total of 2,020 runners started across different distances – more than in years, with the last time such a large field seen in 2018 before the pandemic. The number of participants grew by 25 percent compared to last year. Ruskamarathon attracted participants from 13 different countries.

Strong winners in the full marathon

The men’s full marathon was won by Ossi Peltoniemi with a time of 2:50:12.

– It was a really nice trip. There wasn’t much company, but I managed to keep a steady pace. The goal was to win, and I enjoyed the second lap – and for once I didn’t completely run out of steam, Peltoniemi summed up.

The women’s full marathon winner was Norway’s Kaisa Hjelløkken, finishing in 3:14:13. Hjelløkken has also won in Levi the past two years, and this year’s victory further strengthened her status as the event’s reigning champion.

Ski queen switched distances in the half marathon

For the past three years, Riitta-Liisa Lassila has dominated the Ruskamarathon trail run, but this year the ski queen took on a new challenge in the half marathon.

– Well, challenges bring spice to life! It was interesting to try a different distance. The course is beautiful, and since I now live in Kittilä, I’ve had the chance to get to know it beforehand. I wanted to challenge myself in a different way, Lassila said at the finish line.

Record pace in the 10 km

The men’s 10 km race delivered the fastest pace of the entire event. Eelis Valikainen led from start to finish, clocking 32:36. His result broke the 2016 record (33:37) by more than a minute and set a new course record.

Race Director: timing and growth spot on

According to Race Director Jari Kinnunen, the number of participants marked a clear return to the event’s peak years.

– The last time we had this many runners was in 2018, before the pandemic. Now we achieved our goal of 2,000 starters, and we are very pleased. The timing – the second weekend of September – works well, as it doesn’t overlap with other events. Ruskamarathon has become the main event of the autumn season and its grand finale, Kinnunen said.

Kinnunen also highlighted the growing enthusiasm of young runners, especially for the trail run distances.

– It’s great to see more and more young people discovering trail running. It provides a strong foundation for the sport’s future and reinforces Ruskamarathon’s role in the region’s sports and event culture.

All results: www.ruskamaraton.com