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Race center

The competition center in 2027 will be on Saaremaa island in Saaremaa beach hotel in Mändjala village

The hotel is reserved for Taliharja Vanakuri Friday to Sunday. Accommodation reservations will start on October 1st through the organizer. There are ~32 rooms available with ~100 beds. Price of a room (for 2-3 people) is about 100 euros/night. Hotel offers breakfast and it is possible to pre-order pasta for Friday evening. More information by October 1st.

Distances

Main race 101 km

Main course can be done either on foot, on skis or by bike. There are separate classes for men and women.

Pehmo (soft) race ~55 km

Pehmo course can be done either on foot or on skis. There are separate classes for men and women. Pehmo course means that you have to complete about half of the main course. All participation conditions are the same as on the main course.

Sõge Sõõr aka. Looney Loop

People who find that 101 km is not enough for them when approaching the finish line or want to get more ITRA points (on foot) have the opportunity to go on an additional ~25 km varied terrain course with the subtitle Looney Loop after finishing the 101 km of Taliharja Vanakuri. All conditions are the same as on the main trail. Looney Loop finishers will be entered in the Looney Loop finish protocol in addition to the Taliharja Vanakuri finish protocol. Only one of the distances (101 km or 125 km) will count towards ITRA points, depending on the runner’s choice.

Participation conditions

Age: The minimum age for participants in the 101 km course is 18 years. Younger participants are allowed to participate on the Pehmo course with a responsible adult.
Number of participants: There is a total limit of 450 people for all distances.
Mode of travel: You can choose to run, ski or bike (bike course has alternative sections). The modes of travel may not be combined – the chosen means of travel must be carried with you from the start to the finish.
Trail conditions: The organizer does not guarantee trail maintenance. The roads are not cleared of snow and fallen trees, the ski track must be driven in by the participant himself.
Previous experience: Participants must have previous experience of covering long distances in difficult conditions (e.g. mountain marathon, ultra running, adventure sports, rogaining, long hikes, etc.).

Only those who have previously completed at least a 50+ km long ultra distance can participate on the 101 km main course.

The main organizer reserves the right not to accept an application from someone who does not have sufficient experience to participate.

Each participant in this event must be a responsible individual and understand the challenges and dangers of moving in the wilderness in winter overnight.

Participants participate at their own risk and must be sufficiently equipped to cope with any situation they encounter on the course. This race is potentially life-threatening and those wishing to participate must seriously consider all the risks (getting lost, freezing) and the physical and mental challenges that a winter and mostly night ultramarathon entails. In previous years, some participants have had the misconception that this is a regular running or cycling race. It is not. This is a natural adventure. The course is just as it is shaped by natural conditions at that moment. The course can be covered in thick snow and an overflowing river – it is what it is. The course can be very easy in normal conditions, but frighteningly difficult in extreme weather conditions.

If this doesn’t seem like a normal and solvable challenge, then Taliharja Vanakuri is not for you.

Participation fee

Participation fee is the same for all modes of travel.

Fees

(in euros)	Main race	Pehmo race
until September 30, 2026	70	65
October 2026	75	70
November 2026	80	75
December 1-15, 2026	85	80
December 16, 2026 – January 3, 2027	100	100

Fee includes

bus transport from finish to start
waterproof course map
race number with timing chip
personal GPS tracker from Sportrec (not for navigation, but for tracking the location of the participants)
food at midcamp and finish and service at the support points
washing and sauna at the finish
finisher souvenir
storage of one bag per participant in luggage
storage during the race and transport of luggage from the start to finish.
participants have the opportunity to sleep on the floor at finish after the race with their own sleeping equipment.
free photos of the race
participant discounts at partners

Race cancellation and compensation

If a registered and paid participant withdraws from participation until 26.12.2026, half of the participation fee will be refunded.
If a registered and paid participant withdraws from participation for any reason from 27.12.2026, the participation fee will not be refunded.
Until 03.01.2027, it is possible to transfer your participation right to another person who meets the participation conditions.

The race may be canceled or shortened by the organizer before the start due to extreme weather conditions (Force majeure), if they make the racing too dangerous. In such a case, the registration fee will be refunded to those who registered in proportion to the service not provided. If the race is canceled after the start due to the above circumstances, the participation fee will not be refunded.

Race rules

Each participant must carry mandatory equipment. See the Equipment subsection.

No external assistance is allowed on the course

Taliharja Vanakuri is a human-powered race, in which participants must manage from start to finish on their own. Any external assistance to progress on the course from a support team, motorized vehicle, animals, etc. is prohibited. If it turns out that a participant used external assistance, their result will be anulled. By agreement with the organizer, the use of an electric bicycle, etc. is allowed, but users of such assistance devices will not participate in the official competition ranking.

Dropping out is at the participant’s own expense

If it is not an acute medical problem or accident, the cost of transporting the participant to the finish by car is 25 euros (Seikluste Selts, LHV Pank, EE187700771011382499 or directly to the transport provider) and this is only possible from a place accessible by car. There are many sections on the course that are inaccessible by vehicles, so those wishing to drop out must check the map for a place where they can be picked up by vehicle. All participants who leave the course before reaching the finish line must notify the organizer.

Rescue from the course in the event of an accident or health problem is done by first calling 112 and then the organizer, who can offer support to the rescue services to rescue the participant.

Support point time limits

The deadline for leaving midcamp is 10 hours from the start of the main course, i.e. at 21:00
The deadline for leaving the 75 km support point is 16 hours from the start of the main course, i.e. on Sunday at 03:00
Competitors who do not reach the deadline are considered dropped out.

It is forbidden to leave trash and equipment

Do not leave any traces other than footprints/bicycle tracks. Everything you take with you from the start must be carried to the finish line. Trash can be thrown away at midcamp and aid stations. To satisfy your physiological needs on the course, step off the trail and return to it from the same place.

Cutting the course short is not allowed

Participants must follow the official course – according to the map or .gpx. Sometimes there may be anomalies on the GPX track, e.g. the track runs illogically next to path in the forest or makes zigzag turns on a straight trail. Such obvious inconsistencies do not need to be taken into account and you can still move on the logical path. If the course passes through a aid station or medallion collection point, participant must go there (within 5 m of the control point sign). Last year a situation occurred where a group of cyclists drove past a aid station and did not make a 100 m round trip to a farmyard. Please do not do this – it is unfair to others and inconvenient for the organizer – how should such a situation be resolved? With time penalties!

In case of deliberate and purposeful cutting of the course, the result will be disqualified.
In case of unintentional cutting of the course due to a mistake (the judge decides, there is no appeal), 15 minutes will be added to the participant’s time for each starting km that the cutter did not complete. (for example: 100 m cutting – 15 minutes penalty, 1650 m cutting – 30 minutes penalty). Rather don’t cut, it will be annoying for the organizer to calculate them later and besides – Taliharja Vanakuri is not intended for participants who want to make the course easier for themselves.

Equipment

Mandatory equipment

Each participant must carry mandatory equipment with them throughout the entire race (except for food they consume) on both the main and pehmo distances. If the participant does not have the mandatory equipment to present before the start, the participant will not be allowed to start the race. Participant who finishes without mandatory equipment will be disqualified. Participants must be ready to present the mandatory equipment to the judge at any time. All mandatory equipment items are for the participant’s safety and are not subject to discussion as to whether they are required or not.

Sleeping bag or bivy bag min. 250 gr or insulated jacket (down jacket).
Sleeping mat of participant’s full length (foam mat roll or inflatable or e.g. bubble wrap).
Silver foil emergency blanket
Fire starting device/matches for emergency warmth
Headlamp with sufficient spare batteries
Red flashing light with spare battery, must be switched on when moving in the dark and also when sleeping on the trail, the red flashing light must be on and visible from the trail
Reflective material on clothing front and back
Whistle
Switched on and warmly wrapped phone + battery bank
Drink bottles/bladder min 1.5 l
Food min 1500 kcal (pehmo course 750 kcal)
GPS navigation device with the course track saved. Special handheld GPS or GPS watch with track following function preferred. Smartphone + battery bank accepted, but not recommended, as it may be unusable in rain or sub-zero temperatures.
GPS tracker and trail map provided by the organizer
Race bib. On bikes, it must be attached to the handlebars in front. Those moving on foot and skis must place bib visible from front.

Recommended equipment

Waterproof socks/shoe covers (there may be areas flooded with water on the course even in sub-zero temperatures and snow)
Good-fitting shoes suitable for temperatures of 0º- -30º C
Spare warm underwear (during a longer stay at the midcamp body cools down and it is good to put on dry clothes)
Set of waterproof/windproof outerwear – jacket and pants (Goretex or similar)
Spare gloves (recommended overmittens)
Equipment to protect the hydration system from freezing
Tape, Vaseline to solve and prevent blister problems

Schedule

Friday 8 January 2027

19:00-22:00 race center open, collection of competition materials at the race center in Saaremaa Rannahotelli in Mändjala

Saturday 9 January 2027

08:00 race center open, collection of competition materials at the race center in Saaremaa Rannahotelli in Mändjala
09:40 buses depart for the 101 km start
11:00 Start 101 km
11:30 start buses depart for the Pehmo start
~12:20 Start Pehmo
21:00 Midcamp is packed up
03:00. Support point is packed up (75 km (pehmo 30 km))

Sunday 10 January 2027

11:00 Finish services are closed

PS! Participants are also allowed to come to the start with their own transport (a friend/family will provide a ride). After the finish, there is no organized transport back to the start location. If you come to the start with your own transport (someone will bring it) and want to pick up the materials at the start, please note that they will arrive at the start location immediately before the start with start buses. Please note that the start locations are “a place in the forest” and there are no services provided.

Course

The 2027 course will run through sparsely populated areas of Saaremaa island, on the coast and in forested areas. Wind and stormy conditions can be expected. The exact race course will be published on Wednesday of the race week until then, the course is secret! The course passes through several special and remarkable natural landscapes and cultural sites, and completing it will give you a genuine and direct insight into the bright and dark corners of your own and Estonia’s soul.

The course is not marked. You must use a map or personal GPS device (such as a watch, handheld GPS or phone) to navigate.