The Ülemiste Night Run will see two challenges unfold at once. While the best Estonian decathletes are being decided at the European Championships in Birmingham, thousands of recreational runners in Tallinn can try to outrun the Director of Ülemiste Centre, Guido Pärnits. For every participant who completes the five-kilometre distance faster than him, Ülemiste Centre will donate €5 through the Estonian Athletics Association (EKJL) to the decathlete who finishes highest among Estonians at these championships.
The European Championships take place in Birmingham from 10 to 16 August, and the 5 km run of the Ülemiste Night Run is held on Friday evening, 14 August. The two competitions will thus run in parallel. In Birmingham, Estonian combined events athletes will compete with Europe’s best, while in Tallinn, recreational runners will help grow the support with their results for Estonia’s most successful combined eventer, who will be determined just before the Ülemiste Night Run.
“We are not asking people for donations or grand promises. We are simply asking them to move. Ülemiste Centre will put up the money on their behalf,” said Director of Ülemiste Centre Guido Pärnits. “Two competitions will take place that evening. Birmingham will decide Estonia’s best combined eventer, while in Tallinn I hope to lose to as many people as possible. The more people outrun me, the bigger the support for Estonia’s best combined eventer will grow. It is one of the few challenges where I am sincerely happy to lose.”
According to Pärnits, supporting athletics is a self-evident choice. “Running is athletics. When thousands of runners move at our event at once, the most natural partner is the Estonian Athletics Association. This way, every finish becomes more than just a personal achievement. It becomes support for Estonian elite sport.”
In the view of the EKJL, the project connects recreational sport and elite sport in a special way. As the support will go to the Estonian combined eventer with the best result among Estonians in Birmingham, the challenge also adds excitement to the competition within the national team. The more recreational runners outpace Guido Pärnits, the bigger the support for the athlete with the best result.
European decathlon champion Johannes Erm said that this is a wonderful initiative. “It is great to see that Estonian decathlon continues to matter to people. This solution connects elite sport and recreational sport in a very direct way. While we are competing in Birmingham, people in Estonia can genuinely contribute with their run.”
EKJL President Madis Kallas stressed that supporting elite sport is a joint contribution of the whole society. “Reaching the top in sport and staying there is very costly, which is why the contribution of businesses is extremely important. The initiative of Ülemiste Centre ingeniously ties together grassroots sport and elite sport, giving every runner a chance to support Estonian combined events.”
On the evening of 14 August, a five-kilometre run and a costume run will start in front of Ülemiste Centre. All participants who complete these five-kilometre distances faster than Guido Pärnits will grow the support for Estonia’s best combined eventer.
Held for the first time last year, the charity challenge directed its support to Estonian athletes preparing for the Los Angeles Olympics through Minusportlane, the support platform of the Estonian Olympic Committee. Finishing the five-kilometre distance of the Ülemiste Night Run faster than Guido Pärnits raised a total of €5,270 in support of Estonia’s top athletes last year. Pärnits completed the distance in a little over 34 minutes, finishing in 1,055th place.
More information about the Ülemiste Night Run: www.ööjooks.ee
