NUTS Trail Running / NUTS HEL
NUTS HEL 14 km
Helsinki (Eläintarha Sports Field)
Race guide
Updated 28 July 2026
NUTS HEL 14 km is a trail race in Helsinki Central Park, starting and finishing at the Eläintarha sports field. The measured course is 14.4 km with only 112 m of climbing and a high point of 36 m above sea level. It shares its opening kilometres with the 25 km before branching onto its own loop. The start is at 10:30 on Saturday in waves. This is the event's middle distance: longer than the 6K, distinctly more forgiving than the park's 25 km showpiece.
The course
The Central Park trails are runnable but genuine: roots, rock and short sharp rises rather than gravel path. At 112 m of climbing over 14.4 km this is the flattest course in the entire NUTS calendar, so the pace runs higher than in the fell races up north. That does not make it easy — holding a fast pace on rooty singletrack asks more of the feet and ankles than flat tarmac ever does.
Where the race is decided
On a flat course the race is decided by pacing, not by climbing. Setting off from a wave start it is easy to go out too hard, because the terrain allows it — and to pay for it over the final five kilometres. The other decisive factor is footing: in October the fallen leaves hide the roots, and a single trip costs more than any amount of extra effort will win back.
Pacing and fuelling
The course has aid stations, of which this distance passes Hakamäentie at around 3 km and Pirkkola at around 8 km. They stock water and sports drink plus sweet and salty food. Note that there are no cups at the aid stations — bring your own soft flask or cup. For an effort under two hours the fuelling plan is simple: one flask and, if needed, one gel.
Cut-off and conditions
The finish closes at 16:00 on Saturday, so a 10:30 starter has five and a half hours — in practice, no cut-off at all. Mid-October in Helsinki usually means 3–10 °C and often rain. Wet leaves over roots are the only real hazard on this course, and grippy trail shoes are the single most useful piece of kit.
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Checkpoints & cut-offs
⚠ Auto-researched from public sources — aid stations and cut-offs may be incomplete. Confirm against the official roadbook before race day.
0 km · 8 m · —
3 km · 18 m · —
8 km · 17 m · —
14.4 km · 8 m · Sat 16:00
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Course data researched from public sources — verify against the official roadbook.