Finns rule Boston
By: Patrick Price, editor of writingaboutrunning.com Most running fans have heard of the great Lasse Virén. Before there was Virén, there was Veikko Karvonen, Antti Viskari, Paavo Kotila, Eino Oksanen and Aurèle Vandendriessche. These are the men that inspired Virén and a nation of Finns. These are also winners of the Boston Marathon from 1954 [...]
Paavo Nurmi – 1925
Paavo Nurmi – 1925 By: Patrick Price, editor of writingaboutrunning.com There are few Olympic Champions that have dominated their respective sport the way that Paavo Nurmi did. Nurmi won nine Gold Medals and three Silvers between 1920 and 1928, a record that stands to this day. He is tied with Olympic Legends Larisa Latynina, Mark [...]
The Original 1975 Finland Tour
The Original 1975 Finland Tour After visiting Finland in 1973 & 1974 American runner Steve Prefontaine invited a group of nine Finnish track and field athletes to Oregon. The trip would later become known as the “Finland Tour”. Several of the Finnish athletes alive today still fondly remember the hospitality of their American [...]
Veikko Karvonen. One of Finland’s all time marathoners
Veikko Karvonen Veikko Karvonen is one of Finland’s all time marathoners, winning 15 of the 35 marathons he raced in his career. An Olympic medalist, Veikko placed third in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics behind Alain Mimoun and Franjoo Mihalic. A little earlier that same year, Veikko became the first Finn to ever win the [...]
Arvi “MR. MARATHON” Tokkola
ARVI “MR. MARATHON” TOKKOLA When Finns won in Boston, Arvi was the man behind the scenes. He moved to the US in 1927 and was extremely active in all things sport-related. He was the founder of the “National Finnish American Marathon Committee” and helped secure a place for Finns to compete in every Boston [...]
Eino Oksanen. Three time Boston Marathon winner
Eino Oksanen is a three time Boston Marathon winner. Taking first place in the 1959, 1961 and 1962 marathons, Eino says he always ran in Karhus. A police officer by profession, Eino remembers one particular “race” in the 70s. He saw a young man steal a woman’s purse and took off after him. [...]
