Pekka Johannes Päivärinta (born 4 May 1949 in Aura) is a Finnish former long-distance runner.

He won men's senior race in the first World Championships of cross-country running in 1973.

[1] Contrary to his fellow Finnish long-distance runner — and age mate — Lasse Virén, Päivärinta underachieved in the major outdoor international championships of his active running career.

On the other hand, he defeated Virén several times in the local and national Finnish races.

One apparent obstacle to his success in the major international championships was that he ran badly in hot and humid conditions.