It has been almost four years since I thought I would never be able to run a meter again.
It has been almost four years since his life was turned upside down
This is what Audun Mo (36) writes on his Instagram on 28 August this year. Four years ago, Karine, Audun's roommate, was supposed to collect his starting number for the Oslo Marathon 2018. But on the Thursday before the Oslo Marathon, Karine ended up in a nasty traffic accident near the opera in Oslo, where she was killed by a truck. Audun became a single father to his daughter Sara at 14 months. Since the accident, Audun decided never to run the Oslo Marathon again. But this year he feels ready.
It's time to write a new chapter in my running history.
SIGN UP FOR THE OSLO MARATHON HERE!
Affordable goals
- In the first months after the accident, the training meant nothing, says Audun to Oslo Marathon.
I didn't have enough energy for training. When I gradually started to be active again,
then it was primarily to get a breather and a little break from the grief. To come in
running form again was not the focus.
Audun's biggest motivation for training was to set manageable goals at the start.
-One step ahead of the next.
Audun has always liked to be in motion, but never saw himself as a runner. He went
in sports at the gymnasium, and then running was part of the bare ground training. Although Audun
takes part in a number of races, running is never about winning or getting a good time.
- Running is about the path you have followed up to the start, and the choices and priorities
you make the effort to get there. That's what gives me a lot about running. To come to
goals are just a bonus for me.
Audun's most memorable experience was finishing the ultra race around the Oslofjord
which runs from Moss to Holmestrand (161 km) The trip took him almost 27 hours. Towards the end
it was as hard mentally as physically to move forward.
Another memorable running experience is his first run after the accident
almost four years ago.
- Then I ran about 200 meters before my legs gave out under me and I could barely stand upright. A lot has happened
ever since…
Writing a book about grief
The last time Audun ran the Oslo Marathon was in 2013. He is very much looking forward to meeting friends
and familiar along the trail, but is also very excited when he starts this year with
goal of completing the Oslo trip.
- I want to "take back" Oslo's streets. I think it will be a special experience afterwards
what happened, but also very nice.
Getting feelings and words down on paper has also been therapy for Audun, which is now relevant
with his own book, "There is no easy way to say this". The book is about his
experience with grief and grief processing, and about how he used training, among other things
as therapy to process what happened.
- I hope the book can motivate others to take small steps forward if you are in a difficult situation
place in life. The goal is to be able to reach as many people as possible with my reflections
and experiences related to grief, loss and hope.
Perhaps the book can help make talking about grief harmless? My wish is to
be a voice for men's mental health, and I think with advantage men can be
better at putting emotions into words.
CHOOSE BETWEEN 3 KM, 10 KM, HALF MARATHON, MARATHON OR THE OSLO TRIPLE!
Motivated by father-in-law
Audun also has good advice for those who may be reluctant to sign up.
- The most important thing is to sign up for a distance you can master. It can also be one
great motivation to train with someone, so maybe you can find a friend or
colleague who can run with you?
But even Audun has fluctuating motivation in everyday life.
- It is far from every day that I want or want to get out. With full
job and three small children, there are many things that must be prioritized before running. But if I
would say one thing that motivates me is the thought of all the benefits of running.
Better sleep, better mood, better appetite, better physical and mental health and not
at least the wonderful nature experiences you would otherwise miss out on.
And his biggest inspiration in running?
- My own father-in-law, Haakon Wang. He has run the New York Marathon 10 times,
have completed 17 marathons in total and cycled Trondheim - Oslo 5 times, passed
Greenland on skis and has been a prime mover in corporate sports in Oslo for many years.
It inspires me so much to listen to his stories about running and how the sport
has developed over the past 50 years.
Follow Audun's running journey here
