Running wave for the Oslo Marathon

It is expected to be another folk festival in the streets of Oslo on Saturday 19 September, when the Oslo Marathon can boast 1300 registrations before last year so far this year. Over 8000 are registered for this autumn's race, which this year, as last year, has seven distances. 10 km (10 for Grete), half marathon, marathon, Oslo triple, racing wheelchair 10 km, children's marathon and plowing 10 km. Running expert Jack Waitz believes that the focus on Norwegian athletics stars can have a lot to say.

- There is a lot of focus on athletics in general, and especially then the Warholm and Ingebrigtsen brothers. This has probably contributed to the race interest still growing in this country. The running trend is in waves, but I think many people have found that running is one of the easiest things you can do. In addition, we have had a worse winter, which may mean that more bulls run than other outdoor activities, says Waitz.

Lower threshold for signing up for races

- Keeping fit is a trend in today's society, and it also plays a big role in the growing interest in running among people. I also see that more and more younger people turn to running as a form of exercise, and especially then girls, says Waitz to the Oslo Marathon. The former husband of the running queen Grete Waitz also points to the time constraint as an aspect of why running is the form of activity that many choose.

- Running is very easy. Just tie your shoes and get out. You can train when it suits you, and you do not need all the world of equipment. Society is also helping to influence this "trend" with a strong focus on exercise and health. Although surveys indicate that the majority of the population is not very active, more people dare to wear a starting number on their chest. The threshold for registering for a race has become lower over the years. In the past, there was a much higher level of running. Therefore, the average time for today's races is generally much higher than in the past, says Waitz.

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Half marathon most popular

Half marathon is clearly the most popular distance in the street race Oslo Marathon, with over 4600 registered so far this year.

- It is a distance that requires a lot of training for most people. And people want a bigger challenge than before, says Waitz.

Olav Engen, web editor at Kondis, believes that the national running wave we are part of is due to several reasons.

- The media clearly has a lot to say. If it is written about rises and running waves, it will have a positive effect so that even more people sign up for races. If you write about a decline and the negative associated with races with regard to closed streets etc, you will experience a decline. Positive headlines can help create a positive growth in the number of participants.

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Popular with running groups

In 2019, there was a general increase for all races on Kondis' schedule. Despite the fact that it might have been thought that it would flatten out when more races appeared in 2019, the number of participants has increased with the races.

- At least half of those who take part in races are happy to take part in 1-2 races a year. You can also see that running has become so popular that gyms arrange running groups both indoors and outdoors to prevent people from signing up. The running groups are involved in recruiting people for all types of races, Engen believes.

Exercise and license manager in the Norwegian Athletics Association, Magnus Trosdahl, also points to an increasing trend in the number of races in Norway.

- Last year we had 664 races on our schedule, the year before we were 536. Despite more races and greater competition between the races, we had more participants than the year before. The media's focus on athletics and running clearly has a contagious effect on this clear growth, says Trosdahl.

The general manager of the Oslo Marathon, Cecilie L´orsa Tveit thought it was positive that more and more races were appearing in Norway and that so many wanted to participate in races.

- In our channels, we cheer on other races all year round, and our wish is that the barrier to sign up for a race should be small. In the BMW Oslo Marathon, there is room for everyone to participate with our seven distances. We look forward to another folk festival on Saturday 19 September in Oslo!

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MONICA
GUTUEN

AMBASSADOR

Age: 45

Residence: Bærum

Distance during the BMW Oslo Marathon 2020:
I run half, and of course aim to have the widest smile all the way.

Previous participation in the Oslo Marathon:
«10 for Grete» 2013, Half Marathon 2014 and 2015, 2017 and 2018 and marathon in 2019.

Three words that describe me:
Outgoing, Smiling, Energetic

Instagram: @muddylicious