In 2014, Right To Play boss Jimmy Vika decided to run all the distances during the Oslo Marathon. It was the start of a new chapter in the history of the Oslo Marathon.

 By: Stina Gregersen Karlsen.

- The goal of running all the distances was to create awareness and funds for Right to Play's work to give children a better school life in developing countries, says Vika.

It is four years since he decided to run all three distances at the Oslo Marathon - first marathon, then half marathon and finally 10 for Grete - a total of 73 km. The idea developed during the time Jimmy started with Ultraløping, and he wanted to do something that created awareness around the collaboration as a charitable partner for the Oslo Marathon.

- A fantastic day

- I had a fantastic day in the streets of Oslo. There were many who had seen the project, and I also ran with a t-shirt where it said that I ran all the distances, so I got a lot of positive feedback and cheers along the way, he says.

The goal was to collect 1000 kroner per kilometer, which they managed by a good margin. The project received a lot of attention, also in national media. On the actual race day in 2014, former American athlete, Joan Benoit Samuelsen, was a guest at the Oslo Marathon. She was impressed by Jimmy's initiative, and she aired the idea of establishing it as a separate distance. The following year, the Oslo Marathon had established the Oslo Triple - 73 km.

- I am proud to have contributed to a new distance during the Oslo Marathon and I both hope and believe that this distance has motivated many to test their own limits, says Jimmy.

The Oslo trip - a success!

The Oslo triple has grown every year since 2014. This year, the Oslo Marathon expanded the distance to 75 runners, but these places were filled already in December. We decided to extend the distance to 100 runners, and were quickly fully subscribed again. It is clear that long-distance running is in the wind

- I can not help but be proud and happy that an idea you got on a run has now become 100 runners at the start. I thought that there would be an interest in the race in the long run, but that you now easily fill 100 places is fantastic, says Jimmy and continues:

- I am really looking forward to following the race and see the joy of the participants when they pass the finish line after 73km.

Good partners

Oslo Marathon and Right to Play have had a good collaboration over several years, where runners have been offered to donate a sum to Right To Play through regular registration, or buy starting places for the Oslo Marathon through Right To Play, where the entire amount goes in full to the organization. Together we have also lifted many fantastic projects. Among other things, Jimmy Vika's marathon project, where he ran 20 marathons in 20 days in Norway's 19 counties and Svalbard, where Right To Play collected more than 1 million kroner for the education of girls in the Middle East. The Oslo Marathon is proud to be part of such fantastic initiatives with creative and activating partners.

- I have received a lot of feedback that I have motivated many to become more active in everyday life, and that makes both all the work in advance and the pain during such projects worth it, says Jimmy.

Here are Jimmy's tips for everyone who is going to run the Oslo Triple:

"When it comes to the Oslo trip, enough and the right nutrition is very important. You must start early with the intake of a bag and have a plan for what to eat. When it comes to nutrition, it is crucial to have tested this in training so that you know that you can tolerate the food / products you will use in the race. Many people spend the last week before a race worrying about lack of training, they spend a lot of time on what kind of shoes to wear, what to eat the day before, etc. My tip is not to change anything other than trying to relax of a little extra the last few days and do as one always does before a workout. Keep it simple and shrug »