The tracks for the BMW Oslo Marathon 2016 are ready. Some changes have been made since 2015, mainly due to construction. Trail manager Tim Bennett has now been out and measured all distances. Bennett believes that the BMW Oslo Marathon offers fast and relatively easy trails, but that it still costs energy.
-First out Saturday morning is Racing Wheelchair in a separate 11 km trail. This is a flat and nice trail adapted to the participants, and here it goes fast, says Bennett.
-Kl. 09.15 is the start for the marathon runners. Over 3,000 people are registered for this distance. Marathon participants will run twice the half marathon round which is not one of the most demanding marathon runs. And some of the flattest that is possible to achieve in Oslo. Nevertheless, the trail must not be underestimated. It costs effort, says Bennett.
Furthermore, Bennett continues with a review of the route's most important milestones.
Full and half marathon
-The start is at Rådhusplassen with a gentle ascent in the direction of Skøyen through Frogner and the embassy district along Drammensveien. When the runners arrive at Skøyen, a good number of flat kilometers follow along Frogner beach towards Tjuvholmen and Aker Brygge. Then the runners continue over Rådhusplassen along the sea side and further out Akershusstranda. Here it is also flat and nice. From Skøyen and along the sea side, the trail runs mostly where the new harbor promenade to Oslo is located. With its orange-colored containers that are information points, the harbor promenade is easily visible, Bennett believes.
-Then it runs into Kongensgt, with Akershus fortress on both sides. Ned Myntgata / Grev Wedels plass. No significant difficulties here, and apart from the turns, this is an easy-to-run trail. Further along Langkaia, away Operagata and past the opera. Then the trip goes out towards Sørenga and Grønlia via a stretch of gravel road. Those who ran last year will see that the landscape is still developing. The turning point of the trail is at Bring's container port out on Grønlia, through which it is run, he says.
-From Grønlia, the trail goes back into Operagata on the same road as out. Here it can be a bit cramped - so show consideration, before the runners turn up on Nylandsveien. Here comes the distance's first real climb, which can be a little tired in headwinds. But it is only a matter of a few 100 meters before it goes down and in the direction of Jens Bjelkes gate and Tøyen. At Tøyen probably comes the worst kneika, up to the Botanical Garden. The reward is a nice downhill on the other side of the Botanical Garden, and here you just have to let your legs run, Bennett recommends.
-Then the trail goes back the same way, again in the direction of Operagata. Across Nylandsveien again, which is easier in this direction. Enter Operagata, then left into Langkaia. The runners follow this to Grev Wedel's place, before they run into Skippergata. Then follows a little "quarter run" via Dronningensgt. Before the participants finally get into Karl Johan at the start of Kirkeristen, which means that there will be more running at Karl Johan this year. They continue up Karl Johan to Egertorget and down past the Grand Hotel, continue past the outdoor cafe at Karl Johan, turn left into the National Theater, then left and into Stortingsgaten. At the end of the marathon, you can get a little new spark by watching children run the children's marathon in Spikersuppa. Then left into Rosenkrantzgt, right again and onto Karl Johan. Here it is just over 1 km to the finish of both full and half, and it is run further up the side of the Storting, down Karl Johan in the direction of Østbanen. Take Kirkegt and follow it to Rådhusgt, to the right into Rådhusgt and up to Christiania torg, from here it is nice downhill to Rådhusplassen and finish. The half marathon participants can celebrate their own achievements here, while the marathon runners continue with the exact same round again, says Bennett.
«10 for Grete»
- "10 for Grete" is mostly run in the route to the half marathon, with some deviations. This distance also starts at Rådhusplassen, but now the participants run directly east. Here they continue in the half marathon course, but instead of running down Myntgata, it goes to Rådhusgt, down it and into the right in Kirkegt - also to the left down Myntgata / Grev Wedels plass. 3 turns on the rap, but with good speed and the right timing in the turns you do not lose much speed. Out Operagata via Langkaia and past Sørenga. After the turn, the participants run back towards the center the same way. 10 km should NOT cross the Nylandsbroa bridge, but continue straight ahead to Operagata. This means that the first 7-8 km are quite fast, without really any slopes at all, just a small climb up Kongensgt and a tiny little bend at Sørenga, says Bennett.
The last about 2 km follow the same trail as the half and full marathon back to Rådhusplassen.
-This weekend there will be reduced accessibility in the city of Oslo, and some areas will be blocked for entry and exit in periods. It is therefore important that the city's residents note the date of the event. Heavily affected areas will receive their own information from the organizer, says Bennett.
For the same reason, Bennett also recommends public transport, and primarily trains and subways to the city center on Saturday.
-Most runners pull to the longest distances, but in addition to these, the BMW Oslo Marathon also arranges the distance "3 for everyone" on Friday afternoon. The children's marathon and a new distance - the Oslo triple - of 73 km will be arranged on Saturday. The participants in the latter distance run a marathon, a half marathon and finish with 10 km. Here, everyone will find something that suits their own ambitions and goals, and it is still possible to sign up for some of the distances, concludes trail manager Bennett.
