Marathon

Bishkek Ala-Too Marathon 2023

Wednesday October 11th 2023 I ran the Bishek Ala-Too Marathon in Kyrgyzstan, the second of four marathons in 6 days as part of the “Central Asian Challenge 2023” by Z Adventures. Find below my full race coverage from this marathon and from Bishkek City.

Bishkek City and the Ala-Too Mountains
Bishkek is the Capital in Kyrgyzstan, 1 mio. inhabitants and thus almost 2 times the population of Copenhagen. Notable landmarks include the Ala-Too Square and the beautiful mountains nearby, we actually hiked there for 3 hours the day after the marathon! From the bus I saw a park/square where many people played chess, that alone should be a good reason to visit back to Bishkek.

Bishkek Ala-Too Marathon 2023 - Tor Rønnow

Bishkek Ala-Too Marathon 2023
The race series continued Wednesday morning in the old Botanical Garden in Bishkek. The route was again an out-back thingy to be done 10 times for a full marathon and with a total of approx. 300 elevation height meters. However, the biggest struggle of the day was for sure THE HEAT, we were kind of fried out there, exhausting stuff. Nevertheless, we all prevailed. Well done!

Bishkek Ala-Too Marathon 2023 - Tor Rønnow

See or relive the Bishkek Ala-Too Marathon 2023 here (and in Kyrgyz and Russian) :

Bishkek Ala-Too Marathon 2023 – billeder/fotos af Tor Rønnow (Danish)
Bishkek Ala-Too Marathon 2023 – bilder av Tor Rønnow (Svenska)
Bishkek Ala-Too Marathon 2023 – bilder von Tor Rønnow (Deutsch)
Bishkek Ala-Too Marathon 2023 – pictures by Tor Rønnow (English)
2023 年比什凱克阿拉圖馬拉松 – 圖片/照片由 Tor Rønnow(中文)提供
ビシュケク アラトゥー マラソン 2023 – 画像/写真 by Tor Rønnow (日本語)
Bishkek Ala-Too Marathon 2023 – photos de Tor Rønnow (Français)
Bishkek Ala-Too Marathon 2023 – foto di Tor Rønnow (Italiano)
Bishkek Ala-Too Marathon 2023 – fotos del Tor Rønnow (Español)
Bishkek Ala-Too Marathon 2023 – beelden van Tor Rønnow (Nederlandse)

Almaty Central Park Marathon 2023

Monday October 9th 2023 I ran the Almaty Central Park Marathon in Kazakhstan, the first of four marathons in 6 days as part of the “Central Asian Challenge 2023” by Z Adventures. Find below my full race coverage from a this marathon and from Almaty City.

Almaty City
Almaty is the biggest city in Kazakhstan, +2 mio. inhabitants and thus almost 4 times the population of Copenhagen, just to put into perspective. The city is very green and pleasant to be in, clearly dominated by the former Sovjet regime in terms of architecture and language. Notable landmarks include the wooden orthodox church, the war memorials and the green marked, all featured in the report below.

Almaty Central Park Marathon 2023 - Tor Rønnow

Almaty Central Park Marathon 2023
The race series started out Monday morning at about 08.00 in the glorious Central Park with magnificant views towards the high, snow-covered mountains in the far. The route was a 2.1 mile loop out-back, to be run 10 times for a full marathon. With a total of 700 ascending height meters it was quite a brutal experience but we all prevaile; I was especially impressed of the veteran runners keeping up both a good (walking) pace and a high spirit. The Challenge was on! On a personal note ths was my marathon country no. 70.

Almaty Central Park Marathon 2023 - Tor Rønnow

See or relive the Almaty Central Park Marathon 2023 here (and in Kazakh and Russian) :

Almaty Central Park Marathon 2023 – billeder/fotos af Tor Rønnow (Danish)
Almaty Central Park Marathon 2023 – bilder av Tor Rønnow (Svenska)
Almaty Central Park Marathon 2023 – bilder von Tor Rønnow (Deutsch)
Almaty Central Park Marathon 2023 – pictures by Tor Rønnow (English)
阿拉木圖中央公園馬拉松 2023 – 圖片/照片由 Tor Rønnow(中文)提供
アルマトイ中央公園マラソン 2023 – 画像/写真 by Tor Rønnow (日本語)
Almaty Central Park Marathon 2023 – photos de Tor Rønnow (Français)
Almaty Central Park Marathon 2023 – foto di Tor Rønnow (Italiano)
Almaty Central Park Marathon 2023 – fotos del Tor Rønnow (Español)
Almaty Central Park Marathon 2023 – beelden van Tor Rønnow (Nederlandse)

Prishtina Marathon 2023

Sunday September 24th 2023 I ran the Prishtina Marathon in Kosovo. Find below my full race coverage from a this marathon and from Prishtina.

Prishtina City
The city is quite depressing, really nothing to see at at apart from a few (almost constructed) churches and the odd Library with the many couples. I think my Hotel Swiss Diamond is in fact the main attraction of Prishtina, a beautiful builing and equipped with a very nice restaurant, spa and such. There a few “Mother Teresa” landmarks and statues as well, that’s it. Done.

Prishtina Marathon 2023 - Tor Rønnow

Prishtina Marathon 2023
Prishtina Marathon started out Sunday morning at 09.00 in from of the Teatre. The event featured a marathon, half marathon, 5 K, 10K and childrens fun run. The marathon route was out-back with a tough last 9 km mostly upwards, some scenic points at times but not the kind of route that makes you want to come back. The same can be said about Prishtina City, I guess one of the poorest capitals in Europe. Nevertheless, this is exactly why we runners should support this event: make the life grow again in Kosovo.

Prishtina Marathon 2023 - Tor Rønnow

See or relive the Prishtina Marathon 2023 here (and in Albanian and Serbian) :

Prishtina Marathon 2023 – billeder/fotos af Tor Rønnow (Danish)
Prishtina Marathon 2023 – bilder av Tor Rønnow (Svenska)
Prishtina Marathon 2023 – bilder von Tor Rønnow (Deutsch)
Prishtina Marathon 2023 – pictures by Tor Rønnow (English)
2023 普里什蒂納馬拉松 – 攝影:Tor Rønnow(中文)
プリシュティナマラソン 2023 – 写真提供: Tor Rønnow (日本語)
Prishtina Marathon 2023 – photos de Tor Rønnow (Français)
Prishtina Marathon 2023 – foto di Tor Rønnow (Italiano)
Prishtina Marathon 2023 – fotos del Tor Rønnow (Español)
Prishtina Marathon 2023 – beelden van Tor Rønnow (Nederlandse)

Victoria Falls Marathon 2023

Sunday July 2nd 2023 I ran the Victoria Falls Marathon in Zimbabwe. Find below my full race coverage from a this marathon and from the incredible scenary of the Victoria Falls.

Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park
The big attraction at Victoria Falls is: the Falls! Indeed, this is what makes the marathon so special and the reason you would put this location on your bucket list. Well, then add a safari to the Chobe National Park in Botswana and the views of the “big five”, zebras, giraffes and what not and then you have an entry in gold on that list. Finally, on top of all that add the hospitality and kindness of the people in Zimbabwe, at least in “Vic Falls”, and then you’re done brainstorming: this is an absolutely must-have thing both as a runner and as a human being in general. This was SUCH a soothing experience!!

Victoria Falls Marathon 2023 - Tor Rønnow

Victoria Falls Marathon 2023
The Victoria Falls Marathon started out early Sunday morning at 06.30 am from the Baobab School in Victoria Falls. The event featured a marathon, half marathon, a 7K fun run and a half marathon relay (with one shift). The event is very well organised and my main critiscism is that the diploma carries the brutto time and not the measured netto time. Anyways, a enjoyable and somewhat tough marathon to get through as per the many height meters and the glowing sun and heat. Indeed, it is the context of the race that makes it so very special and for these reasons (the Falls, the animals, the people of Zimbabwe) I highly recommend this event. Personally, I cannot wait to go back to Africa!

Victoria Falls Marathon 2023 - Tor Rønnow

See or relive the Victoria Falls Marathon 2023 here (and in tsonga) :

Victoria Falls Marathon 2023 – billeder/fotos af Tor Rønnow (Danish)
Victoria Falls Marathon 2023 – bilder av Tor Rønnow (Svenska)
Victoria Falls Marathon 2023 – bilder von Tor Rønnow (Deutsch)
Victoria Falls Marathon 2023 – pictures by Tor Rønnow (English)
2023 年維多利亞瀑布馬拉松 – 攝影:Tor Rønnow(中文)
ビクトリア フォールズ マラソン 2023 – 写真提供: Tor Rønnow (日本語)
Victoria Falls Marathon 2023 – photos de Tor Rønnow (Français)
Victoria Falls Marathon 2023 – foto di Tor Rønnow (Italiano)
Victoria Falls Marathon 2023 – fotos del Tor Rønnow (Español)
Victoria Falls Marathon 2023 – beelden van Tor Rønnow (Nederlandse)

Rio de Janeiro Marathon 2023

Sunday June 11th 2023 I ran the Rio de Janeiro Marathon in Brazil. Find below my full race coverage from a this marathon, the half marathon (Saturday June 10th) and from the impressive city of Rio de Janeiro.

Rio de Janeiro, Ipanema and Copacabana, Corcovado and Maracana
Four days in Rio is not a lot, but I managed to see some of the main attractions, first and foremost the two world-renown beaches Copacabana and Ipanema, the latter also know from the song “The Girl from Ipanema“. Other landmarks included the Sugar Loaf Mountain, the iconic Jesus statue and various sites in the centre of Rio, notably the Escadaria Selarón. During the marathon Sunday, quite a number of landmarks were passed as well. Thus, the report gives you some impressions of what Rio de Janeiro is like.

Rio de Janeiro Half Marathon 2023 - Tor Rønnow

Rio de Janeiro Half Marathon 2023
This section shows a few of the nice scenaries from the half marathon. The race started out early Saturday morning at 6 am from the lovely Ipanema beach area. Find pictures from the entire route in the race report below. The race course took the runners through the Ipanema and Copacabana beaches and with extremely scenic views, at times, towards the landmarks of the Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer. It was said that approx. 18.000 runners attended so this half marathon is of a certain size indeed. I simply loved it.

Rio de Janeiro Half Marathon 2023 - Tor Rønnow

Rio de Janeiro Marathon 2023
Maratona do Rio started out early Sunday morning at 5 am from the marathon village at the Gloria Marina near the Flamengo Beach area. Find pictures from the entire route in the race report below. The race course took the runners through the centre of Rio de Janeiro, passing landmarks such as AquaRio and a number of churches and historial sites including the majestic Imperial Palace. Later, the course flipped into the by now known territory of the half marathon, i.e. the Ipanema and Copacabana beaches and with the same extremely scenic views of the Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer. It was said that approx. 10.000 runners attended, so also the marathon is quite big. I cannot give this race enough admiration. Just go there and experience it for yourself. Completing the challenge of both races (half and full marathon) afforded a “combination medal”, see this and all the pictures in the full race report from Maratona do Rio below.

Rio de Janeiro Half Marathon 2023 - Tor Rønnow

See or relive the Rio de Janeiro Half and Full Marathon (2023) here (and in portuguese) :

Rio de Janeiro Marathon 2023 – billeder/fotos af Tor Rønnow (Danish)
Rio de Janeiro Marathon 2023 – bilder av Tor Rønnow (Svenska)
Rio de Janeiro Marathon 2023 – bilder von Tor Rønnow (Deutsch)
Rio de Janeiro Marathon 2023 – pictures by Tor Rønnow (English)
2023 年里約熱內盧馬拉松賽 – 照片由 Tor Rønnow 拍攝(中文)
リオデジャネイロマラソン2023 – 写真提供:Tor Rønnow(日本語)
Rio de Janeiro Marathon 2023 – photos de Tor Rønnow (Français)
Rio de Janeiro Marathon 2023 – foto di Tor Rønnow (Italiano)
Rio de Janeiro Marathon 2023 – fotos del Tor Rønnow (Español)
Rio de Janeiro Marathon 2023 – beelden van Tor Rønnow (Nederlandse)