Sunday October 11th 2015 I participated in my 3rd odd marathon in the Netherlands, DLL Marathon Eindhoven. The race was picked due to its PB-likely qualities and it can for sure be written to book that this race is extremely flat, probably the flattest I have been to at all. Even though I did actually not record a new PB, I secured my best marathon result since May 2012, and overall I was very pleased with the event. I can highly recommend the DLL Marathon Eindhoven and will indeed return myself.

DLL Marathon Eindhoven 2015 in pictures

The raceday was a sunny one and this is always good for the pictures and the overall atmosphere. Thus, as you will find below the race sells itself nicely in the shots.

See or relive DLL Marathon Eindhoven 2015 here:

DDL Marathon Eindhoven 2015 – billeder/fotos af Tor Rønnow (Danish)

DDL Marathon Eindhoven 2015 – pictures by Tor Rønnow (English)

DDL Marathon Eindhoven 2015 – beelden van Tor Rønnow (Nederlandse)

DDL Marathon Eindhoven 2015 – bilder av Tor Rønnow (Svenska)

DDL Marathon Eindhoven 2015 – photos de Tor Rønnow (Français)

DDL Marathon Eindhoven 2015 – bilder von Tor Rønnow (Deutsch)

DDL Marathon Eindhoven 2015 – foto di Tor Rønnow (Italiano)

DDL Marathon Eindhoven 2015 – fotos del Tor Rønnow (Español)

Sunday September 13th 2015 was the opener for the first IAAF Bronze label race in Scandinavia, namely the longly awaited Copenhagen Half Marathon in the very streets of Copenhagen where the World Cup Half Marathon was held in 2014 (relive here). The debut turned out just greatly with a +23.000 runners competing on the day and to see Bedan Karoki to win in the world’s fastest half marathon time in this calendar year, 59.14, that is just dazzling !

Copenhagen Half Marathon 2015 in pictures

The race was transmitted directly on danish television (DR 1), you’ll find the link in my race report below. You will also find a full picture coverage of the entire route and my take on this marvelous half marathon experience.

Oh, and did I mention that I ran with a baby stroller and dressed up as Spiderman ? The crowds and especially the kids loved it, thank you for all the shouts and support out there! We love to come back next year.

See or relive Copenhagen Half Marathon 2015 here:

Copenhagen Half Marathon 2015 – billeder/fotos af Tor Rønnow (Danish)

Copenhagen Half Marathon 2015 – pictures by Tor Rønnow (English)

Copenhagen Half Marathon 2015 – bilder av Tor Rønnow (Svensk)

Copenhagen Half Marathon 2015 – photos de Tor Rønnow (Français)

Copenhagen Half Marathon 2015 – bilder von Tor Rønnow (Deutsch)

Copenhagen Half Marathon 2015 – foto di Tor Rønnow (Italiano)

Copenhagen Half Marathon 2015 – fotos del Tor Rønnow (Español)

Saturday May 30th 2015 was the day for the yearly Stockholm Marathon, a day that turned out just as wet and gray as forecasted and feared. Still, it was a good race experience and during my short trip to the swedish capital I also found time for a few turist impressions, the visit to the Museum of Modern Art (Moderna Museet) as the most prominent to mention. Especially this one piece of art has afforded many thoughts and feelings in me – ANGST ESSEN SEELE AUF.

Stockholm City – Museum of Modern Art

Stockholm is a beautiful capital by the shore of the swedish “skjaergaard” (water side) and amongst the main turist attractions we find, of course, the Royal Castle which is situated in the very heart of the city.

Stockholm Marathon 2015
This was my fouth participation in Stockholm, a race that I historically have found very tough, my other times being in the range 4.29 – 5.08 hours. So I was extremely pleased to book the time 3.57.47, having the second half just 13 seconds off the first. My goal was a negative split but this was partly spoiled by congestion on the route during the last 800 meters, partly to the fact that I should have set in my finish-off sprint pace a bit earlier. Nevertheless, I have learned important stuff about marathon pacing strategy by my personal coach Søren Rasmussen and I believe I proved that in Stockholm (in sharp contrast to the April race in Paris !).

As you will find in the the race summary Stockholm Marathon – several times crowned as “the best marathon in the world” – never ends to deliver the full marathon experience both physically, mentally, field-, spectator- and routewise, indeed one of the big city marathons not to miss.

See or relive Stockholm Marathon 2015 here:

Stockholm Marathon 2015 – billeder/fotos af Tor Rønnow (Danish)

Stockholm Marathon 2015 – pictures by Tor Rønnow (English)

Stockholm Marathon 2015 – bilder av Tor Rønnow (Svensk)

Stockholm Marathon 2015 – photos de Tor Rønnow (Français)

Stockholm Marathon 2015 – bilder von Tor Rønnow (Deutsch)

Stockholm Marathon 2015 – foto di Tor Rønnow (Italiano)

Stockholm Marathon 2015 – fotos del Tor Rønnow (Español)

Just two weeks after running Marathon de Paris I had the fortune to participate in yet another truly great marathon, the World Major Virgin Money London Marathon featuring in here in year 2015 the strongest field ever in the history of marathon running. Despite tons of rain in the forecasted weather charts the race day came out dry during the hours of the event, it was even close to optimal conditions. But hey, let’s start by looking at some of the major tourist attractions in London.

British Museum

It is often beneficial to be reminded of an historical perspective on one’s life and doings and you get that – for free – in surplus at the British Museum in London. If you walk through the exhibition halls in the right sequence you’ll basically learn or get brush up of the entire history of the important parts of the civilization for the last 3000 years ! In the times of selfies, media and “me me me” it’s good to remember the skills, struggles and troublesome life conditions of the past.

The collection contains several astonishing pieces of art from both the ancient Egyptian, Greek, Etruscian and Roman epoques / empires, notably the Parthenon Frieze and the Rosetta Stone.

National Gallery
Another free and absolutely mind-blowing museum is the National Gallery at the “top” of Trafalgar Square. It’s just a 15 minutes pleseant walk from the British Museum and you may choose to pass popular areas such as Soho, China Town, Covent Garden or the theatre district on your way. The National Gallery displays work of three of the four NINJA TURTLES, notably two pieces by Leonardo da Vinci. Other works are signed by painters such as Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Monet and Turner as one of the “latest”. Just insanely awesome stuff !!!

Interestingly, the National Gallery displays the alternate version of “Virgin of the Rocks” by Leonardo da Vinci, the “first” one being at the Louvre in Paris. Thus, we hereby invent the marathon doublet “Virgin of the Rocks”: The Paris and London marathons !

Virgin Money London Marathon 2015
As in Paris, it was my third participation here in London too and it turned out to be the fastest. I tried to maintain a 5.30 pace as long as I could, this lasted until around km 26 and at that point I decided to go for a “secure sub-4” instead of the otherwise planned negative split.

One word sums up the entire race experience: AWESOME !!!
I don’t think I have ever seen so many spectators at any marathon before – the atmosphere was just electric !

Of the 6 Marathon Majors London for sure has a special flavor to it !

See or relive Virgin Money London Marathon 2015 here:

Virgin Money London Marathon 2015 – billeder/fotos af Tor Rønnow (Danish)

Virgin Money London Marathon 2015 – pictures by Tor Rønnow (English)

Virgin Money London Marathon 2015 – photos de Tor Rønnow (Français)

Virgin Money London Marathon 2015 – bilder von Tor Rønnow (Deutsch)

Virgin Money London Marathon 2015 – foto di Tor Rønnow (Italiano)

Virgin Money London Marathon 2015 – fotos del Tor Rønnow (Español)

Sunday April 12th 2015 was an incredibly nice and sunny day in Paris (France) and it was also the very day for this year’s Marathon de Paris. Whoaa ! Speak about getting lucky ! In fact, the whole weekend was blessed with warm and sunny weather and it was a pleasure to walk around between the many shops and attractions of this mega-metropol.

Paris City

Paris is the most popular tourist city in the world and for good reasons: the atmosphere and charming sights, the cuisine, the museums, the Louvre and Mona Lisa, the Champs-Élysée and – oh, did I forget – the Eiffel Tower.

Marathon de Paris 2015
This was my third participation in Paris and even though I had to struggle a bit for it, I took home the full point. So did my friend Mikael and for his maiden marathon, it was a real privilege to accompany him towards his first finish line.

In toto Paris could not have displayed itself prettier than this race day, the support from the crowds was good and the overall race organisation impeccable. Next year is the 40th anniversary of Marathon de Paris, guess who is already signed up.

See or relive Marathon de Paris 2015 here:

Marathon de Paris 2015 – billeder/fotos af Tor Rønnow (Danish)

Marathon de Paris 2015 – pictures by Tor Rønnow (English)

Marathon de Paris 2015 – photos de Tor Rønnow (Français)

Marathon de Paris 2015 – bilder von Tor Rønnow (Deutsch)

Marathon de Paris 2015 – foto di Tor Rønnow (Italiano)

Marathon de Paris 2015 – fotos del Tor Rønnow (Español)