Tor on Marathon

Outlook 2014

By Tor Rønnow on Monday, December 30, 2013

And a Happy New Year to you too !

I eagerly look forward to 2014 and to hopefully a much better running year than this past 2013, which turned out to be a bit of a nightmare for me personally. My left foot was in pain for most of the year, actually I have not been able to perform a proper “run stride” since August 2012 ! So I really beg for a miracle to happen to bring me back into the game, I miss the daily training and I miss to “try my best” at the marathons. Performing a sub-4 hour marathon again in 2014 would be a dream come true !

H.C. Andersen Marathon

There are a number of events that I look forward to in 2014. Obviously, participating in the World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen will be a unique experience. Shy of two months later I will celebrate my marathon 10-years anniversary in the annual NYKREDIT Copenhagen Marathon, as you know one of my favorite events. And in the autumn I hope to revisit Odense and the H.C. Andersen Marathon, the second-largest marathon in Denmark and a class act for sure !

You will find other classy races in my list for 2014, and only class events will appear on my list ! I sincerly hope that 2014 will be the year where people realize that quality is essential to, yes, everything, also running events. I think the current trend towards e.g. trail and natural running are proofs hereof . See you out there !

Marathon

Firenze Marathon 2013

By Tor Rønnow on Monday, December 9, 2013

The City of Florence
As you might know, the author Dan Brown choose Florence as the main city in which to unfold his plot in the thriller “Inferno”.

The choice is probably not accidential when you consider the historical importance and reputation of Florence, not to mention the divene “sons” of the city, the renaissance artists like Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. So surely, having a marathon in this beautiful city is a must, and such has in fact existed now for 30 years ! Below you find my entire race report, however, let’s start with a few impressions of the city of Florence.

The Art in Florenze
The biggest attraction in Florence must be the incredible David statue by Michelangelo. You have to stand before this 4 meter high masterpiece in marble to understand why. It is simply beyond words, yes, beyond this world ! Add the fact that it was finished in the year 1504 B.C. and you’re left with one of the most incredible pieces of art you will ever see.

A trip to Florence is justified alone by seeing David, but once there you’d obviously pay visits to the Duomo Church and to the Accademia and the Uffizi Galleries (amongst other attractions).

Firenze Marathon 2013
Ok, the race itself, Firenze Marathon was a very nice experience ! The route was extremely scenic, the event was well organized, and the weather turned out just perfect this late Sunday in November 2013.

In conclusion, it’s pretty easy to recommend a visit to both Florence and it’s marathon race. When I re-visit the marathon through my pictures here, I’m not one second in doubt: Firenze Marathon was my best this year 2013 !

See or relive Firenze Marathon 2013 here:

Firenze Marathon 2013 – billeder/fotos af Tor Rønnow (Danish)

Firenze Marathon 2013 – pictures by Tor Rønnow (English)

Firenze Marathon 2013 – foto di Tor Rønnow (Italiano)

Marathon

BMW Berlin Marathon 2013

By Tor Rønnow on Thursday, October 3, 2013

For the second year in a row and the fourth time in toto I have had the priviledge and pleasure to participate in one of the biggest sport events on the planet, the majestic BMW Berlin Marathon.

Once again, we runners were blessed by a day with perfect weather for running, 5-15 degrees Celcius, no wind. The Kenyan Wilson Kipsang was not only the fastest of all but the fastest ever, thus booking a new world record: 2.03.23 ! What a feat – my biggest congratulations !

Below you find a series of the best pictures of the day and the full story is in the links. Enjoy.

See or relive BMW Berlin Marathon 2013 here:

BMW Berlin Marathon 2013 – billeder/fotos af Tor Rønnow (Danish)

BMW Berlin Marathon 2013 – pictures by Tor Rønnow (English)

BMW Berlin Marathon 2013 – bilder von Tor Rønnow (Deutsch)

Spirituality

Norwegian Adventures !

By Tor Rønnow on Saturday, August 10, 2013

Long before I started to run marathons, I was first – and always – a mountain hiker. Few things in the world can compete with the soothing solitude, the vast valeys and views, and the fresh air in the Norwegian mountains. This summer 2013 came to contain a pack of the best of my beloved second country.

Dalseter

As written in my July posts in 2009, 2010 and 2012, this hotel Dalster and its surroundings is a very, very special place for me. This year I managed to climb a few of the peaks nearby (Ruten and Sprengpiggen) and also tried something new, namely to ride on horse through these marvelous landscapes, to cut it short an absolutely fantastic and breathtaking experience ! Even this very day of writing I miss my white companion, Dari, of Åsli Ridecenter. Below you find a collection of the finest impressions from the Dalseter days 2013, click each picture to see in larger scale (opens in a new window/tab). In the horisonts you have the mountain chains Jotunheimen and Rondane, I have hiked a lot in these areas when I was younger. Pure love.

Jotunheimen and Besseggen

The perhaps most renowed hike in Norway is the airy climb over Besseggen, a quite demanding trip but still no harder that both kids and elderly can manage it within 8-10 hours. You sure feel walking in the footprints of Peer Gynt and in companionship with the Norwegian “mountain” poets such as Aasmund Olavsson Vinje and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (Nobel Prize Laureate 1903). Toss in some tunes of Grieg and the norwegain experience is total ! The trip is often done by taking the ferry from the nice hut Gjendesheim and thereafter walking back from Memurubu.

The Old Strynefjell Mountain Road and Videseter

The next experience was mainly in the car. I know what you might think. However, I am talking about the trip from Gjendesheim to Videseter passing through on the Old Strynefjell Mountain Road and in very rough and remote landscapes.

Aurland, The Nærøy Fjord and Gudvangen

The danish writer Karen Blixen made the mysterious Nærøy Fjord known through her poetry. The fjord has in recent times been added to the list of UNESCO Heritage sites and the nature is indeed as breathtaking as the pictures you see. We took the car ferry boat from Flåm to Gudvangen – passing lovely Aurland [in proximity of the incredible Aurlandsdalen], probably the most scenic fjord trip in Norway, possibly the world. We were not too lukcy with the weather, though, however, we still enjoyed coffee at the Stalheim Hotel with the spectacular view onto the Gudvangen Valley.

Haukeliseter, Hardangervidda and the meaning of Life

The last part of the trip was spend at Haukeliseter on Hardangervidda, another of the larger norwegian mountain areas. The weather was phenomenal and we managed to climb yet another peak. I have hiked in the norwegian mountains since I was 4 and days and landscapes like these bring me back to the thoughts and feelings I have had since I was that little reflective kid in the vast Nature. The intuitive feeling of the shortness of a human life span. The recognition of Nature and Life itself being so much bigger, richer and outlasting than a single individual, a community, an era in the civilization, even a geological era. So what is a Life ? It is just the days passing by, the feelings you have, the stuff you do. A human life has no real extension or span after we die, and to have a real Legacy is first of all not LIFE and secondly entirely an artificial construct based on the willingness of the hereafter. Basically, we human individuals will be remembered through two or three generations – at best – and will most likely be entirely forgotten after just 20-30 years after we die. This may sound depressing but it leaves an important point for how to live our life: DO NOT CARE ! Do you feel this or that, do you do this or that, are you rich or poor, skinny or a fat ass, nobody really cares. The important thing is that YOU care.
Unfortunately, we live in times where the media and the Internet may seduce us to think that all kinds of crap is “important” and will have “lasting effects” and what not, however, this line of thinking and living is hysteric and completely out of proportions if you ask me. No, the mountions and the Nature teach and reconnects us to the profound wisdom of living: The important thing is that you just live and let the days pass by, hopefully in happyness and with your loved ones around you, doing stuff you like. It is that simple.

Marathon

NYKREDIT Copenhagen Marathon 2013

By Tor Rønnow on Friday, May 24, 2013

I ran my first marathon in Copenhagen in May 2004 and this event have had a special place in my heart ever since.

NYKREDIT Copenhagen Marathon 2013 – Foto: Tor Rønnow

Thus, I was thrilled to take on my 9th challenge with the scenic route in the capital of Denmark this past Sunday. The event and the route did’nt fail me, however the weather turned out a bit on the wet side and my health issued unexpected “errors” making the day overall too much of a struggle and too little of that enjoyment that I normally associate with this favorite race of mine, NYKREDIT Copenhagen Marathon. In the larger perspective such days are unavoidable and my small personal issues can of course not alter the review of the event: TOP DOLLAR ! Yes, as always, my compliments to the hard working organizers and staff from Sparta making this classy event come true. You may see or relive NYKREDIT Copenhagen Marathon 2013 here:

NYKREDIT Copenhagen Marathon 2013 – billeder/fotos af Tor Rønnow (Danish)

NYKREDIT Copenhagen Marathon 2013 – pictures by Tor Rønnow (English)

NYKREDIT Copenhagen Marathon 2013 – bilder von Tor Rønnow (Deutsch)

Preceding the race I gave a very nice interview to Politiken on the love of running marathon, you may find a pdf version here: On the Love for Marathon Running – Tor Rønnow (Danish). In the article I stress the fact that running is for everyone no matter age nor constitution which agains links to another recent article from LØBEREN where I express my respect to all you people making an effort out there, be it 500 meters or 100 miles. Remember, 30 minutes of exercise each day will keep the doctor away ! (Or at least reduce the likelihood)

Update of the “in the press” section
I have updated my “in the press” section with various articles since mid 2011, the most notable ones being the very fine review on ELSK AT LØBE (now available in the stores and in the netshops again)…

ELSK AT LØBE - Tor Rønnow, Bente Klarlund Pedersen
ELSK AT LØBE – Tor Rønnow, Bente Klarlund Pedersen

.. and a fine interview in LøbeMagasinet, the leading magazine on running in Denmark : Tor Rønnow – Den passionerede løber. Other articles include interviews to Politken and other (national) newspapers and different spots on TV 2, one of the main television channels in Denmark. Enjoy the reading if you dare.

The experienced reader will understand that quite a few quotes and points of view stem from this source (me!) only to be copied or re-stated by others. I take that as a compliment, thank you ! We have had diffent topics up for discussion through the years, sometimes in quite fiercely ways. The experienced reader will know that I definitively keep a proven record to have an intuition that does not fail. Thus, I “brought up” the GPS-running watches in 2003 (before the first GARMIN Forerunner !) , running style in 2004 (long before the trend of Natural Running), compression socks in 2007 and well, a few other things. I believe I was also the first to continously to elaborate on the link between running and spirituality and mind power in the danish running spheres. Just so you know. So the next thing will be ? I’ll keep you posted !