Tag Archives: Z Adventures

Khujand Marathon 2023

Saturday October 14th 2023 I ran the Khujand Marathon in Tajikistan, the last 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 a few impressions from Khujand and Tajikistan.

Khujand and Tajikistan
We did not have much time in Khujand to explore the city, so the impressions from Tajikistan came mostly from the bus rides to/from Tashkent. Tajikistan is a country with approx. 9 mio. inhabitants and is one of the most mountainrich countries as well. The history of the city Khujand dates back more than 2500 years (!) and Khujand was once an important stop on thr Silk Road to China. Below also a few snapshots kindly lend from the other runners.

Khujand Marathon 2023 - Tor Rønnow

Khujand Marathon 2023
The race series came to it’s conclusion Saturday in Tajikistan, we ran 28 times round in a beautiful Park in Khujand. The route was very flat and easy and the temperatures were very pleasant: 12-18 C, ideal conditions for running. We headed back to Tashkent immediately after the maraton, yet another very busy day with running and travelling. My warm congratulations to all the runners for all finishing all the four races and a special high-five to Nandini Alinier for her first marathon ever, well done here in Khujand! Thus, this report is the final wrap of the “Central Asian Challenge 2023”, it has been an adventure for sure.

Khujand Marathon 2023 - Tor Rønnow

See or relive the Khujand Marathon 2023 here (and in Tajik and Russian) :

Khujand Marathon 2023 – billeder/fotos af Tor Rønnow (Danish)
Khujand Marathon 2023 – bilder av Tor Rønnow (Svenska)
Khujand Marathon 2023 – bilder von Tor Rønnow (Deutsch)
Khujand Marathon 2023 – pictures by Tor Rønnow (English)
2023 年苦盞馬拉松 – 圖片/照片由 Tor Rønnow(中文)提供
ホジェンドマラソン 2023 – 画像/写真 by Tor Rønnow (日本語)
Khujand Marathon 2023 – photos de Tor Rønnow (Français)
Khujand Marathon 2023 – foto di Tor Rønnow (Italiano)
Khujand Marathon 2023 – fotos del Tor Rønnow (Español)
Khujand Marathon 2023 – beelden van Tor Rønnow (Nederlandse)

Kashkent City Marathon 2023

Friday October 13th 2023 I ran the Tashkent City Marathon in Uzbekistan, the third 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 a few tourist impressions from Tashkent City.

Tashkent City
Tashkent is the Capital in Uzbekistan, 3.6 mio. inhabitants and thus almost 7 times the population of Copenhagen. Notable landmarks include several spectacular mosques, newly build Government buildings and the Tashkent Old City. Tashkent seemed much more like a modern and more interntionel metropole than Almaty and Bishkek with huge Malls and impressive hotels. Below a few snapshots kindly lend from the other runners.

Tashkent City Marathon 2023 - Tor Rønnow

Tashkent City Marathon 2023
The race series continued Friday morning in Uzbekistan, we ran 42 times round a multi stadium in Tashkent. The route was very flat and easy and the temperatures were very unlike the past two race: 10-14 C, ideal conditions for running. We headed towards Tadjikistan and the city Khujand immediately after the maraton, yet another very busy day with running and travelling. But hey, 3/4 done, spirits high!

Tashkent City Marathon 2023 - Tor Rønnow

See or relive the Tashkent Marathon 2023 here (and in Uzbek and Russian) :

Tashkent City Marathon 2023 – billeder/fotos af Tor Rønnow (Danish)
Tashkent City Marathon 2023 – bilder av Tor Rønnow (Svenska)
Tashkent City Marathon 2023 – bilder von Tor Rønnow (Deutsch)
Tashkent City Marathon 2023 – pictures by Tor Rønnow (English)
2023 年塔什幹城市馬拉松 – 圖片/照片由 Tor Rønnow(中文)提供
タシケントシティマラソン 2023 – 画像/写真 by Tor Rønnow (日本語)
Tashkent City Marathon 2023 – photos de Tor Rønnow (Français)
Tashkent City Marathon 2023 – foto di Tor Rønnow (Italiano)
Tashkent City Marathon 2023 – fotos del Tor Rønnow (Español)
Tashkent City Marathon 2023 – beelden van Tor Rønnow (Nederlandse)

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)

My 10 best Marathon Photos of 2022

2022 was quite a busy year for many marathoneers with races finally opening up after the COVID-19 lockdowns. Personally, I had a great and adventurous programme and below you find the 10 best of my race photos from around the world. I hope you will find inspiration to travel to some of these said races yourself, there are so many brilliant things to discover alongside with the running itself.

I wish you a very Happy New Year,

Tor Rønnow, Denmark

Best Marathon Photo 2022, No. 10 – Icefjord Midnight Marathon (Ilulissat, Greenland)
The photo bears witness to the greatness of the Ilulissat Glacier and the photo is taken during the Icefjord Midnight Marathon 2022 arranged by Albatros Travels. We see also the technical challenges of the route.
Recap the entire Race report from the Icefjord Midnight Marathon 2022 here.

Best Marathon Photo 2022, No. 9 – Copenhagen Marathon 2022
This photo is perhaps more odd than beautiful and you have to take a closer look at it to understand what is happening here! This little group made a backwards full-body jump for every kilometer during the entire Copenhagen Marathon 2022, I not sure why but this picture here fully encapsulates the both the fun and the madness to the project. Well done, group!
Relive the Copenhagen Marathon 2022 here.

Best Marathon Photo 2022, No. 8 – At the City Hall, Cluj-Napoca Marathon
Running for the first time in Romania, I visited the charming Cluj-Napoca Marathon in the beginning of September. The marathon was a little gem of an event and I got this photo passing the City Hall.
Find the complete race report from the Cluj-Napoca Marathon 2022 here.

Best Marathon Photo 2022, No. 7 – Gulf Bank 642 Marathon (Kuwait City)
I could actually post the first like 5-10 pictures from this trip, so I have chosen one that encapsulates the experience of Kuwait City and it’s marathon in a representative manner. Don’t be shy of visiting these Middle East countries, they are extremely friendly and rich of lots of impressions!
The race report from the Gulf Bank 642 Marathon 2022 is here.

Best Marathon Photo 2022, No. 6 – The Finish at the Parlament in Mexico City
A “finisher” photo from a city I for once explicitely did NOT like, Mexico City, and I struggled immensely during the marathon as well. But this shot is approved.
The race report from Mexico City, Mexico, and the Maraton de la Cuidad de Mexico is here.

Best Marathon Photo 2022, No. 5 – H.C. Andersen Marathon (Odense, Denmark)
This photo is actually a trick shot, namely both featuring the finish at the H.C. Andersen Marathon in Odense, Denmark, but also Mr. Ulrik Pihl of Denmark, who celebrated his marathon no. 1000 (!) at this event, very impressive indeed (and a feat also completed earlier in 2022 by my swedish mentor Mr. Lennart Skoog of Sweden).
Find the race report of on of my favorite danish marathons H. C. Andersen Marathon 2022 here.

Best Marathon Photo 2022, No. 4 – Snowdonia Marathon 2022, Wales
This and the next photo are from the majestic Snowdonia Marathon in Wales. I cannot express in words how much I loved this marathon and the friendship of my new welsh running friends, but I do believe my pictures in the race report tell the story quite strongly: this is a UNIQUE experience!!
The first of two pictures are from the first, tough climb of the race – just before summit.
Find the full report from the Snowdonia Marathon 2022 here.

Best Marathon Photo 2022, No. 3 – Snowdonia Marathon 2022, Wales
The second picture from Wales are from approx. 7 km into the race, running on gravel and with a fantastic view over the Snowdonia Valley. I just love this shot!
Find the full report from the Snowdonia Marathon 2022 here.

Best Marathon Photo 2022, No. 2 – Sydney Marathon 2022
So, the trip to Australia and the Sydney Marathon was arguably the highlight of the year, which you will understand from my very, very comprehensive race report that sports the first 20 outstanding photos.
However, this shot from KM 41 at the Sydney Marathon 2022 stands out and of course it must be of the Sydney Opera House – see also the bonus picture below.
My race report from the Sydney Marathon 2022 is here.

Best Marathon Photo 2022, No. 1 – Icefjord Midnight Marathon (Ilulissat, Greenland)
Ok, so my best photo of the Year 2022 is actually not from the Icefjord Midnight Marathon itself but this picture taken at exactly midnight (!) the day after the race. The stunning view is overlooking the Disco Bay at Ilulissat, Greenland, with icebergs as far as the sight reaches and with the sun disk well above the horisont. This is for sure one of the most memorable moments of my many marathon travels.
Recap the entire Race report from the Icefjord Midnight Marathon 2022 here.

Bonus pictures
On a personal note, the Sydney Marathon was extra special to me in the manner that it completed my sweep of marathon continents to complete! For this reason, I treasure this moment particularly.

I thus joined the 7Z Finsher list and received this memorable medal as well, my precioussss.

However, the most remarkable medal of not only this year but the past 25 years was given not to me but to my Ph.D.-supervisor some 30 years ago, to Prof. Dr. Morten Meldal, who jointly received the Nobel Price in Chemistry 2022, making us all so very humled and proud! If there is one thing I learned from Morten it is to visualize your goals, something all runners and travelers can enjoy the results of.