Denmark again
For the first time in 3 1/2 years, I was again to run a marathon in Denmark. It was also more than three years ago that I had last run the distance in Europe. On Saturday 14th November 2009, I took part in Rudersdal Marathon.
Permanent course
Rudersdal Marathon is a beautiful run held once or twice a year from Birkerød Sports Centre. It is run along the Rudersdal Route, which is something as unique as a permanent marathon course, 42.195 kilometres long, and certified by the Danish Athletics Association. The marathon signs were erected by the Danish Nature Agency. The course is not cordoned off, and there are no helpers to show you the way. You follow the signs and your group and, of course, obey the Highway Code.
You have to take your own water with you, and it is only possible to fill your bottle at the start and at two points along the route.
Social Marathon
Rudersdal Marathon is a social marathon. The marathon is run in groups and everyone in the group is logged at the same time. There are groups with expected finishing times of 4:00, 4:30 and 5:00. I had signed up with the slowest group.
Forgotten information
I took part one beautiful autumn day in these beautiful surroundings and varied countryside. Despite the fact that this was as social marathon, the group started to break up after a while. At the introductory briefing, they had forgotten to present the pace-keepers, so it was difficult to see whom you were to follow. They had also forgotten to tell us about the route markings, which ended up giving me problems.
12 marathons in 12 months
At one stage, I was running with some people from my hometown, whom I had recognised. They ran with a club, the name of which translates as Run for Your Life. The club’s chairman, Jan, was also running, and we had a good chat. Jan told me that several of them had set themselves the goal of running 12 marathons in 12 months and that this was the first of the series. After a while, we separated.
Got lost
At one stage, I found myself running alone, because somehow or other I got lost. Now I could no longer see signposts for the Rudersdal Route, but for the Heart Path instead. So I was in a bit of a tight spot. I tried to ask the way, but to no avail. Fortunately, I remembered that the start/finish was on Bistrupvej. I asked the way there and ended up running along a main road. I was not the only one, who had got lost, and I met another just as confused runner. We ran together up Birkerød King’s Road. It wasn’t as idyllic as what we were missing out on, but we had no choice. My running mate was wearing a GPS watch and was able to tell me that we had run 44.9 kilometres. We hadn’t followed the proper route all the way but had no problem accepting our medals.
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