Reykjavík Grapevine - 12.08.2016, Qupperneq 20

The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 12 — 2016
20
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If you’re one of those people who
can’t keep still, even on vacation,
the 2016 Reykjavík Marathon is a
fantastic reason to realize your
dreams, visit an exotic country and
run a race while you’re here. The
race will be run on August 20, and
even if a marathon isn’t your cup
of tea, there are shorter distances,
plus a relay race and a children’s
run—something for everyone.
Here are five reasons why the
Reykjavík Marathon should be
your next destination marathon.
1 A good chance of a PB
If you’re looking for a fast mara-
thon in August, the Reykjavík
Marathon is the perfect choice.
Elsewhere it is usually too hot to
run a really good marathon in late
summer and early fall. The aver-
age temperature for Reykjavík
in August is around 12°C or 54°F,
with an average high of 58 degrees
(15°C)—ideal temperatures for
hunting down that Personal Best.
The course is also fairly flat by
most standards. The midsection
of the race has some hills but none
very long or steep.
The marathon is also the per-
fect size, as there are enough run-
ners on the course to ensure you
will never be alone, but not so
many that you will be stuck be-
hind the crowds at the start.
2 It’s the perfect excuse to visit
Reykjavík and Iceland
Iceland is currently one of the hot-
test holiday destinations in the
world. It is an awesome country
of amazing beauty and tourism is
booming.
There are only about 200,000
inhabitants in the greater Reyk-
javík area—yet Reykjavík has a
lot going for it. Stylish bars and
excellent restaurants with fresh
fish and high quality meat are
everywhere, with shops peddling
various selections of designers
goods in between. The city also
has many museums and probably
the world’s best selection of geo-
thermal swimming pools.
Reykjavík is also a good base
for visiting many of Iceland‘s most
beautiful sights. Easy day trips
include the original hot spring
Geysir; Þingvellir National Park,
where the tectonic plates between
America and Europe are slowly
drifting apart; the spectacular
waterfall Gullfoss; and the sub-
lime Blue Lagoon.
3 The beautiful course and friendly
atmosphere
On race day it sure seems as if ev-
erybody in Iceland knows about
and supports the marathon. It is
a very friendly race, with people
coming out of their houses to
cheer, bang pots and play musical
instruments.
The course is very scenic, tak-
ing you past many of Reykjavík’s
main sights. Highlights include
Harpa Concert Hall, the sculp-
ture Sólfar (the Sun Voyager) by
the seaside, and the house Höfði,
where Reagan and Gorbachev took
a big step to ending the Cold War.
The course also takes you
through various neighbourhoods
and many popular outdoor ar-
eas, past a gorgeous waterfall in
Elliðaárdalur and through Foss-
vogur, one of Reykjavík’s favorite
running areas.
Often the course follows the
biking and walking trails that run
alongside the sea. The ocean views
are breathtaking, and across the
water Mount Esja and the sur-
rounding mountains watch over
the runners.
4. To find your viking spirit
Iceland recently beat all the odds
and made it to the quarter-finals
of the 2016 European Football
Championship, winning the
hearts of football fans around the
world for their talent, big heart
and spirit.
You too can find your viking
spirit, and maybe it can help you
achieve your personal running
goals. Release your inner viking!
And who knows, this year you may
even hear the famous Húh-chant
along the course.
The marathon course passes
through Laugardalur, the valley
where the national football team
plays their home games.
5 The post-race festivities
The Reykjavík Marathon is held
on a Saturday, the day of the city’s
Culture Night, one of the biggest
festivals of the year. After the race,
runners usually linger downtown,
and you can spot them all through
the day in restaurants and cafes.
Concerts big and small pop up
all over the city, and the galleries
and museums stay open. As the
evening nears the city starts to
really vibrate—it is definitely the
biggest party of the year.
Five Reasons
To Run The
Reykjavík
Marathon
OPINION
Words RUNNING IN ICELAND Photos RANNVEIG GRÉTARSDÓTTIR