December 2023
I was sipping tea at a café and watched the first snow falling down while i spontaneously decided to sign up for the Copenhagen Half Marathon 2024. Running more than 21 kilometers seemed absolutely crazy at the time, but it was also incredibly exciting. It was a chance to push my limits and become a true runner. With months of training ahead, I knew it would be a tough journey, but the thought of crossing that finish line filled me with a mix of anticipation and fear. Running had always been my go-to for stress relief and a clear head. I take running as a form of self care of both – my body and mind. It worked perfectly as a part of my healing journey, but i never fell for it that much as i did one autumnal day in Copenhagen.
Just a few weeks earlier, I had visited Copenhagen with one of my best friends Anna for a cozy autumn getaway. We spent the first afternoon in the charming little café called Lille Bakery and then went strolling around The Lakes. If you’re looking for motivation to start running, this is the perfect place. You’ll see countless runners there, probably more than anywhere else in Copenhagen. Despite the crowds, the atmosphere is still peaceful, and the evening walks encourage you to slow down and enjoy the moment. I returned to the lakes the following day for a lovely evening run. In the past, I’d run sporadically, often switching between running and walking. It helped me get through a difficult period in my life. That evening, I went easy on myself and didn’t set any high goals. But I felt a unique connection to this serene setting, so I ended up running around all the lakes and clocked over six kilometers. The runner’s high was real, and I felt incredibly accomplished.“
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine myself running a half-marathon in the streets of Copenhagen.
June 2024
Social run with Urban Gazelles & preparation for the Copenhagen Half Marathon
I decided to go on my first solo trip and join one of Copenhagen’s running clubs. There are so many to choose from in Copenhagen. I decided to go with Urban Gazelles, led by Astrid, a lovely Spanish girl with Norwegian roots. She has been a great motivation and inspiration for me in running, and since she lives in Copenhagen, it seemed like the perfect fit! She organizes group runs about once a month, and around fifty girls usually attend. I liked the idea of running through the streets of Copenhagen, meeting new people, and being able to imagine what it would be like to run the half-marathon here. I stayed in a beautiful Airbnb apartment in a part of Copenhagen called Amager Øst. Copenhagen is great because it’s easy to navigate, and after a while, I didn’t even feel the need to use maps, and I could find my way around the metro. Copenhagen is one of my favorite cities and will always hold a special place in my heart. I cried many times during my trip, and when I arrived at the apartment, which looked like it came straight out of a Scandi magazine, I couldn’t help but cry again. I spent the first day exploring the area around the lakes, bought delicious sorbet at Isoteket, and just wandered around the streets.
The next morning, I woke up feeling excited. I got ready and took the metro to Fælledparken, where we were meeting. As I joined the group of girls in running gear, I felt like I was dreaming. When my eyes met Astrid’s and I said, „Hi Astrid,“ my voice cracked and I couldn’t hold back tears. I was so grateful and happy to be there, living one of my dreams. It was incredible to meet the girls I had been following online and to be part of their running group. After a warm hug and a few words, I started getting to know the other girls and learned that some of them had run the half-marathon the previous year and others were planning to run it this year, just like me. I felt so welcomed and my heart was full of joy. It was amazing to feel that energy and share the same passion. I met a girl named Olga during the run, and we chatted for most of the way. I have to admit, since I usually run alone, it was a bit difficult to talk and run at the same time, so I was a bit out of breath.
After the run, we refueled with a filter coffee and BMO (a typical Danish snack – a bun with whipped butter and cheese) and had some time to chat. I met some other girls, chatted with Astrid, and it was definitely one of the best days of the year. On my way home, I needed a moment to take it all in. I stopped at Original coffee near The Lakes and had a hot tea and a pastry. Days in Copenhagen always feel like a fairytale to me, and it’s one of the few places where I can truly imagine myself living.
Preparation for the Copenhagen Half Marathon
I started my official half-marathon training twelve weeks before the race using the Runna app. The premium version was a game-changer, providing me with a structured plan. As a beginner, I found it incredibly helpful. My training didn’t go exactly as planned because I got sick about four times. Next time, I would definitely start training earlier and build in some extra time for unexpected illnesses. I’m also someone who needs to feel fulfilled and enjoy what I’m doing, so I tried to keep my training fun and didn’t push myself too hard. My longest run during training was 14 kilometers.“
With your first race, you never know how you’ll feel, if you’ll be in pain, if you’ll be well fueled, and so on. You just don’t know if everything will work out. I was most worried about my mental state. In the past, my mind has often been my biggest enemy, and I’ve stopped every kilometer just because I had numbers, pace, and distance in my head. But I definitely didn’t want to remember the Copenhagen half-marathon that way, so I worked not only on my running but also on my mindset. I kept a journal and wrote down affirmations, insights and milestones to motivate myself and build my self-trust.
The heat was a big challenge for my training. I didn’t enjoy running in hot weather, so I often ran in the evenings or early mornings. With my travel plans, it was hard to keep up with my training schedule. I felt a bit guilty when I missed a workout, but now I realize that it wasn’t the end of the world. At the time, though, I was worried about not being fully prepared for the race.
September 2024
COPENHAGEN HALF MARATHON
My training had been a bit inconsistent in the weeks leading up to the race due to our travels. I was a little worried, but as soon as I arrived in Copenhagen, I was filled with excitement. I went for a short run on Amager Strand beach on Thursday evening. I love that beach since the moment I first visited it. The tall grass and windmills in the background always calms my soul. I ran 4.5 kilometers to warm up and see how I felt before the group shake-out run on Friday.
Friday – Shake-out run
Friday was dedicated to preparation and the final run before the half-marathon. I picked up my race number and a bag with goodies provided by the organizers. I arranged to do a shake-out run with Olga and Jana, who live in Copenhagen and whom I met in June during the Urban Gazelles Social Run. I honestly think that this shake-out run made my whole race much more enjoyable, and I had the chance to get important advice from the girls and also one lovely older lady who lives near Copenhagen and has completed several half-marathons around the world. She started chatting with me and as we ran around the lakes, I asked her lots of questions and tips that I could use during the half-marathon. Nobody can fully prepare you for what it’s like to run such a distance, so I had no idea if I could do it or how I would feel. One of her tips was to try not to stop at all, and I remembered that.
Saturday – rest & fuel
Saturday was a very relaxed and calm day. I enjoyed seeing people everywhere in the city with the same cloth backpack that said ‚Copenhagen Half Marathon‘ and the date September 15, 2024. I imagined all of us running through the streets of Copenhagen, the very streets we usually stroll through with coffee in hand. It felt special to be part of such a big community, and I was a bit emotional.
Food is just as important as training itself. Eating the right foods, especially complex carbohydrates, gives your body the energy it needs to perform well. This is especially important the day before a race. Copenhagen is a great place to find delicious and healthy food to fuel your body. After a bowl of oats for breakfast, I had my favorite Smørrebrød – a rye bread sandwich with breaded cod and shrimp. It’s a traditional and popular Danish dish that I never get tired of. Afterwards, I tried ice cream from Alice for the first time, and I had to go back for second round because it was so delicious – I especially loved their sweet, crunchy, and spicy cone, which gave the blackberry sorbet the perfect kick. We worked on our computers at Alice for a while, and I wrote down some more thoughts and affirmations in my journal. Then we wanted to enjoy the last rays of sunshine before the sun went down, so we picked up burgers and lemonade from POPL burger, sat on a wooden pier and soaked up the peaceful evening atmosphere. In the evening, we stopped for pasta at Pasta la pasta and then got a good night’s sleep so that my body could rest.
Sunday – Race day
Dear runners. All of you. Copenhagen belongs to you today.
Sunday morning was filled with excitement and a bit of nervousness. As soon as I woke up, I had oatmeal with Medjool dates, something I always eat before a run and had brought with me just in case I needed extra energy during the half-marathon. I’ve never used energy gels, bars, or anything like that, so I didn’t want to make an exception today and stuck with what always works for me. When I read on the official Copenhagen Half Marathon profile that today the city belongs to us, I felt really special. I’ve never had the same feeling before. Thinking about how many people work to make an event like this possible and how many runners travel from all over the world to be at the starting line, I couldn’t stop smiling. I kept reminding myself how grateful I am to be here.
After breakfast, I got dressed, put on shorts and leggings underneath, and grabbed a jacket because the mornings in September can be quite chilly. Then we took the metro to get closer to the starting line and decided to continue on foot at the transfer station, as the metro was completely packed. The streets were calm before the storm, with lots of people heading towards the park where the race started. The run was divided into several groups based on pace. As I stood among the runners and waited for our group to start, which was about an hour after the elite runners took off, I thought about what I could do to calm myself down, so I took a few deep breaths.
The energy before the start was electric. People were high-fiving, dancing to the music, and encouraging each other. The weather couldn’t have been better, and I felt great. My strategy was to start in a slower group so I wouldn’t burn out at the beginning and could feel comfortable. While there were a few moments where I had to navigate around other runners, I’m glad I chose this strategy. It helped me maintain a comfortable pace and enjoy the first few kilometers. I wanted to fully immerse myself in the experience, so I decided to run the first 10.5 kilometers without music. I wanted to soak in the atmosphere and enjoy the sights. The first part of the race took us through familiar streets and places I love. This is where the crowd was the most enthusiastic, cheering us on and holding up signs. I was blown away by the incredible support from the spectators. Hearing strangers cheer my name gave me an incredible boost of energy. I kept reminding myself to keep moving forward, and I’m glad I did. I only stopped briefly at water stations and for a quick bathroom break. I also decided to disconnect from my phone and ignore any pace updates. I wanted to focus on the race and enjoy the experience without distractions.“
My main goal was to finish the run and prove to myself that if I dedicate my time and energy to something, I can achieve it. I remember around the 15-kilometer mark, I started to feel my inner thighs a bit, but overall, I felt great and was actually sad that it would be over soon. I think it was around the 17-kilometer mark when I started to feel a little drained and ate two dates for a quick energy boost. As always, it worked and I quickly felt new energy. The only point where I felt like I was hitting a wall was right before the finish line. The last few meters seemed endless, and even though I knew deep down that I could do it, my body just didn’t want to cooperate and for a moment, I felt like I might faint. But with a little mental pep talk, I found myself crossing the finish line, knowing I made it. I ran a half-marathon in Copenhagen!
My head was spinning, and my legs felt like they were going to give up, but I managed to get my medal and a bottle of water. When I checked my phone, I was completely overwhelmed by all the supportive messages from my friends. Tears of joy streamed down my face. Walking around the city with my medal on was even more incredible as everyone smiled and strangers congratulated me. Straight from the half-marathon, I went to my favorite restaurant District Tonkin for a celebratory Bahn mi baguette and then stopped at Buka Bakery for a sweet Spandauer. The sun was still shining, so we moved to the wooden pier opposite Nyhavn and enjoyed the beautiful weather. The whole day felt like a fairytale, and I’ll never forget my first half-marathon.
A Copenhagen fairytale.
My goal was never to prove anything to myself or run the half-marathon in a specific time, although I’m sure everyone sets these kinds of goals in their heads. I was just happy to finish the 21.0975 kilometers, no matter the time. I thought that if I could finish in 2 hours and 40 minutes, that would be great, but I had no idea how I would feel on the day or if I would even be able to do it. In the end, I finished the halfmarathon in 2:34:23.
I haven’t signed up for any half-marathons this year. Most of the major ones are already full, and I don’t want to risk ruining my first experience. I would love to run more half-marathons in the future, maybe in cities like Budapest, Barcelona, Sydney, or New York. It would be amazing to explore new places while running. For now, I’m missing having a specific goal to train for. The half-marathon traning was a great motivation for me and I felt like I was constantly improving.
Thank you again to everyone who supported me. It meant a lot to me.
With love, T.
