I signed up for the Paris Marathon on April 12, 2026.
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The 4h10m pacers were now 50 metres behind me. I had somehow slightly increased my pace and moved past them without noticing it.
I quickly decided this was ok. I felt strong and in control, and I would probably have pushed for an acceleration soon anyway. And if I would later start to run slower, the pacing group would just catch up with me and I would tag along again.
I continued to run disciplined and eased through the city center.
10/x
It really sounds like you've had an extremely great run at this point with the kilometers just passing by slowly and you enjoying the ride around the city.
I also noticed the increase in pace when I checked in with you (virtually) at the 25k split!
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At 30k, many runners had to stop and stretch due to cramps, many were toast. Not me though; I was getting tired, sure, but I had locked-in and was running better and stronger than I had expected.
And there was my wife and daughter!!! With a peeled orange and the water bottle I forgot at home. I was so happy to see them, even though they didn’t want a sweaty hug.
Onwards
Then I hit the wall...
11/x
Damn that's great timing! To have that moral boost right at that time in the race!
I guess it wasn't quite a coincidence that they were positioned at 30k
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Around 31/32k, like a switch had been flipped, all power left my legs. From one stride to the next, my strong running simply died. My stomach objected to more water or more gels.
But curiously, I remained mentally strong and somewhat in control. I knew exactly what happened, what would come next, and what I needed to do. This was the moment I had trained for, the challenge I had signed up for. I had chosen this.
Still, it hurt.
12/x
That's a tough situation to be in, seems like your strength training (mental strength that is) has really paid off and given you that extra something needed to focus on the moment.
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34k passed. 35k. 36k. I forced my legs to keep going, enforced positive self-coaching. I knew that at some point, I would regain power. My pace dropped from around 5’51” to around 6’51”; this was a 3/10 pace with a 9/10 effort. It was alright.
Remember when I said “I would tag along” when the pacers caught up? That plan was good - except I couldn’t keep up with them.
I accepted I would probably not beat my own PR as I had expected to do.
14/x
It takes a lot to be able to beat your personal best. It is, after all, the best you've ever done.
I imagine it must've been hard to see the pacers just float by, but I also know the PB wasn't really a part of your success criteria for the race
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I had three goals for this year's #CPH42, and I think I achieved all three of them:
1) To cross both the start and the finish lines.
2) To have fun.
3) To be in control of the last 10k.I would have loved to beat my PR too - but I’ll look to that in connection with Malmö Marathon on October 3. I already look forward to it.
18/18
Congratulations with the great mental victory and your... Second best marathon ever? Or am I mistaken?
And thank you for the race report! 🥹
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I had three goals for this year's #CPH42, and I think I achieved all three of them:
1) To cross both the start and the finish lines.
2) To have fun.
3) To be in control of the last 10k.I would have loved to beat my PR too - but I’ll look to that in connection with Malmö Marathon on October 3. I already look forward to it.
18/18
Different stages of a marathon. Or: Some impressions from #CPH42.
19/18
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Different stages of a marathon. Or: Some impressions from #CPH42.
19/18
The first run after Copenhagen Marathon to see how I'm doing. #EveryRunHasAPurpose
The good: I have almost no soreness in my muscles
The bad: my energy reserves are still empty; 5k felt like 10
The ugly: the post-race blues is kicking inIn other words, everything is just as expected. It was nice to do this morning run, and I got to push myself. Onwards.
Distance: 5.11k
Pace: 5'06" -
The first run after Copenhagen Marathon to see how I'm doing. #EveryRunHasAPurpose
The good: I have almost no soreness in my muscles
The bad: my energy reserves are still empty; 5k felt like 10
The ugly: the post-race blues is kicking inIn other words, everything is just as expected. It was nice to do this morning run, and I got to push myself. Onwards.
Distance: 5.11k
Pace: 5'06"That's a fast recovery run
Almost no soreness sounds great! That's quite impressive after just a few days
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That's a fast recovery run
Almost no soreness sounds great! That's quite impressive after just a few days
It was (too) fast - but catching up with the runner in front of me was a challenge I could not ignore, and then I just stayed with that pace for the rest of the run to get home in time for making omelettes for the family.
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It was (too) fast - but catching up with the runner in front of me was a challenge I could not ignore, and then I just stayed with that pace for the rest of the run to get home in time for making omelettes for the family.
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The first run after Copenhagen Marathon to see how I'm doing. #EveryRunHasAPurpose
The good: I have almost no soreness in my muscles
The bad: my energy reserves are still empty; 5k felt like 10
The ugly: the post-race blues is kicking inIn other words, everything is just as expected. It was nice to do this morning run, and I got to push myself. Onwards.
Distance: 5.11k
Pace: 5'06"An easy morning run to start what seems to be a beautiful day.
Distance: 5.77k
Pace: 5'22"Solrød Rundt Løbet in 36 days.
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An easy morning run to start what seems to be a beautiful day.
Distance: 5.77k
Pace: 5'22"Solrød Rundt Løbet in 36 days.
This morning, I ran the course of the Solrød Rundt Løbet HM (which I will race in 34 days). Except for a nasty incline out of the limestone pit at around 11k, it's a nice course.
I feel just about recovered from the marathon last week - though not from the Eurovision last night (wife loved it; I don't). This was a good run, am I'm glad I did it.
Distance: 21.74k
Pace: 5'41" -
This morning, I ran the course of the Solrød Rundt Løbet HM (which I will race in 34 days). Except for a nasty incline out of the limestone pit at around 11k, it's a nice course.
I feel just about recovered from the marathon last week - though not from the Eurovision last night (wife loved it; I don't). This was a good run, am I'm glad I did it.
Distance: 21.74k
Pace: 5'41"It looks like a nice run from the pictures at least, well done!
And impressive recovery from just a week ago, seems like you did something right in that process
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This morning, I ran the course of the Solrød Rundt Løbet HM (which I will race in 34 days). Except for a nasty incline out of the limestone pit at around 11k, it's a nice course.
I feel just about recovered from the marathon last week - though not from the Eurovision last night (wife loved it; I don't). This was a good run, am I'm glad I did it.
Distance: 21.74k
Pace: 5'41"An easy morning run with bursts of hard effort (a steep incline, a 1k tempo run thrown in). As is always the case, this was a good way to start the day - and I got to see both the sun and some cute ducklings.
Distance: 8.79k
Pace: 5'32"Solrød Rundt Løbet in 32 days.
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An easy morning run with bursts of hard effort (a steep incline, a 1k tempo run thrown in). As is always the case, this was a good way to start the day - and I got to see both the sun and some cute ducklings.
Distance: 8.79k
Pace: 5'32"Solrød Rundt Løbet in 32 days.
Sounds like you're already on top and fully rested after the marathon! Cool!
I'm considering joining you in Solrød, but it would "only" be for the 10k
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An easy morning run with bursts of hard effort (a steep incline, a 1k tempo run thrown in). As is always the case, this was a good way to start the day - and I got to see both the sun and some cute ducklings.
Distance: 8.79k
Pace: 5'32"Solrød Rundt Løbet in 32 days.
Having survived yesterday's earthquake*, I celebrated with a morning tempo run:
- 1k warm-up
- 6k at hard effort
- 1k cool-down
- 1k YOLOThis was hard, and it brought me joy. Happy to be alive.
*: yes, there was a 3.9 earthquake, and our town was at the epicenter. But nothing was ever dangerous for anyone.
Distance: 9.01k
Pace: 5'10"Solrød Rundt Løbet in 30 days.
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Having survived yesterday's earthquake*, I celebrated with a morning tempo run:
- 1k warm-up
- 6k at hard effort
- 1k cool-down
- 1k YOLOThis was hard, and it brought me joy. Happy to be alive.
*: yes, there was a 3.9 earthquake, and our town was at the epicenter. But nothing was ever dangerous for anyone.
Distance: 9.01k
Pace: 5'10"Solrød Rundt Løbet in 30 days.
Again, my long morning run was the course for the Solrød Rundt half-marathon. I like this course a lot.
It's warm today, so for the first time this year I would seek shadows whenever possible. Still, this was challenging as I'm not used to running in heat. But I shouldn't complain; this was a nice run in the sun.
At 10k, I accidentally waterboarded myself with a gel. Cannot recommend...
Distance: 21.65k
Pace: 5'36"Solrød Rundt Løbet in 28 days.
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Again, my long morning run was the course for the Solrød Rundt half-marathon. I like this course a lot.
It's warm today, so for the first time this year I would seek shadows whenever possible. Still, this was challenging as I'm not used to running in heat. But I shouldn't complain; this was a nice run in the sun.
At 10k, I accidentally waterboarded myself with a gel. Cannot recommend...
Distance: 21.65k
Pace: 5'36"Solrød Rundt Løbet in 28 days.
Sticky! (And well done! That's around 2 hour pace! For a training run
)I think everybody not in the elites at the CPHhalf vividly remember the Red Bull zone and the sound of sticky soles for the first 500 meters after that
🫣
Gels are supposed to be out *inside* not *outside*
But you're well aware of that of course.Did you have a backup?
And was it good to have the water vest on this warmer run? -
Sticky! (And well done! That's around 2 hour pace! For a training run
)I think everybody not in the elites at the CPHhalf vividly remember the Red Bull zone and the sound of sticky soles for the first 500 meters after that
🫣
Gels are supposed to be out *inside* not *outside*
But you're well aware of that of course.Did you have a backup?
And was it good to have the water vest on this warmer run?I had extra gels, and running by a lake I could wash my face. But certainly not my proudest moment.
The water vest allows me to carry stuff (water, gels, phone, emergency details), but it does also make it more difficult for the body heat to get away. I am happy with it, and at the end of the day it is good, but on warm runs I can also see a downside.
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I had extra gels, and running by a lake I could wash my face. But certainly not my proudest moment.
The water vest allows me to carry stuff (water, gels, phone, emergency details), but it does also make it more difficult for the body heat to get away. I am happy with it, and at the end of the day it is good, but on warm runs I can also see a downside.
It's tricky with the vest!
Without carrying the water, you'd surely feel thirsty fast too?And having too much in the pockets is really not fun!
On my local Utterslev Mose runs I have two options for water, so I'm luckily in good shape for most of my runs.
"The gel incident run" will at least be memorable
