I signed up for the Paris Marathon on April 12, 2026.
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I am ready for #CPH42. I feel good and appropriately nervous. This matters.
Aligned with my playlist (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2UW4vSoYLOitnwZ49Fm7bB?si=_LyvGSu5TPqeusXO2tcqyg), I have a fairly simple race plan: stay the course, enjoy it, don't rush it. But as I navigate by effort, maybe my strategy is out the window soon. Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth (or until they punch the plan in the mouth, figuratively speaking).
This is about #running.
This is not about running.2/x
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Now they're both on their way
@moelholm heading out strong with a 10 km split of 42:30, started at 9:35 o'clock and with the aim of doing a 3 hour marathon will most likely be crossing the finish line around 12:35 o'clock
@askekammer had to wait a bit and crossed the start at 10:14, aiming at a great run, hopefully hitting the finish before 14:30 for a new PV and a marathon clocking on around the 4:07 mark.
Sending strong thoughts to them on the way
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Now they're both on their way
@moelholm heading out strong with a 10 km split of 42:30, started at 9:35 o'clock and with the aim of doing a 3 hour marathon will most likely be crossing the finish line around 12:35 o'clock
@askekammer had to wait a bit and crossed the start at 10:14, aiming at a great run, hopefully hitting the finish before 14:30 for a new PV and a marathon clocking on around the 4:07 mark.
Sending strong thoughts to them on the way
@moelholm with the perfect 1:29:43 half, en route for the 3 hour marathon!
At the 30 km mark with a time of 2:07:38 keeping the pace at 4:16 throughout the first 3/4 of the race! Solid!@askekammer doing great with back-to-back 5 km times below 30 minutes and a solid 1:28 for the 15 km
Still a long way to go for Aske, but on track! -
@moelholm with the perfect 1:29:43 half, en route for the 3 hour marathon!
At the 30 km mark with a time of 2:07:38 keeping the pace at 4:16 throughout the first 3/4 of the race! Solid!@askekammer doing great with back-to-back 5 km times below 30 minutes and a solid 1:28 for the 15 km
Still a long way to go for Aske, but on track!@moelholm has gone across the finish, in 3:00 it seems, right on the money.
To me that's an incredible time, especially since this is also my age group! Great running!
@askekammer just crossed the 25 km line and in a great time, heading for the 4:07 at the finish line. Quite the effort
Perhaps even with a negative split for the second half?!?
🫣🥳 The pace seems to have increased a little!Harder. Faster. Stronger. Better.
That's on the playlist for Aske! -
@moelholm has gone across the finish, in 3:00 it seems, right on the money.
To me that's an incredible time, especially since this is also my age group! Great running!@askekammer just crossed the 25 km line and in a great time, heading for the 4:07 at the finish line. Quite the effort
Perhaps even with a negative split for the second half?!?
🫣🥳 The pace seems to have increased a little!Harder. Faster. Stronger. Better.
That's on the playlist for Aske!Congratulations
Well done to both of you!
I hope you'll have great recoveries now and hope to hear your thoughts on the race at some point
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COPENHAGEN MARATHON DONE!!!
No new PR today - but so many other wins and great memories from a mostly wonderful race through the city. I am so happy.
There will be a full race report later. One with guest appearances from a guy with a Red Bull, a Bon Jovi cover band, and a certain coach.
And: thank you for all the encouragement on this channel. Most of it I didn't see until afterwards, but it still means a lot.
4/x
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COPENHAGEN MARATHON DONE!!!
No new PR today - but so many other wins and great memories from a mostly wonderful race through the city. I am so happy.
There will be a full race report later. One with guest appearances from a guy with a Red Bull, a Bon Jovi cover band, and a certain coach.
And: thank you for all the encouragement on this channel. Most of it I didn't see until afterwards, but it still means a lot.
4/x
Yesterday, I raced Copenhagen Marathon #CPH42. This is my (extensive) race report.
At least the first half of the race was supposed to be just transport. Getting through without screwing up, saving as much energy as possible. I ran with the 4h10m pacers, and that was a good decision. Cruise control was activated, and instead of worrying about pace and doing all sorts of mental gymnastics on my own, I could just run along.
5/x
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Yesterday, I raced Copenhagen Marathon #CPH42. This is my (extensive) race report.
At least the first half of the race was supposed to be just transport. Getting through without screwing up, saving as much energy as possible. I ran with the 4h10m pacers, and that was a good decision. Cruise control was activated, and instead of worrying about pace and doing all sorts of mental gymnastics on my own, I could just run along.
5/x
Already at 1k, I needed to use the toilet. Excellent timing, Aske...
At 5k, I poured what was supposed to be my first gel all over my hands rather than ingest it.
At 8k, I could wash off the gel at a water station.
I was cruising through the streets of Copenhagen, feeling good and taking it all in. The War on Drugs provided most of the soundtrack; the steady beat of “Under the Pressure” is close to perfect for such easy running.
6/x
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Already at 1k, I needed to use the toilet. Excellent timing, Aske...
At 5k, I poured what was supposed to be my first gel all over my hands rather than ingest it.
At 8k, I could wash off the gel at a water station.
I was cruising through the streets of Copenhagen, feeling good and taking it all in. The War on Drugs provided most of the soundtrack; the steady beat of “Under the Pressure” is close to perfect for such easy running.
6/x
Stride after stride became meter after meter became km after km. All went according to plan.
At 8k, I noticed a guy with a can of Red Bull in his backpack. That carbonated beverage got a good shaking. I wonder what happened later when he opened it..?
At 10k, there was a shrubbery, and the pee predicament was solved. Moments later, I destroyed a little girl’s confidence as I denied her a high-five (for sanitary reasons; I'm no monster).
7/x
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Stride after stride became meter after meter became km after km. All went according to plan.
At 8k, I noticed a guy with a can of Red Bull in his backpack. That carbonated beverage got a good shaking. I wonder what happened later when he opened it..?
At 10k, there was a shrubbery, and the pee predicament was solved. Moments later, I destroyed a little girl’s confidence as I denied her a high-five (for sanitary reasons; I'm no monster).
7/x
Throughout the first half, staying with my group, I felt strong and disciplined. My training was really paying off.
At 19k, we passed a band that played Bon Jovi cover songs. They were terrific, and had I not been doing a marathon, I would have stopped to listen. (“O-o-o-oh, we’re halfway theeere!” would, however, have hit harder 2k down the road.) There were many live acts out there to support us and make it a party, but this one was A+.
8/x
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Throughout the first half, staying with my group, I felt strong and disciplined. My training was really paying off.
At 19k, we passed a band that played Bon Jovi cover songs. They were terrific, and had I not been doing a marathon, I would have stopped to listen. (“O-o-o-oh, we’re halfway theeere!” would, however, have hit harder 2k down the road.) There were many live acts out there to support us and make it a party, but this one was A+.
8/x
The crowd was absolutely amazing. So many people from Copenhagen were out to celebrate and support. Loud music, funny signs, cheers, so much encouragement.
Kids will often hold out their hands for a high-five, and I’ve made a habit out of returning it whenever possible. It makes them happy, and it boosts my energy.
At 24k, on Frederiksberg Allé, the atmosphere was particularly electric. It was beautiful.
But wait, where were the pacers?
9/x
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The crowd was absolutely amazing. So many people from Copenhagen were out to celebrate and support. Loud music, funny signs, cheers, so much encouragement.
Kids will often hold out their hands for a high-five, and I’ve made a habit out of returning it whenever possible. It makes them happy, and it boosts my energy.
At 24k, on Frederiksberg Allé, the atmosphere was particularly electric. It was beautiful.
But wait, where were the pacers?
9/x
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
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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
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
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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
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
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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
I knew I had to keep going. Stopping wouldn’t bring me closer to the finish line, and it wouldn’t help me. So I kept running. Every stride was a struggle.
At 33k, my colleague was there again, cheering me on.
I focused on the moment, on getting to the next distance marker. The mental training from so many runs paid off. “Your pain is no credential here”; staying mindfully in control and getting through was what mattered.
13/x
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I knew I had to keep going. Stopping wouldn’t bring me closer to the finish line, and it wouldn’t help me. So I kept running. Every stride was a struggle.
At 33k, my colleague was there again, cheering me on.
I focused on the moment, on getting to the next distance marker. The mental training from so many runs paid off. “Your pain is no credential here”; staying mindfully in control and getting through was what mattered.
13/x
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
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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
Around 37k, there was @coachbennett in the crowd!!!
When I met him at the #CPH42 expo, he said he would be around this place on the course. As many of you know, he is one of my heroes, so I was looking out for him; I could use his support.
What I got was a smile, a high-five, and words of wisdom: “You’re doing great, babe!” Not sure about the babe thing, but I took what I could get. Thank you, Coach.
38k. 39k. 40k. Still running; getting there.
15/x
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Around 37k, there was @coachbennett in the crowd!!!
When I met him at the #CPH42 expo, he said he would be around this place on the course. As many of you know, he is one of my heroes, so I was looking out for him; I could use his support.
What I got was a smile, a high-five, and words of wisdom: “You’re doing great, babe!” Not sure about the babe thing, but I took what I could get. Thank you, Coach.
38k. 39k. 40k. Still running; getting there.
15/x
At 41k, wife and daughter were there again. I couldn’t stop to greet them, I had to keep going. It was still hard, but my legs and stomach felt better. I managed to increase pace.
And then I turned the last corner. It was a visceral moment. The thunderous cheering from the crowd. The final efforts of fellow runners giving all they had. The heavy legs. The celebration and smiles. So much joy. The finish line just up there.
600 m to go.
16/x
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At 41k, wife and daughter were there again. I couldn’t stop to greet them, I had to keep going. It was still hard, but my legs and stomach felt better. I managed to increase pace.
And then I turned the last corner. It was a visceral moment. The thunderous cheering from the crowd. The final efforts of fellow runners giving all they had. The heavy legs. The celebration and smiles. So much joy. The finish line just up there.
600 m to go.
16/x
At 42.195k, I finished the Copenhagen Marathon with a smile and a profound sense of gratitude and accomplishment. I even managed to throw in a sprint for the last 200m while I celebrated, yelled, and punched holes in the air.
This was truly a victorious moment, and an emotional one as well.
Right there, I didn’t want it to end - and simultanously very much wanted it to end. I had given all I had to give, and gotten so much in return.
17/x
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At 42.195k, I finished the Copenhagen Marathon with a smile and a profound sense of gratitude and accomplishment. I even managed to throw in a sprint for the last 200m while I celebrated, yelled, and punched holes in the air.
This was truly a victorious moment, and an emotional one as well.
Right there, I didn’t want it to end - and simultanously very much wanted it to end. I had given all I had to give, and gotten so much in return.
17/x
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
