races

There are a huge amount of races in and around Stockholm. But which races are "good races" and which are so called "cow-shit races"? Well... I've tried to categorize the races I have run since I became a "Stockholmer" in 1996. The categories I've divided the races into are:

¶¶¶¶¶		These are really high-class arrangements, don't miss them!
¶¶¶¶		Really classy races but still ..
¶¶¶		Good ordinary, typical Swedish races.
¶¶		Poor races and arrangements..
¶		Pheeew! Cow-shitraces!! Extremely bad....

Here is my list over the races I've run. But please remember that it's my very personal opinion of the specified races!

My favourite race here in Stockholm! The race takes place at the Southside (Söder) of Stockholm in early august and has about 16.000 runners on the starting line. It's a tough course with a few really hard hills to climb. But who comes to think about hills when there are about 100.000 spectators out on the streets!! The spectators are kind of "wild" since the main part of the race goes through the greatest pubdistrict in Stockholm. There is a great "afterrace" at Zinkensdamm after the race with samba, calypso, fireworks and beer. This is a race you just can't miss!!

This race is held the first saturday in june and has probably one of the worlds most beautiful courses. You run 2 laps around Stockholm and the race is a great "tourist trip" you'll run past the Royal Castle, The Opera house, The City Hall, The Old Town.. well almost every sight there is to see!!! The streets are crowded with spectators (They are counted in hundred tousands). The finish is on historical ground at the Olympic Stadium from 1912. Great race!!

This is a completely different race from what you are used to! No women are allowed to enter the race, it's strictly for men! The course is like nothing you have seen before! It's just straight out into the woods! It's extreme running! You'll visit the Källtorpssjön (Källtorps lake) down to your knees twice for example. 1997 was the first year the race was held in Stockholm and about 800 runners dared to try it.. I'm sure a good number over 1000 runners will run in 1998! Great fun!

One of Swedens biggest crosscountry events that takes place in may. The elite runners (15-20 competitors) run three laps on a 2 k loop. The most of the runners prefer the 5,6 k race, which is categorized by age. The course is run in a very nice terrain with a few hills. The race would have recieved 5 stars if it hadn't been for the high entering fee! I payed 210 Skr when I signed up for the 5,6 k race at the race day!

Like "Tjurruset" - Men only. It's a race Al Bundy would like. The race is run over a 2 lap course in Hagaparken, one of the many green oasis of Stockholm. Many of the guys in the race are not that intrested in competing.. I saw for instance one guy at the end.. drinking beer and playing "guitar".. Every runner recieves a "Survival kit" after the race, run the race and you'll see what it consists of!!!

A nice race in june in the charmful village Dalarö 40 kilometers outside Stockholm. The course has one steep hill but is otherwise fairly flat. You will run through Dalarö with the finish line on the market place. A few top Kenyans use to run each year, the race has a total of a couple of hundred runners. The arrangement is like a ordinairy Swedish race but the environment is worth 4 stars!

A very good race with (what I think) the fastest 10 k course in Stockholm. The arrangement is perfect and aproximately 400 runners use to run the race. The race is set in the middle of august and if you are going for a fast 10 k course in Stockholm with good competition then you should run this race.

A tough race on a tough course with many steep hills to climb. Still a fun race! The race goes through the nice surroundings of Bromma, just outside the inner city. A good arranged race that I can recomend.

Welcome to Suburbia! Botkyrka is perhaps better known for the Swedish rapgroup "Latin Kings" than running. However Botkyrkamilen is a good ordinary race on a 2 loop course with one tough hill that has to be climbed twice.

Also a tough race, that goes on roads and crosscountry trails. A nice race tough. It was raining cats and dogs the day I ran the race.. maby that has affected me in my judgement of the race. Still good competition in the race with good Swedish runners.

A very charmful race on a very nice course that goes on the roads, through parks and in crosscountry. I give the course 5 stars! But the arrangement.... pheeew... Not very professional! But I recomend the race for the nice course!

Have you ever been running on Djurgården in Stockholm? If not then I truly recomend this race that goes through the park of The Royal Djurgården. The course is flat. This race is almost worth 4 stars but since there were no showers at the finish makes it 3 stars!

Well... maybe I'm a little bit kind when I give this race 3 stars... But there where many good prize awards so thats why! The course is not a fast one, it's hilly and goes on the roads, through parks and in crosscountry. A very typical ordinary Swedish country race.

One of the seasons first races (in april). If you wan't to gain confidence for the season than don't run this race! The course is not a fast one, there are many short but steep hills. The race is a 2 loop course. The arrangement however is good!

Kind of a cowshitrace.. but perfect if you want to prepare yourself for Lidingöloppet! The race is held in the end of september. The course is tough with endless hills.

Ran this race in 1996 but was in bad shape so i didn't run the 11 k race. Instead I ran a 5 k course. This race was "very ordinairy" and a OK arrangement.

A fun run over 10 k, what makes this great so popular (around 1000 runners) is that the company Ford are giving away a brand new car to one happy runner! I raced in 1996 but had to go home by the train if you know what I meen.... It's a quite fast course though with one hill to climb.

This race takes like many other races place in a beautiful surrounding. The name of the race gives the impression that race takes place out on the airport but thats not true.. The medival city Sigtuna is the place for the race. The race is like any Swedish race.. with a bit boring course though that mainly goes outside Sigtuna.

A fun race 2 laps around the Old Town of Stockholm. The race is held during the annual Waterfestival in august so the streets are crowded with people. No hills, flat course.

I'm not sure this race exists anymore... Perhaps has "Tjurruset" taken it's place. The race goes through The Nacka National Park which "Tjurruset" also do. The race would have recieved 1 star if it hadn't been for the tough and demanding course.

Bad, bad arragement!!! I ran this race in 1996 and what a disapointment!!! We were about 100 runners on the starting line and about 100 runners managed to take the wrong road in a roadcrossing! That's unforgivable!!! The race was arranged by a football club which perhaps explains the lack of experience when it comes to arranging running events! Still it's very nice to go for a training run around Årstaviken!

As I said about Hellasgården Runt: "I'm not sure this race exists anymore.." and I don't miss it!! Ladies and gentlemen! This race was the greatest cowshitrace I ever tried here in Stockholm!!!

A nice course in Gustavsberg, but poor arrangements! Smells like cowshit to me..