Stories from runners

Many runners write about their participation in the Reykjavik Marathon in a blog and magazines or by sending us an e-mail. Here are some nice stories. 

  • Jeffrey Horowitz

    "There is so much to like about this race that it’s hard to know where to start. It was one of the loveliest and fastest courses I’ve yet seen, and while runners aren’t pampered like they often are in the U.S., the race was very competently and professionally run. In the end, all I could say was takk feyrir, Iceland!"

  • Kamiar Kouzekanani (USA)

    "All aspects of the 6-day trip went well. Marathon Tours and Travels had done a nice job in organizing the land part of the trip. I highly recommend Reykjavik Marathon as a destination marathon."

  • Christian Odgaard (NOR)

    Christian Odgaard wrote a blog about the 2013 Reykjavik Marathon on sportsmanden.no. He thinks that all runners "collecting" marathons around the world should have Reykjavik on their CV: "Personlig mener jeg alle som samler på maraton bør ha Reykjavik på sin CV. For en by, for et folk og for et løp!!!" Click here to read his blog (in Norwegian).

  • Kristíne Erwin (UK)

    Kristíne Erwin ran her first marathon when she took part in the Islandsbanki Reykjavik Marathon 2012. Kristíne, who lives in London, ran in support of Lady Allen Adventure Playgroud which she describes as a wonderful activity centre and playground for disabled children on Wandsworth Common in London. "This is a cause very close to my heart because through personal experience, I have seen the incredible work Lady Allen does. Disabled children simply don't have access to many activities or opportunities to socialize with other kids that able-bodied children have." This Kristíne writes on her fundraising webpage or FUNraising as she chooses to call it where she has raised over 4 thousand pounds. Click here to visit the homepage.

  • Marsha White (USA)

    "There is something magical to me in the words Reykjavik and Iceland – I think of trolls and Vikings, geysers and waterfalls, volcanoes and pristine countryside. In our recent trip to Iceland, I was not disappointed. Maybe I didn’t actually see any Vikings or trolls, in person anyway, but I did learn quite a bit about this fascinating country. The history of Iceland is full of sagas, mostly fact, some fiction, of the earliest Norwegian settlers who were indeed Vikings searching for rich soil and pasture. And the folklore of Iceland is replete with tales of elves and trolls who cause mischief and strange happenings throughout the country. What better place to choose for a marathon?" This is the beginning of Marsha White's blog on her trip to Iceland in August 2012 when she among other things took part in the Islandsbanki Reykjavik Marathon. Click here to read her full story.

  • Annie B - The New York Flyers

    The New York Flyers, established 1989, is the biggest and most vibrant running club in all of New York City. One of the members, Annie B., ran the 2011 Reykjavik Marathon. Annie says on the New York Flyers blog: "I would absolutely run this race again, and strongly encourage others to run it, too. In less time than it takes to get from New York to Boston on a Friday night, you can be in a beautiful country with a lively athletic culture, active nightlife, and a local spa." Click here to read the the full story of Annie B.

  • Ruth Ravve - Fox news

    "I was 12 miles into the race, my lungs were burning, my heart was pounding and I thought I heard a "creek" coming from my knees. I considered calling it quits. But then I came around the corner to see the beautiful blue sea with a backdrop of snow-covered mountains. It was a stark, but amazing reminder that I wasn't in my hometown of Chicago. I was in Reykjavik, Iceland, running a marathon." writes Ruth Ravve from Fox news in her article about the booming business of marathon travel. Ruth was one of the participants in the 2011 Reykjavik Marathon. Click here to read the story (note that the photo attached is not from the Reykjavik Marathon race).

  • Tim Heming, The Sun

    Tim Heming a writer from the English national newspaper The Sun ran the Reykjavik Marathon 2010. He tells the readers of The Sun that the Reykjavik Marathon course was the cleanest one he has ever run. Tim also writes that the race was very scenic and the friendly community gave him plenty of support to spur to the finish. 

  • Jo Cullen

    I’ve been meaning to write to you for a while to give my feedback on the run this year (2010). I had a fantastic time – the weather was perfect, the atmosphere relaxed and sociable, and the course was great.
    My personal highlight was the short residential street we ran down near the beginning – all the residents on the doorsteps cheering us along. It certainly lifted my spirits (although I could have done with that sort of support at the end as well).
    Another highlight was the whole day afterwards. Don’t ever change it from the day of Culture Night. As a visitor to your country for three weeks, I saw more people in that one day and night than the whole of the rest of the time! It showed the city in a very different light from the normal.
    Congrats, and thank you.

  • Michelle Edwards

    What a wonderful experience for my first marathon!! Icelanders are among the friendliest people I have ever met.

  • James Walker (NB, Canada)

    Wow! Thanks so much for the Awesome Event. It was my first marathon and I had a blast. Everything was first rate from the pre-race meal to great race course support.

  • Malcolm Gains (Canada)

    Just a quick message to tell you how much I enjoyed the marathon (despite the wind and rain). It was a great race, well the last 10 km wasn't quite so nice, but I enjoyed it anyway. I am also enjoying the rest of your country, it really is spectacular! I have a few more days to track down a restaurant that serves the shark that has been preserved for several months or some puffin. Anyway, I am really enjoying my visit and will be passing along lots of positive comments to anybody at home that will listen!

  • Hans-Peter Richter ( München, Germany)

    "In my opinion this is one of a million reasons why people shoud participate in the Reykjavik Marathon- by the way: it's a true reason: As everyone who wants to know knows: Island is the home of Elves, Fairies and Trools. And you can call them during the race, to help you running your personal record time. That’s what I did. I was getting 60 years old. They came and I finished the 10km in less than 1 hour. My personal record. I will be proud of it for the rest of my live. Thank you Island."

  • John from Oregon

    "The evening before the Reykjavik Marathon the meeting organizers had a barbeque on Malmy and they said we were to be back about 9pm but didn't get back until 1 in the am. So I got up at 5 am and drove to Reykjavik, arriving at 9:30, picked up my packet, and ran a marathon.

    Because of the driving, my right leg, the accelerator leg, started cramping at about 30k, so I had to have a fair number of walking stretches in the last 10k so the time was glacially slow. Anyway, it was quite a bit of fun and I never got especially tired. The course is really beautiful with great views. At one point we passed a small waterfall, about 2 m high, and three 10 year old kids were jumping from the top of the falls into the pool at the bottom -- it looked like fun but rather chilly. After the run we had a great tour to Myvatn. Lots of midges but beautiful. There are charr there in pools in the cracks and caves that have evolved differently from the ones in the lake. Iceland is truly a beautiful country with warm people and spectacular scenery. It seems like a wonderful place to live."

  • Laufreport.de

    Axel Künkeler at Laufreport.de: "Von all den vielen guten Argumenten für eine Laufreise zum 35. Reykjavik Marathon im August 2018 ist dies aber wohl eher ein sehr spezielles - eher für ausgeprägte Marathon-Sammler mit dem Reiz des Besonderen. Aber der Lauf, vor allem Reykjavik und Island selbst, sind allemal eine Reise wert!"

  • Michael Hogan

    "I love Iceland. The first time I went was in 2008, and the second time was two years later.   I have a strange fascination with the place.   I call it the geological time machine."

Your story

If you want to share your story about Reykjavik Marathon please send us an e-mail to marathon@marathon.is.



Styrktaraðilar

  • Íslandsbanki
  • Corsa
  • Suzuki
  • 66 Norður
  • Kynnisferðir / Reykjavik Excursions
  • Gatorade