Never before have so many runners signed up so early for the annual Oslo Marathon, which will take place on September 21 this year. Organizers think it will attract more than 22,000 participants given all the sign-ups for the marathon’s related events.
“This is just incredible,” Tony Isaksen, head of the Vidar sports club that organizes the marathon, told newspaper Dagsavisen on Tuesday. “It’s clear that the running wave is still rising.”
“We’re once again seeing a formidable increase in the number of participants,” Isaksen said. He has feared commercial competition from organizers of next year’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll” half-marathon, but certainly isn’t seeing any ill effects yet.
It’s only been nine years since the first Oslo Marathon was held in 2004 with around 1,500 runners. Last year a total of 17,738 registered to run and 17,000 are already registered this year. The event’s half-marathon is also sold out along with the full marathon. Places were still available for several other races, including a 10K event that honours the late Norwegian marathon star Grete Waitz, a three-kilometer race, a new eight-km race for athletes in wheelchairs and races for children.
newsinenglish.no staff
