Running in Denmark

Janus Boye is from Denmark, but currently living in Bad Homburg, Germany. He is twenty years old and is working as a systems engineer for Open Market Germany. He has been running since he was 9 years old, "not always with a destination". He is a former member of the Danish running team called Aabenraa IG (stands for Idræt og Gymnastik, for those of you that know Danish). The club has over two hundred members.

Janus runs three or four times a week. His runs are normally from around 45 minutes to 75 minutes. Largely dependant on the distance and also on how fast he runs. He tries to run with other people as often as possible, as he finds this more enjoyable, and also more worthwhile. He also says: "Sometimes it is also nice to run alone though: it gives me a good chance to relax and think about something else than work". He does not always run the same workout course and tries to vary his runs.

When asked about weather conditions and running Janus comments that seeing that it is often windy and rainy in Denmark, runners workout in all types of weather conditions. His favorite type of weather to run in is "a warm summer day with the sun baking in the sky, unfortunately this does not happen very often in Denmark". When asked if weather conditions in his country affect running he said: "Rain and wind often make the runs a little more challenging in Denmark".

Janus owns five pairs of running shoes and says "I am looking at buying another pair soon though. Two of the pairs I would not consider safe to run in. They are a little worn out to say the least".

He does not read any running magazines, listen to music while he runs, or run with a dog, though other runners do.

When asked: "Is running in your country an accepted activity, or are you one of the few?" Janus comments that "It is fairly common in Denmark. Soccer is still much more popular though" and regarding running for tourists he says "Denmark is a pretty safe place to run. If you get lost you hit water sooner or later".

Besides everyday workouts Janus runs in organized races too. They are "around 6 kilometers in both the annual races. This year the local team is also getting together a mountain marathon!". The organized races cost about 30 to 50 Danish kroner. When asked: "Do you receive a race packet for the race with an item in it such as a T-shirt or food?" Janus says "Not always: this is most often a part of a draw after the race. The organizers have awards to the first places, and then there is a draw where everybody has a chance to win something".

Janus has run in other countries other than his own. He says that "They seem to give away medals much more often in the United States and in Germany than in Denmark. One of my favorite races outside Denmark is an Italian race close to Bologna, where you run 12k up and down a real mountain. It is pretty tough, but the view from the top, where there normally is snow is astounding".

When asked "In your whole life where and when was your favorite run?" Janus says "My favorite run is the 6k race in my home town Aabenraa in Denmark. Normally a little more than one hundred people participate in this. It is great to be among all the local folks, and also to race on parts of a familiar training course. The race ends in the middle of the town, where there normally is a good crowd gathered".

Run The Planet would like to thank Janus Boye from Denmark for taking part in the Planeteer Spotlight..