Greta and Jesper visited their home city in Poland for 26 years with the aim for Jesper to run the Gdynia Half Marathon on April 26th 2026.

It was not only Jesper who had signed up from Bornholm Runners in also Marek wanted to make a local run and Daniel was pacer for 1.50 group.

Saturday morning started worst possible – a orange warning from local authorities with information that weather would be very windy and outdoor activities should be limited! Greta and Jesper had rented a flat just opposite the start line and during the day they tried to follow if it still looked as run would take place or it would be cancelled. The start of the half marathon was sat to 20.30 so a evening/night run. During the day the forecast added rain from around 23.00 so during the end of the run but just as the celebration party were planned. All this together with an expected feeling temperature below 0 Celcius (what a great preparation for a half marathon 🙂

To delay the waiting time in the freezing cold evening Marek came to the flat. The gear was checked and the discussion about how many layers of cloth was a debate during the waiting time – Marek decided for one and Jesper went for two.

Finally it was around 20.00 and Marek and Jesper went down to start area – both covered with an extra plastic protection to keep them warm until start. It was at that time very windy and cold.

Start took place and the atmosphere among the runners were great with dancing and talking while heading towards the start line.

At around 5 km the rain came and while getting to 10 km it went heavy raining meaning it became really cold.

Marek anyway ran a fantastic half marathon – as he told „my legs just keep moving” and finished in impressive 1 hour 46 minutes, Daniel of course around 1 hour 50 minutes as pacer and Jesper in 2 hours and 4 minutes.

Even it was really bad weather it was amazing how local supportes where standing along the entire route and supported the runners. The run up the main shopping street Swietojanska – Jesper felt like the bike race in the mountains with people making a tunnel in front of him. Not to forget mentioning the finish area on the beach with loud music and plenty of lights. This is really a Half Marathon which we can recommend runners to travel to participate in!

All in all a great weekend in Gdynia where Greta and Jesper beside the run also had a chance to meet some of their life long friends.

Well this story is about two half marathons and the second one was in Aalborg Denmark on May 3rd 2026. This is the living city of Jesper, Greta their daughter Sandra, son in law Michal and grandkids Victor and Helena. Therefor Jesper had suggested this race again to be a family event also for nephews and nieces. The challenge was accepted and we had the following participants from Bornholm Runners:

Half Marathon: Michal, Kim, Casper and Jesper – here the family competition was hard. Internal rules were made: Every year in age gave one minute in compensation while a vodka shot taken the evening before would reduce with one minute. That clearly indicate that yes we are running but we also have fun. The starting point before the race was therefore that Kim and Michal had reduced the age benefit of Jesper to 18 minutes for Michal and 8 minutes for Kim while Casper without shots had to run 24 minutes faster than Jesper. The Uncle against Nephews and Son in Law was ready!

6 km walk: Originally Heidi and Great but since Greta unfortunately hit a chair with her feet some days before the event and got injured she gave the start number to Sandra who walked with Helena in the kids wagon.

Saturday evening we all had the dinner together and afterwards had a great time at Greta and Jespers place:

Saturday morning we all went to start area (also finish area). At 10.30 the start of half marathon would take place while the walking would start at 11.30 making us finishing more or less at the same time.

It was expected that Michal and Casper would have their „own run” trying to finish as far before Jesper as possible to win the family competition. An expected ending time between 1.45 and 1.50 could be enough for the tittle of family winner. Then it was expected that Kim would do his chance using his age difference to Michal and Casper not to forget that he should end 8 minutes faster than Jesper. Yes a lot of calculation and strategy planning was done before the start.

Casper and Michal disappeared fast up in the earlier start groups while Kim made a strategy this time to cross the start line in the same time as Jesper and by this knowing exactly where he had his uncle timevise.

The supportes had large Bornholm flags making it easy for us runners to recognize them well in advance but also to promote our little island among the citizens of Aalborg.

The route was made so we had to cross the bridge twice but also with many corners and several situations where we ran on the same road but in opposite directions. Therefore all of us kept and eye trying to find out situation.

Casper unfortunately did not have the day and with a body saying he should stop he used the situation to gather with his family around 10 km mark.

For us running the half marathon it was so nice to see how many people were standing along the entire route. You might need to participate in a run to really understand what it means for your spirit but we can all say „it means everything”, so thank you to all supporters and especially our own of course.

since this story is written by Jesper the following will be describing the last approximately 7 km from his side.

At around 14 km Jesper saw Camilla (wife of Kim) standing along the route. Jesper asked „how far ahead is Kim?” and when he got the answer that Kim was just a little bit ahead he knew there was a good chance that he could ensure that for sure Kim would lose to him in the family competition. Jesper therefor tried to increase his speed a little bit and after some minutes he in fact could spot the back of Kim. By keeping the speed and around 17 km he short after ran side by side with Kim. Kim got a surprise and as a previous run on Bornholm Jesper again could see Kim increasing his speed. Jesper decided to stay behind him. After perhaps another kilometer it was like Kim again slowed down and short after Jesper was again just behind the back of Kim. afterwards Kim told that every time he was running in front of a shop window he could see that Jesper were just in his back. A moment after Jesper decided to see if he perhaps could have a chance of a real face to face win over his nephew and as he felt having rather good legs he increased the speed and overtook Kim. During the last 2 kilometer Jesper was sure that he had Kim running just behind him – waiting to overtake him on the final part to finish line.

Jesper hardly managed to stop his timer on his watch before he turned to see if Kim was just behind him but there was no Kim.

The final result of Aalborg Half Marathon 2026 for this family event was:

Michal in new PR 1 hour 45 minutes and 13 seconds, Jesper 2 hours 0 minutes and 59 seconds, Kim 2 hours 4 minutes and 8 seconds while Casper as before mentioned decided to stop.

with only 15 minutes between Michal and Jesper and Jesper in before Kim it means Jesper won the family competition towards Michal with 3 minutes and to Kim with 12 minutes. No doubts that the young generation will be looking forward for the next family event and to here change the order 🙂

At the 6 km walk Sandra and Heidi had a great time together and we are also sure that Helena was enjoying the atmosphere in the trolley. Here there were no time measuring and it was just to ensure as many people getting out moving their bodies.

A great weekend had come to its end but discussions about when and where the next event should take place has already started. Next time we hope that even more family members but also other Bornholm Runners members will join. As the uncle I can only say that I just love to gather this active way with the family (several generations) and I hope we will be able to continue this traditions for many years ahead.

This year it was for sure the right winner of the family competition 🙂