Midnight Sun Marathon - Race Reviews

Tromsø is a wonderful town, and the course is great, scenic, and flat except for the bridge, which is crossed twice, but is not a huge challenge. The biggest issue is the weather - this year was absolutely perfect, relatively warm (about 56 degrees F), hardly any wind, and mostly cloudless, so we actually got to see the Midnight Sun. However this is a rarity - in fact the race director said that in all the years he has been directing the race this is the first time he has actually seen the midnight sun during the race. It seems that you are more likely to have clouds, perhaps fog, very likely rain, and cold - but if you can accept this likelihood then the race is great. Spectator support is somewhat limited as Tromsø is not a heavily populated town, but is there and is enthusiastic, as the event is a big deal for a small somewhat isolated town. The kilometer markers count DOWN from 42, which is a bit different! The refreshments at the end of the race are almost nonexistent - unripe banana halves, unwashed blueberries, and what seems to be diluted sports drinks. But there are lots of fast food places around (yes, even at 2:00am). The after-party at Pust cafe was not to my liking, but the sauna, which floats on the harbor, was an experience - 110 degrees Celsius in the sauna, followed by a dip in the 4 degree water - finally made it back to the hotel at about 3:30am, in broad daylight of course!

If you like cold it's the place to be. A fast course and a very beautiful city. Don't expect a large amount of spectators. Definitely a different race.

I ran the Midnight Sun Marathon in Tromso for the third time this past June. Plenty of water stations, the weather was not bad (some rain, some sun, some clouds), very convivial and well-organized. My sole complaint involves the Half starting 2 hours into the Full (10:30 Half start time); if you run about 1:50-1:55 in the first half of the full Marathon, you will have a freight train of fresh runners starting the Half on your heels in the heart of town about Mile 14. Overall, its a Marathon well worth doing, very picturesque.

This is an excellent small marathon in a scenic location and the (for me) novelty of running in the midnight sun. The organization for the whole marathon weekend was impressive. As others have remarked, the organizers succeed in creating a little international marathon community for the weekend - chock full of events. The pasta dinner was worth it. It is in a center that shows movies about the Polar Region, which you can watch after eating. There wasn't really an expo. You pick up your number and there is one stand selling shirts (80 dollars) and jackets. They did give out free technical running shirts this year, so no need to buy one. I train on hills and didn't find this race hilly. True, you had to go over a lengthy bridge twice and there was lots of rolling land to cover, but it was gentle stuff. The temperature was in the upper 50s with no rain. It was cloudy at first, but the midnight sun eventually appeared. The scenery is lovely - with views of the water and snow-capped hills. The race does not have many spectators, which is expected for a small town race. Small criticism: they ran out of cups for the sport drink, so they gave out the drink in plastic bottles, which I almost tripped over after people discarded them. (I ran race in just under 4 hours, so I imagine it was worse for those who followed me). Oh, they did have chip timing this year. All in all, a very positive experience.

I have nothing but praise for the people of Tromso they try to keep all the runners together as a little community , from the evening before the race dinner to the morning breakfast jog. On the course there is support everwhere which is great given the late hour. It is one that will have very pleasant and lasting mermories of and may get back to again

This was my seventh marathon and second best, NY being my number one. The conditions were perfect, sunshine behind awesome clouds, a light breeze and perfect temperature; the course, though hilly, was scenic and well laid out; the crowds were bubbly, vocal and very supportive; I could not fault the organization; the atmosphere was electric at the finish. I took film clips, on my Flip recorder, every four miles and compiled a short video. It gives a good impression of what the marathon was like. Link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9VrtrqWBXc

I returned to Tromso for my second Midnight Sun Marathon (and eighth full Marathon) on June 25th. This year, the weather was great - mostly sunny or cloudy, light, and no rain, about 54 degrees. The Marathon starts at 8:30 pm, its preceded by a childrens' run, Adult Mini-Marathon, 10K and followed by the Half Marathon, which starts at 10:30 pm. Organization was great; last year, I missed the turn around Mile 7 and went an extra half-mile total; this year, they had guards in bright vests making certain this didn't happen. This was one of the most convivial events I've participated in; I was actually slower than last year by about nine minutes (all in the second half) but this may have been due to running the Stockholm Marathon three weeks earlier. Huge and enthusiastic turnout among the townsfolk, who were out there until 2 am, when the last runners came in. 800 Marathon runners from 58 countries; some of the most interesting and friendliest folks I've had the pleasure to meet. Plenty of water, powerade, food and refreshment stations, you did not feel crowded. Its hillier than most admit, but it is such a beautiful and unusual course that you just ignore this. I will probably return again in 2012; although Norway is extremely expensive, the people are very friendly, the food is great and this is a very well-organized race that is worth traveling thousands of miles to complete.

Despite the facts that: 1) the race starts at 8:30; 2) it was 44 degrees F; 3) it rained fairly heavily; and, 4) there were more hills than I expected (especially in the second half), I thoroughly enjoyed the Tromso Marathon. It was easier to run at night than I expected (I am a 5 a.m. starter every day), the North Norwegian people were very fine, and the volunteers were very helpful. A first for me was going off-course for about 1/3 of a mile until I realized why no one was keeping up with me; the U-turn at the water station was poorly marked, and with the rain, it was a darker evening than it should have been. The half starts at about 2:10 after the start of the full marathon, so it is a bit disconcerting to have fresh runners swoosh by you at Mile 18 or so. The expo consisted of one sales area; they sold a great t-shirt, even though - like everything else in Norway - it was very expensive ($86). The medal is neat, and very memorable. The pre-race dinner was well-organized and I met great people from all over the world - England, Scotland, Germany, Japan, Brazil, Austria. This really is a destination marathon. About 550 had signed up, about 350 runners finished. The Tromso area is beautiful, with 24 hours of sunlight at this time of the year. I would love to run this race again, only hoping it would be a bit warmer and dryer.

I was hoping to see the Midnight Sun. I heard that it made an appearance the week or so before the marathon. Though it was cold and wet, the mist still rose over the mountain line and the fans cheered through the rain. It had its own charm and beauty. Totally a world away from my Idaho mountains.

Positives (kind of): First, Norway is beautiful, with snow-capped mountains, gorgeous fjords and lots of greenery. However, it was very expensive and we bought food from the supermarket rather than eating out. Personally, I liked the course. You start in the small town center and run over a high bridge off Tromso Island and out and back for approximately 13 miles. Then you run halfway around Tromso Island and back again, finishing where you started. The first half was quite scenic. For a portion of the race you share the road with cars - and with the rain this year, I got splashed on numerous occasions. It rained pretty much from the start and didn't let up. I didn't mind this too much because the scenery was still beautiful and nice distraction. Although, I would have love to have seen the Midnight Sun. It was still quite light fortunately, because running in the dark and rain would have been miserable. Negatives: When I finished my fingers were so cold (even with gloves on the whole time) that I thought I might have frostbite. I didn't. But there was no one to help untie my shoe laces to remove the timing chip. You're just left to deal with it by yourself. It was less than 40 degrees and we had ran in the rain, but there were no "silver warmers." We were all soaked to the skin and there was nothing provided to warm us up. The race, although small, is not cheap (average marathon cost) but there were no t-shirts provide at all. The t-shirts on sale for women didn't even have the marathon date. The men's were much better. Maybe I'm just spoiled because even at a 5K race in the US you'd get a t-shirt! I have no idea if there was an area to get food or water/drinks after the race because I was so wet and cold that I had to go back to the hotel before I was sick. Summary: They really need to consider taking better care of the runners after they've come through the finish, with water, warm covers and someone to assist with the timing chips.

It was a very wet and cold experience. For once I didn't get any blisters at my feet. The course was okay and in Tromsö there were a lot of spectators. This year was the first year with chip timing. Bear in mind that Norway is very expensive.

Nice, small-scale event - approximately 450 runners in the marathon, and more or less the same in the half. Everything in this marathon is small-scale, especially if you are used to the majors. Quite a tough course - more difficult than I expected, with huge and steep bridge that you have to run twice, lots of wind and quite a hilly track. Slightly primitive organization (no chip timing, traffic on the road, etc.), though there was a great atmosphere. Runners from 55 countries were participating. Definitely a must-do!

The name is Donald Barker. At fifty nine years of age, the Midnight Sun was my first and so far only marathon. My aim was to get around without a heart attack. My dream is to complete inside of four hours. In reality, I had to be content with four hours, twenty-seven minutes, and twenty-eight seconds, not too bad for an old 'un. At the finish line I was exhausted, but yet I was exhilarated, an incredible combination of sensations that had me literally sinking to my knees but wanting to leap in the air and yell aloud with sheer joy. I'm a resident of the UK. I traveled to the event by way of a North Sea ferry from Newcastle to Kristians and and then on ever northwards in a self-built camper van, a 1996 High Top Ford Transit that covered the 1279 road miles in just three days. The Norwegian scenery was fantastic; an incredible landscape laced with rivers of a power, of a speed of flow that I'd never witnessed before. However, on the outward journey there was little time for viewing and admiration, that would come on the return journey home. In part this was due to the grueling schedule of driving four hundred-plus miles a day but it was also due to the fact that for two out of the three days on the road it rained incessantly. Hard rain - cold rain that seemed to grow yet harder and colder with every mile traveled north. The rain continued to within two hours of the start of the race, but then cleared, and by 2030, there was a thin rising cloud base with a gentle cooling breeze. Excellent conditions, which continued to improve throughout the run and by my 0100 hours finish, there was glorious, glorious sunshine and the most brilliant cobolt blue sky. Set high in the Arctic Circle Tromso, the capital of Northern Norway is a sparkling gem of a city - small, compact, yet vibrant, throbbing with life, centered on an island, amidst the crystal-clear waters of Tromso Sound. The marathon course took us from the city center start line, out across the fine, almost-half-a-mile-long harbor bridge, to the mainland, along a twelve-mile butterfly wing-loop, back across the bridge to the city center, and then around a second twelve-mile loop, which stuck close to the island's coastline. From the start to the finish, there was tremendous support from the local population. Bands played, kids ran beside us and people yelled support (some had even looked up individual names from the internet matching them with race numbers - not nearly such a difficult thing to achieve as it sounds because the field was relatively small, certainly no more than 500). "Donald," I heard again and again, "Come on, Donald, come on. You're looking good." Such encouragement couldn't help but give tiring legs a boost and again and again, even through the seemingly interminable last five miles I found myself responding by grinning inanely and raising my arms in salute. In conclusion, I have to repeat, the experience was both exhausting and exhilarating, but whilst the exhaustion soon drained away, the exhilaration remains with me, a treasured memory, a joy that will endure for ever. Will I have a go at the race again? Perhaps - I'd certainly like to. Will I have a go at another marathon? You bet. This year it's Tokyo, The Land of The Rising Sun. February 18th. Roll on the day.

My 2nd time on this run and it didn`t disappoint again. Perfect weather this year, improved water stops with food, but strangely much less support than when I ran it in 2003 (see previous comments by me). More UK runners in the marathon (there is a half and 10K, plus kids' stuff) than any other nation which is odd. I ran my 2nd best time ever for the marathon this year and my previous best was also on this course. Why? I am not sure. Possibly because only 260 runners ran, so there was no congestion but always someone around? The half starts 2 hours after the marathon, so they "suck" you around? Cool conditions? Late start at 8:30 p.m. means no way do you want to stay out too long? Clear air? Nice undulating route that eases the muscles? Some or all of these - I don`t know! Great runner camaraderie! If you wish to do the pasta party, you have to pay extra though. Go for a big trip to do all the touristy stuff.

Yes, I know that it is a normal natural phenomenon, but just to see the sun in the middle of the night is already worth a trip across the globe. The course is not the most exciting, but the spectators, not too many of them, are very enthusiastic, and the organization is just perfect. The food and sport drinks on the course, warm blankets, cheese sandwiches and lots of interesting drinks at the finish line - everything was in place. Really, a job very well done! Thanks! P.S. This year (2005), it was not cold at all. I was running shirtless the entire course. The whole city of Tromso was full of blooming tulips, mayflowers, and more. It was like the second spring for me this year.

Fantastic, small marathon. 24-hour daylight an awesome wonder. Scenery stunning. Very friendly. NOTE: Wear warm running kit, can get quite cold!!

I've done the half marathon here for a couple of years (the fact I went back gives you a clue). There are only a couple of hundred in the half-marathon (far more entries for the full marathon, I am led to believe), making it a small and friendly race. This is a really interesting one to do, as it starts in the evening and you finish around midnight - in broad daylight. You can walk to the start from most of the hotels. The course is pretty and flat, although it goes back on itself so you repeat some ground. Tromso itself is a beautiful town, although expensive as you would expect for Scandinavia. The bars only stay open until 3 AM, which is a shame, as we wanted to party all night afterwards. Book accomodation and flights early, as these do get booked up months before.

As can be expected in a Nordic country, the organizers and spectators are extremely friendly. Further, the fact that there is light 24 hours a day when the marathon is run and the beauty of the surroundings makes this a great marathon. However, there are extremely few spectators and runners and it can become cold - so would definitely not recommend it for beginners.