The Glitnir Reykjavik Marathon: Running With Iceland’s Vikings, Elves and Trolls

September 2008 by Patrice Malloy. Pasta Dinner. Check! Chip timing. Check! Finishers’ medals. Check! Trolls. Trolls? At first glance the 25th Glitnir Reykjavik Marathon held August 23rd seemed much like its 26.2-miler cousins in the US and Canada. The usual race-day necessities were doled out at the expo. Orange traffic cones lined the course. Pale finishers were photographed, handed a medal and draped in silver Mylar blankets.

Same ol’ same ol’?

Well, maybe, unless you factor in one glacial-sized difference; this marathon took place in Iceland – a 39,750-square mile geothermic playground, bubbling over with natural energy and seeping in fascinating history and folklore.

Founded in the 9th century by Nordic Vikings, Iceland is located in the North Atlantic Ocean, 180 miles east of Greenland and 600 miles east of Norway.

Just a four 1/2 hour flight from Boston, Iceland is a hot tourist destination given its eclectic array of volcanoes, hot springs, geysers, glaciers and thermo-heated pools.

Reykjavik (pronounced Rake-yah-veek), Iceland’s capital and cultural epicenter, sits on a peninsula in the southeast quadrant of the island.

Home to almost two-thirds of the country’s 300,000 residents, the city is packed with cafes, shops and historic sights.

Ingólfur Arnarson, a Nordic Viking and the city’s first settler named the city “Smoky Bay,” in reference to the steam rising from the hot springs.

Runners lined up for the race start in front of the Culture House, the national house for Icelandic heritage, and an array of colorful Scandinavian buildings.

The early miles of the looped, mostly-flat course took the full and half marathon entrants through some of the city’s toniest neighborhoods and
along the peninsula’s rocky coastline. Thick low-lying clouds cast an eerie but memorable sight as the participants made their way along the waterfront.

Race day weather was typical for Iceland in August. Temperatures were in the 50s with strong onshore wind gusts and rain falling later in the morning.

“It may be the only place you can run a marathon in August and have virtually no chance of hot weather,” said Cliff Jennings, tour group leader with Boston-based Marathon Tours and Travel. “I think its perfect weather for marathon running.”

Sea birds punctuated the sky and coastline and made just enough fuss to be noticed.

“I was running along the coast about the 35k mark when I saw four puffins just off-shore, sitting on some rocks,” said Chrissy Holt of Plano, Texas.

“They were just standing there, wondering why the crazy runner was gawking at them like she has seen something amazing. I’ll never forget those four cute little faces looking at me. “

There were no confirmed elf or troll sightings but because an Icelandic newspaper survey reported that 80 percent of Iceland’s population does not rule out their existence, runners were on the lookout.

Trolls, for those not up on Scandinavian folklore, are ugly, obnoxious creatures bent on mischief and wickedness. Elves on the other hand are beautiful people, skilled in magic and illusions. Both reportedly reside in forests, which may explain their absence on the course.

“I saw some trolls while in Iceland, but not real ones,” said Holt. Wooden troll sculptures could be spotted in some of Iceland’s countryside.

“Given the cool August weather, mountain views and whales and puffin sightings, Iceland was pretty different than Texas,” said Adele Turcotte of Richmond, Texas, who, along with her husband, Barry, took in a whale watching tour and a dip in the Blue Lagoon.

The Blue Lagoon is an Iceland must-see and a post-race must-do. Surrounded by lava fields, the geothermal spa holds 1.5 million gallons of seawater heated by Mother Nature. Guests can soak in the mineral, silica and algae-enhanced waters through the calendar year.

Over 10,700 runners representing 38 countries competed in the weekend’s marathon, half marathon, 10K and children’s fun runs.

There were no elf or troll finishers, reported anyway.

For more information on the Reykjavik Marathon and Half Marathon and travel packages, visit www.marathontours.com or call (617) 242-7845 (9:00 am to 5:30 pm EST).