On Saturday 22 June, over 300 runners from all over the country met to run the marathon and half marathon at the Knarvik stadium in Bergen. Several of the participants were able to celebrate personal records. But on Tuesday there was a nasty email from the organiser, saying that the distance on the course was too short. The matter was first mentioned by BA. – I guess I’m the Norwegian champion in the marathon now, then. Or am I? Rivedal was the fastest woman in the marathon. Photo: Christel Higraff / news That’s the question of Lina Rivedal, who won the race with a time of two hours and 44 minutes. This is her second marathon. – At first I was a bit surprised, and thought it couldn’t be as bad as it actually turned out to be, she says. The Bergen resident admits that it was a tough message to receive. She wants to try her hand at a proper marathon again next year. – It was fun to get a complete distance. But this is not really something I am betting on, it was mostly for fun that I wanted to try my hand at the marathon, she says. Rivedal pictured during the race in June. Photo: Private First record in 14 years Nordea’s director of investment, Robert Næss, was also on the list of participants. His stopwatch clocked in at two hours and 57 minutes – a personal best. – I was very happy with the record, and have boasted a lot about it. Also, it is suddenly not an approved record after all. So it’s crazy, he says a little disappointed. Knarvikmila was his first race in eight years, and it is 14 years since his previous record. – I didn’t train much beforehand, but I started running to and from work, and got a lot of use out of it, he says. Robert Næss usually works in finance. In his spare time he runs (to and from work). Photo: Christel Higraff / news The hope in him still lives on, and he is ready to forgive the organizer as soon as he has run into the same time again. – But I’m not exactly getting any younger, so it’s not a given that one will improve either, he points out. Organizer lies flat The participants wonder how this could happen. – It is simply about human error, replies general manager of Knarvikmila, Ronny Borgen Hansen. Knarvikmila was organized for the 42nd time this year. Borgen Hansen admits that it is “quite embarrassing” to send out the e-mail with the nasty message. The general manager of Knarvikmila takes full responsibility for the mistake. Photo: Christel Higraff / news – But when we make a mistake, we have to own up to it and take responsibility. We will organize many races in the coming years, and must be credible in what we do, he says. It was the organizer himself who discovered the mistake. Borgen Hansen explains that the course and the turning point have been adjusted several times over the past few years, and that the last course measurement was made in April 2023. This should give a loop of 5274.4 metres, and a distance of marathon after eight laps and half marathon after four rounds. A new measurement of the track was carried out on Thursday 27 June. This showed that the course was 110 meters shorter per round than it should have been. Thus, the half-marathon participants lacked 440 metres, and the marathon participants 880. Keeps position and medal The discrepancy has no consequences for the order and results list in the National Championships, since everyone has run the same distance. But they don’t keep time. Participant and organizer take it all with a smile. Photo: Christel Higraff / news When asked what reactions he has received after he sent out the e-mail, he replies that they have received surprisingly few. As a plaster on the wound, everyone has been offered free participation during next year’s race. – Most people wonder if the next distance will be right, and I can guarantee that it will be. Now a nail has been driven into the asphalt, he says. Published 02.07.2024, at 21.07
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Organizer scandal in the National Championships in the marathon and half marathon during the Knarvikmila in Bergen – news Vestland
