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Races in Stockholm. Runners jog at the starting linel of Stockholm Half-Marathon.

Photo: Marathongruppen

Categories: Activities

Stockholm races

Publish date: 14 July 2022

Want a physical challenge? Here are some of the most popular races taking place in and around Stockholm.

Stockholmers enjoy staying fit and healthy by running. Maybe it’s because of the miles and miles of paths along beautiful waters, through green parks, and across the city’s many bridges. Hence there are plenty of long-distance races to join or watch during the summer and fall.

The most famous is probably Adidas Stockholm Marathon. Held for the first time in 1979, usually in late May/early June, Stockholm Marathon takes runners on a two-lap course of Stockholm, with the finish line at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium. But the most infamous on the other hand is Lidingöloppet. Due to Lindingö's unique terrain, it's been described as one of the most (if not the most) challenging long-distance races in Sweden. Not far from Lidingö, on Djurgården, Tjejmilen takes place every year. As the name suggests, Tjejmilen is for women only and is held in August/September.

Stockholm also has several races where the competition is somewhat secondary. Run for Pride has since 2017 been an inclusive race, where a great atmosphere comes before great track results. Midnattsloppet (The Midnight Race) might have a competitive class, but the event is more akin to a giant block party for the entire district of Södermalm. And in the cross country race Tjurruset, your finishing time is secondary to the amount of muck and guck covering your clothes at the finish line.

There are also several duathlons and races with a twist. Tough Viking, for example, is a 15-kilometer race with an obstacle course, and Arlandastad Duathlon combines bicycling and running on a 27,5-kilometer track. The most famous of these is of course ÖTILLÖ Swimrum, where participants must traverse the waters and islands of the archipelago, from Sandhamn to Utö, in a course stretching over 75 kilometers.

So, get your workout routine in order and get a good pair of running shoes. Here are some highlights!