Skjern Bank Løbet 2026

On April 12th I headed to Bramming — a city not far from my own home in Billund, Denmark — to run a half marathon. It went really well… really really well 😀👌🏻.

Training background

Since January I have done my best to follow a Runna app-based Marathon program, while simultaneously keeping a much higher weekly mileage to support my general ultra running ambitions. The combo has been super fantastic: epic tempo runs, grueling interval sessions, and long efforts that pushed me pace-wise way harder than anything I’d done before 💪🏻👌🏻. Really hardcore stuff.

As part of the program Runna nudged me to fit in a half marathon B-race before the Copenhagen Marathon. I picked Skjern Bank Løbet because the timing was perfect — exactly one month before Copenhagen (May 10th) — and the route is flat, which meant a genuine shot at a fast time. Runna had me target around 04:05 /km (flexible ±5 seconds: 04:00–04:10). Honestly, that felt a little optimistic. I was excited — and slightly nervous — about whether I could actually pull it off 😅.

Race ☀️

I arrived early (as always 🕐) to nail a good parking spot — success! — and ended up just in time to watch the children’s race kick off an hour before mine. Seeing those kids charging for the finish line was genuinely inspiring and adorable 🤗.

We started almost 100 runners on the half marathon. Weather luck was max: mild, a little wind but nothing that killed the pace work, and sunshine ☀️. I lined up at the front with the faster runners — not because I had a plan to race them, but so I wouldn’t have to spend energy weaving through the field. I was 100% focused on my own plan: hit the target splits and not blow up 😂.

The route was super flat and easy to run. There was a short gravel section and a little grass stretch. The grass section I definitely should not have used to try and pass other runners… because my ASICS Magic Speed 4 shoes slipped and slid all over the place, demanding an awkward and exhausting corrective push 🤦🏻‍♂️🙄.

I quickly locked in with a small lead group — 2 other runners. One runner in front of us was at a completely different level: comfortably cruising at 3:xx pace 🚀. With my group I was ticking off kilometer splits mostly around 04:0X. At the windy sections I positioned myself to benefit from not having to break the wind alone — though a few times I went to the front and contributed my share of wind-breaking 💨.

It all went really well, and honestly there were moments where it felt weird to be running this comfortably at these paces. No doubt the Runna Marathon training has taken my speed to the next level. Fast running didn’t feel dangerous, and my heart rate was under control throughout: 167 bpm avg / 179 bpm max — working right at my limit but not blowing up 🤠🤗. And yes, I’m fairly sure the Magic Speed 4 shoes gave me a nudge too 😂.

Despite the effort I actually got to enjoy the scenery. It’s a nice, beautiful route around Bramming — not far from the Danish west coast — and I appreciated the landscape even at a demanding pace 😊.

Finish line 🥉

I crossed the finish line 3rd in an official 1:26:57 — that’s a 04:07 /km pace 🥳. Beating my previous 2024 PB from Bestseller Aarhus City Half (BACH) at 1:29:20 — so by 2 minutes 23 seconds. Strava PB-wise a little less but still epic: going from 1:28:29 at BACH to 1:26:42 here — that’s 1 minute 47 seconds 🤗🤠.

To be fair: BACH had more elevation, and back then I was also running at higher effort (171 bpm avg / 182 bpm max) and without carbon shoes. So comparing the two times directly is a bit tricky 🫣🤭.

My family — wife and Casper — came to cheer at the finish line. Couldn’t have wished for a better end to a perfect race experience 🤗💛.

I feel I’m slowly getting nicely ready for the Copenhagen Marathon. Tapering starting soon! 🤗

Recommended? 👏🏻

100% yes.

This is a wonderfully run local race with a flat, fast, and beautiful route. Friendly atmosphere, well-organized, and you get treated really well on-course and after 👌🏻. Whether you want to race hard or just enjoy a scenic half — Skjern Bank Løbet delivers.

The volunteers at the aid stations were super nice and even had cups ready for personal handover for the front runners 🤗 (I know, I know — Nicky-humble-brag-a-lot-cough-cough-🤭 … but hey, 3rd place 🤣). The finish area had free sausages (🇩🇰 “Pølser med brød”), fruits, water, and more. You get a LOT of value from the small entry fee 🤩.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️