Check out this video that our friends at Powerade filmed during marathon last Saturday. Powerade co-sponsors the Íslandsbanki Reykjavík Marathon and they make sure runners stay hydrated, providing more than 10,000 litres of Powerade at nine water stations.

Did you run this year? Maybe you’ll catch a glimpse of yourself in this clip. Thinking about running next year? See what to expect.

For Step 18 of Reykjavík Runs Us, Icelandic electronic musician Ruxpin created a playlist for marathon runners. The whole thing takes 2 hours, 3 minutes and 9 seconds to listen to. That’s 29 seconds less than the current marathon world record. 

The handsome animated runner on the step was hand-made for you by Rán Flygenring, former official illustrator of Reykjavík, who also did the animations of Keilir in Step 4 and Harpa in Step 11.  

In this video, filmed by Alísa on Wednesday 11 July, we follow Ruxpin as he hunts for sounds in Elliðaárdalur, one of the places you’ll be running through on your way to finish the Reykjavík Marathon. 

Full track listing of “2h3m” · Icelandic Electronic Music Blog
Ruxpin on Twitter · Ruxpin on Soundcloud · Ruxpin on Facebook 

Reykjavik Runs Us, Step 18: 2 hours and 3 minutes

About 140 charities and countless people benefit directly from pledges made by runners in the Reykjavík Marathon. In this short interview, Guðný Helga Herbertsdóttir from Íslandsbanki talks about the importance of the marathon for local charities.

Reykjavík Runs Us, Step 15: All hands on deck

10 plays

Step 16: Laugardalslaug

For Step 16 of Reykjavík Runs Us, Wies Hermans made an important public service game to highlight an unusual feature of Reykjavík swimming pools.

So Wies, why did you decide to make a game about the importance of public swimming pool hygiene? Are you a clean freak?

Taking a shower in Iceland is always an adventure. First there’s the weird smell that comes with the hot water. Visiting a public swimming pool means having to strip naked and wash yourself thorougly. Luckily all the pools have signs to help you spot the most dirty places. And then there’s the free soap of course. All the ingredients are there for a fun and educational web game. And yes, I do take my daily showers at home.

You lived in Iceland for 2 years. Did you visit the swimming pools a lot?

I love the swimming pools in Iceland. I went swimming much more often than back at home. Especially in winter, when it’s freezing cold and snowing. The walk from the locker room to the pool is painful, but short. I forced myself to swim at least one kilometer before relaxing in the hot tubs. Starting at 38°C, taking it a step further to 42°C and spending the last 10 seconds in the 44°C tub.

Do you have a favourite swimming pool?

The one in Stykkishólmur is lovely. I have some good hygiene-related memories of that.

You live in Berlin now. What’s the biggest difference between Reykjavík and Berlin?

When I’m in Berlin I miss the Icelandic air, the ocean, the people, the language, the skyr. When I’m in Reykjavik I don’t miss Berlin. But I make sure I don’t go to Iceland in winter when the days are short and people celebrate Christmas from November till March.

Reykjavik Runs Us, Step 16: Every guest is required to wash thoroughly

Step 4: From Suðurgata to Keilir

Judging from the photo in the previous post you might think the mountain Keilir is really at the end of the street, and that if you forget to turn you might just run the whole way towards it.

But you can’t. Keilir is actually in the middle of the Reykjanes peninsula. (You might go up there on another day though, if running the Reykjavík Marathon hasn’t completely sapped your strength. It’s a pleasant and quite popular hiking trip.)

So was Suðurgata was laid out on purpose towards the mountain to please runners, or is the whole thing is just a coincidence?

Take a closer look at Keilir on this lovely map from Landmælingar Íslands.

Step 4 was made by Rán Flygenring, the former Official Illustrator of Reykjavík.

Reykjavík Runs Us, Step 4: The mountain at the end of the street