Norges vakreste halvmaraton takes place in the summer on Smøla, an island municipality on Norway’s west coast. The half marathon is the main event, with 10 km, 5 km, and children’s races offered on the same program. It is a limited event with 300 places available, and the field filled before the start. The half marathon had 177 registered runners, the 10 km had 109, the 5 km had 20, and approximately 100 children participated in the kids’ race.
The race begins and ends in Hopen, with a turn at Veidholmen, and includes an additional loop before the finish. The course is flat asphalt, crossing islands and skerries. Verjeskiftet bridge marks the highest point, allowing for a fast course if the weather is favorable. With sunny conditions around 20-25C, runners achieved significantly faster half-marathon times compared to the previous edition. Strong performances were also noted in the 10 km and 5 km races.