Hodelyktløpet Østmarka 2026

Hodelyktløpet Østmarka is a 12 km night trail race in Østmarka, the forest area east of Oslo. It starts and finishes at Sørensen sport in Skullerud. Runners head out in the evening, so a strong headlamp is essential. The race is technical from the start: it uses blue- and red-marked trails, gains about 400 meters, and includes steep climbs, awkward footing, and sections the organizer describes as technical trail and almost impassable terrain. The route follows Flyktningeruta up toward Rundvann, then drops onto a difficult blue-trail descent. The organizer marks the course and adds reflectors, but wrong turns are a risk, especially at trail junctions; runners should study the GPX file or run the route beforehand. Two spots need attention: one sharp left turn back uphill, and another right turn where missing it can send you into an extra loop. This is a race for people who like rough forest running in the dark, not a smooth road-style time trial.