Steinsland Bygdemaraton

Steinsland Bygdemaraton is a local running event in Steinsland, Birkenes, Agder, Norway, held in early May. It is also known as Ogge rondt. Birkenes IL organizes the event, offering 10 km, half marathon, and full marathon distances suitable for both local road runners and marathon specialists. The race begins at the farmyard of Odd Gunnar Tveit, providing a distinct local atmosphere before participants tackle a challenging course. The route features 10 aid stations, managed for extended periods by friends and neighbors. The start-finish area offers kiosk sales, reflecting its community-focused nature rather than large-scale event presentation. The half marathon involves 347 m of elevation gain, and the marathon course has seen competitive times despite its difficulty, including a 2:40 victory by Martin G. Fjellstad. A notable tradition involves high start numbers assigned to runners with extensive marathon experience, indicating their total career marathon count. Harald Sel, for instance, has a listed total of 402 marathons, one of the highest counts among Norwegian marathon runners.