What do you do if you have a segway, two marching bands, a cool car, 30km of unused motorway, a helicopter and a camera? Well the Danish rapper/poet Per Vers had this and made this spectacular one-shot music video.
Per raps about keep going. He’ll keep going “longer than Run DMC, till he has more back hairs than Run Jeremy”.
The M51 motorway connects Sønderborg to the rest of Europe’s motorway system. It opened two weeks ago but before that we ran on it and some people cycled on it.
So far, Sonderborg has not been connected to the E-road network connecting Europe with a motorway. This situation will be improved in a week’s time when Motorway M51 opens (PDF), reducing the transport time from Sonderborg by around 20 minutes.
The new motorway will connect Sonderborg to road E45, which goes from Sweden in the north, through Denmark, and south to Sicily, at Kliplev. However, before the cars get the benefit of the road, people by their own power have been let lose onto the road to experience it while they can.
Today was the first such possibility, with the motorway races at 5km, 10km, half marathon and marathon distances. Around 9300 runner took part (including your Hej Sonderborg authors!). This being my first organised 5km race I am happy that I finished… though my body feels quite stiff at the moment!
However, if you didn’t get to experience the road today, don’t despair. The second such event is tomorrow, when it is possible to ride your bike and walk on the motorway. Unfortunately, if you haven’t signed up already, the registration has closed. Nevertheless, if you are in the area do drop by. If it is anything like today you can look around at the different stands, munch your way through a sausage from the Lions Club, cheer on the participants, and even ride a Segway thanks to Danfoss Universe (who were also giving away free tickets for next week’s opening of the park!).
Here is a cool time-lapsed video by Mikkel0305 from the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUCp8ZPj6UY
We have previously written about the running race on the motorway but now the bike race has also been announced.
Photo:
Sunday March 25th 2012 you have the chance to either cycle or walk on the motorway. There is a couple of different options.
Sønderborg Y’s Men Club will sell food and drinks in the start up area. For those who cycle it to the other end of the motorway by Kliplev there will be a tent with refreshments.
Signup is done by sending an email to motorvejslobet@cms-soenderborg.dk with names, addresses and age and you will get an email back with where to send the money.
Read more on Sonderborg Cycle Clubs website.
You might think that going for a jog on the motorway is just shy of a suicide mission. But just before the cars are unleashed onto a brand new stretch of motorway from Kliplev to Sønderborg you and everybody else gets a chance to see the new road by their own propulsion.
DGI (Danish Sports Association) and 7 local sports organisations are organising a running race. There will be some for everyone with distances of 5km, 10km, half marathon and full marathon planned.
Back in 1998 when I was younger and fitter I ran a half marathon across the new bridge across Storebælt with around 35,000 other people. That’s something that I’m not going to do again, but I might try one of the short distances. Two years later in 2000 when the bridge across Øresund to Sweden opened some 80,000 people took part in that race.
The race will be held on Saturday March 24th 2012 and the organisers for the motorway race are expecting around 10,000 participants.
If you want to take part in this unique event keep an eye on the official website (motorvejsløbet.dk). You can sign up from tomorrow December 17th. There is a limit for the different distances and numbers are assigned on a first come first serve basis.
UPDATE #1: Sunday the 25th, the day after the runners have had their go cyclists and walkers will get a chance to try out the brand new tarmac. Prices are not up but according to the local paper between 10am-12 on Sunday the more serious cyclists can cycle the 48km back and forth, from 12 to 2pm families and seniors can cycle and between 11am and 2pm you can go for a walk.
UPDATE #2: Will you be taking part? We have both signed up for the 5km race under the team name HejSonderborg.dk. Do join us – we need all the motivation we can get!
UPDATE #3 (29/12/2011): The 5km route have sold out. Still tickets left for 10km, half and full marathon.
UPDATE #4: DGI has created a Facebook event for the race. That way you can easily see if friends of yours are joining.
Photograph by Kliplev Motorway Group.