Marathon feature
Runners from Iceland

Three participants in Eisenhower Marathon races next weekend have traveled from Iceland and are members of the Group Study Exchange (GSE) Rotary program which brings young professionals from across the world to the United States.

“In keeping with one of Rotary’s goals of promoting international understanding, our Rotary district, which includes Abilene, has participated in the GSE program for many years,” said Jean Hendricks past president of Abilene’s Rotary. “The group from Iceland will be visiting Rotary clubs in Great Bend, Hays, Salina and McPherson plus other cities during the month they are in Kansas. We invited them to be in Abilene during the Eisenhower Marathon events in order for them to participate in this view of Americana.”

Haukur Ludviksson, 36, from Kopavogur, Iceland, will run the 26.2-mile Eisenhower Marathon wearing bib #122, with an anticipated finish time of four hours.

“My colleagues invited me to join their small running group and I enjoyed their challenge,” Ludviksson said. “Last year I started training for football, Australian rules, which involves a lot of running; however, the Eisenhower Marathon will be my first full marathon.”

Ludviksson said that running distances above 30 KM are a new territory for him.

“I am looking forward to the experience and I will be satisfied if I cross the finish line,” Ludviksson said. “It is an honor to take part in this event and to run on the historic grounds of Abilene.”

Ludviksson is a computer specialist in Iceland.

Two of Ludviksson’s companions on the trip to the United States, Sigridur Ingvarsdottir from Reykjavik, Iceland, and Steingerdur  Hreinsdottir from Selfoss, Iceland,  will run the 10K race.

Ingvarsdottir, the team leader of the visiting group, participated in track and field activities as a teenager, but only began to run with friends last year, participating in a 10K in Islandsbanka.

“I thought it was a big challenge for me to take my running shoes with me to Kansas and take part in the historical Eisenhower Marathon,” Ingvarsdottir said. “This will keep me practicing for the next race that I’ll do in August.”

Ingvarsdottir will wear bib #2028 in Abilene. He is office manager at the United Nations University-Fisheries Training program in Iceland and secretary in his home Rotary.

Hreinsdottir has limited running experience as he exercises cross fitness.

“I have not, in my adult life, taken part in any marathon events, although I used to run as a teenager,” Hreinsdottir said. “I have decided to rise to the challenge and have taken my running shoes and set my eye on a slow 10K in the Eisenhower Marathon.”

Hreinsdottir will wear bib #2029 in the Eisenhower 10K and is a consulting project manager in business development and entrepreneurship in south Iceland.

Two other Rotary GSE members coming to Abilene have indicated that they might participate in 5K or 10K races but have not officially entered the races at this time. One is Oskar Thorvaldsson, an engineer in Reykjavik City, Iceland, and the other is, Frimann Baldvinsson, a policeman in Iceland.

During the group’s stay in Abilene they will visit the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, the Seelye Mansion, dine at the Kirby House and hopefully tour a greyhound farm and the Russell Stover candy outlet, according to Hendricks.

“We appreciate the hospitality of the city of Abilene and the Eisenhower Marathon volunteers as we Rotarians do our best to expand our guests’ picture of our country,” Hendricks said.

Marathon and half marathon races begin at 7 a.m. April 10, on South Buckeye between the Catholic Church and the Eisenhower Presidential grounds with 10K/5K races beginning at 7:30 a.m.

A spectator map showing good locations to view runners on the marathon course will appear in the Reflector this week. Bleachers will be set up at the finish line for spectators who are cheering runners as they cross the line.