Denmark. Home of Viking warriors, fairytales, Helena Christensen, and LEGO (that’s right). Lovely, happy, beautiful Denmark. Sounds delightful, doesn’t it? We thought so too. We may not feel so enchanted on Sunday, May 18th. That’s the day we’ll be exploring the capital on foot. For 42.125 kilometers. Or 26.22 miles. Whichever you prefer. The Nykredit Copenhagen Marathon is in its 35th year, and the course (‘flat-as-a-pancake, our coach assures us) takes us through the beautiful medieval borough of Indre By, towards the vibrant neighbourhood of Nørrebro, into hip district Vesterbro, and (breathe deep) back again.

For the team, the date is holds a special significance. We’ve taken part in a number of races since we launched the ELLE Running Club last year, but it seems like only yesterday we were toeing the starting line of our ELLE x Nike We Own the Night 10k. For some of us, it was a walk in the park, for others a terrifying prospect. And now, here we are, taking on our very first marathon together, exactly one year to the day of our very first race. We’ve come a long way, and we’re going even further.

The Details

What: Nykredit Copenhagen Marathon

When: Sunday, May 18th, 2014

Where: Copenhagen, Denmark

Distance: 42.2 km / 26.2 miles

Fit Factor: 5/5

Why We’re Running: We started on the sofa, and made it to 5K. Then 10K. Then 15K. We’ve taken on the half, and we’re loving the race. We know we can do this. #MILESTONE

Race Mantra: Warrior, not worrier

Run it: There is no ballot process for this race, and you can register up until the day. University students are treated to a 50% discount. Visit the official website for more details

Watch it: This race welcomes spectators. If you’re in Denmark, line the route. Or download the free official app to track our progress live on the day

Follow it: We'll be tweeting from the race @ELLEUKrunning, #CPHmarathon, and ELLE’s Art Director Miette will be blogging about our progress. Check in weekly for tips from our dedicated team of trainers and what it’s really like to train for a marathon

Find out more: Visit www.copenhagenmarathon.dk for information about this and other events

Want to get started? Follow the Running Club's 0-5k plan