Nearly 25,000 runners will take to the streets of Oslo on Saturday — in the marathon, half-marathon, and 10 km. Among them are World Champions in cross-country skiing, biathlon, and alpine skiing, as well as two members of the Klæbo family.

As usual, Oslo will be extra crowded during the Oslo Marathon on Saturday. All three distances are sold out, and somewhere between 20,000 and 25,000 runners will pin a bib to their chest.

Once again, several ski names appear on the start list. Both in the Norwegian Championship marathon and the “10 for Grete” (10 km), the two distances that also carry Norwegian Championship status, as well as in the half-marathon, which will have eight starting waves for the first time.

The 50 km World Champion from Planica 2023 will test himself in the marathon. Pål Golberg (pictured above) has ended his elite career, but is he still in good enough shape after so many years to run 42 km through downtown Oslo?

Just like in the World Championship 50 km in Planica, Pål will have Klæbo company. But this time it’s two other members of the Norwegian skiing family: Father Haakon and sister Ane Høsflot Klæbo are also on the list—this time, without World Championship star Johannes by their side.

Former national team coach Geir Endre Rogn is also a strong runner and among those registered for the 42 km. So is Dorthe Ballangrud Seierstad from Toten, a loyal Norwegian Championship competitor in cross-country skiing.

In the half-marathon, we find the name Tiril Eckhoff. She has participated before, and whether 21 km on asphalt through Oslo’s streets is good preparation for “Dancing with the Stars” remains to be seen.

Tiril is not the only ski World Champion in the half-marathon. Anders Aukland is joined by his TV colleagues Emil Gukild and Silje Nordnes, who will once again attempt to set new personal bests. Emil ran in Drammen and the Nydal race recently, and he is also pursuing Ski Classics with Petter Northug’s Team Burger King Northug.

Kjetil Jansrud is also part of the “World Champion club,” as the former alpine skier tests himself on a new stage. The same goes for former Nordic combined star Trond Einar Elden from Namdalseid, former national team skier Martin Ek Hagen, and former long-distance skier Anders Hallingstad.

Hans-Eric Schultz, the CEO of Elon and one of the Norwegian Ski Federation’s most important sponsors, is also registered for the half-marathon. Other ski names include young Julie Hammer from Romerike, Ida Gjermundshaug Pedersen, Sverre Rotevatn, and Vemund Ravnsborg Gurigard.

The final event is the 10 km, named “10 for Grete” in honor of Grete Waitz. Here we find several skiers and former skiers. One who is still in good shape is Ella Gjømle Berg, now with the Oslo club Try. Ella, who often serves as a technical delegate in international cross-country skiing, still trains in Nordmarka with, among others, Therese Johaug and Marit Bjørgen.

Veteran Kristen Aaby from Sigdal is also on the list, along with another ski veteran: Trond Olav Berg from Bøler IF. Promising talent Ola Spigseth will run for Raumnes and Årnes IL, while on the ski tracks, he represents Nes Ski.

This year, it is VG that will broadcast the Oslo Marathon live.

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