In the heart of Västra Götaland, three friends—Jacob, Ludwig och Axel—share a passion for running that brings them together, whether it’s the winter chill or the crunch of snow beneath their feet. In this interview, Jacob reflect on what makes running so appealing, both physically and mentally, and how it has shaped his life. From the joy of community to the therapeutic benefits, he explain why everyone, whether seasoned athlete or beginner, should give running a try.

What motivates you personally to lace up your running shoes and hit the pavement or trail?

"Well… since we’re entering the “Semlor-season” now in Sweden, the biggest motivation recently has been the urgency to burn calories to make room for the next semla without adding to much additional curvature to my body. Currently, semlorna are making this terribly hard…..But on a more general level… The motivation comes from knowing that I’ve done something good for me both physically (making me able to run faster and to attend races) and mentally (keeping me fresh in the mind)."

"My dad always said that running is what truly sets us apart from the animals. In some sense, we both do it for survival, but only humans do it for pleasure."

Do you believe there are universal reasons why people are drawn to running, or is it a highly individualized pursuit?

"I like to believe that running is something that unifies us as humans. Even though we’re not literally coming together, people are always running somewhere. Sometimes we come together physically, run in groups or run in races. And sometimes we go running by ourselves. But everybody runs.

 So yes I believe it’s a strong universal reason behind it. However the great mystery continues to be "Why” we do it. Sometimes it’s really boring, it hurts, we get injured it’s hard and how for some very strange reason we find it to be enjoyable. I mean really, logically It shouldn’t. My dad always said that running is what truly set’s us a part from the animals. I some sense we both do it for survival (debatable). But only humans do it for pleasure."

What draws you to participate in a run club, and how has it impacted your running experience?

"Basically, it's about sharing the experience of running together with other people. The joy of running with friends—it becomes elevated of sorts, shared among the individuals experiencing it together.  On the flip side, setbacks, boring interval training, and other challenges that come from running become less sucky with the help of others.

 In the case of my running club, it has allowed me to be creative. We explore various ways of running and trying out new approaches. For instance, not many people have had running sessions that end with an after-run gathering at the local nightclub. Additionally, it has allowed us to be creative in expressing our views and our approach to running."

And last question, who are you guys?

 "We are a small collective of runners from Gothenburg. Our belief is running experience is elevated when shared with others. In line with this, we host local activities within Gothenburg to provide an inclusive platform for those who share our passion. We may not be professional athletes, just everyday individuals finding happiness and joy in a good run. We have a passion for creativity, and we like to share our experience through a lens that we are reflex our approach to running. I’ll urge anyone who’s interested in running to reach out our join us on our next event!"