1991
Wonderful Copenhagen Marathon, Sunday 26 May:
Kristian Terp from Danfoss Salg Danmark (DDEN) in Århus managed to gather a Danfoss-team of 21 runners who attracted attention in their red and white running shirts and were soon known as the “candy boys from Danfoss” (DK: “Bolchedrengene fra Danfoss”). Not only runners from the Danish Danfoss departments but also members from Germany, Portugal, and France participated.
Flemming Nøhr, Danfoss System Automatik, Herlev was the fastest Danfoss-runner finishing the race in 3:11:19. DDEN war our sponsor and all participants experienced excellent service during and after the race.
1992
Founding the club:
The idea of founding The Danfoss International Marathon Club was gradually evolving during spring 1992. The first general meeting was held in Paris on 28 March 1992. Kristian Terp, DDEN, was elected chairman. The main purpose of the club is – and was - joint participation in one annual marathon race. Moreover, the aim was to set up a club for all Danfoss employees in all Danfoss companies, who were running or simply interested in marathon racing.
The name of the club today: Danfoss Marathon Club
MARATHON de PARIS, Sunday 29 March:
A total of 59 Danfoss employees had decided to take up Kristian Terp’s invitation to go to Paris to run a marathon. Once again many runners representing various Danfoss departments/companies took part. The best Danfoss-participant was Philippe Lansard, Danfoss France in 2:49:00 followed by Patrick Moreau also from Danfoss Francd (2:56:00) and Flemming Brix, Danfoss Silkeborg (2:56:12). 55 of 59 Danfoss participants finished the race. Many supporters had joined us on this trip, which was sponsored by Danfoss France.
1993
Wonderful Copenhagen Marathon, Sunday 19 May:
Of 64 participating runners 61 managed to finish, which made this race a new success. Once again Philippe Lansard, Danfoss France, was the fastest Danfoss-runner. Han completed 42,2 km in 2:37:08. Patrick Moreau came in as the second best Danfoss runner followed by Karl Heinz Niedrich from Germany. The fastest Danfoss-runner in the women’s class was Karin Munk, who finished in 3:36:12. Once again Danfoss Danmark hosted the event, which also had participants from France, Germany, Sweden, Finland, England, and Denmark.
Members: 84 (19 May)
1994
Frankfurt Marathon, 23 October:
For Friedrich Mertens, age 60, from Danfoss Flensburg, this year’s Frankfurt Marathon was his 50th marathon race and he finished without any problems.
The Danfoss team had 32 runners and everybody made it to the finish line. Not unexpectedly Birthe Reese was the fastest Danfoss-runner in the women’s class; she finished in 3 hours and 44 minutes. Kaj Madsen was first for Danfoss in the men’s class in 2 hours and 50 minutes. Danfoss Germany in Offenbach hosted the team and Jürgen Barbendererde (age 56) from Offenbach finished his race in 3 hours and 17 minutes.
Runners from Finland, Sweden, England, Germany, and Denmark participated.
Members: 96 (20 October)
1995
Kristian Terp left Danfoss to start a new job. Rasmus Caspersen replaced him as chairman.
Stockholm Marathon, Saturday 10 June:
Not many members joined this race. Only 16 participants (guests included) made up the Danfoss team despite the fact that you had the possibility to run the route twice. However, Danfoss Sweden was our host and participants and supporters all had a great experience.
Hanne Knudsen, Danfoss Næstved, was the first to finish in the women’s class in 4:42:05; however, she did not have much company from our other girls. This time Hans Chr Møller crossed the finishing line before Kaj Madsen, DN. Kaj finished in 2:55:55 and Hans Chr in 2:51:54.
Also in this race several Danfoss companies were represented – runners from Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Denmark participated.
See map: stock.gif
One of the reasons why Stockholm Marathon did not attract so many members may be the fact that in autumn this year there was a marathon race across the Lillebælt bridges. With 3600 runners this race was a new Danish record. 45 Danfoss members participated, of which 10 were running their first marathon race. After the race Danfoss Kolding was our host.
Results and times:
Above age 60: 1) Kaj H.R. Nielsen, 3:33:59, 2) Hans Jürgensen, 4:28:29
Age 50-59: 1) Rasmus Caspersen, 3:29:59, 2) Erik Schulz, 3:51:32
Age 40-49: 1) Kaj Madsen 2:47:49, 2) Hans Chr Møller, 2:50:50
Age 30-39: 1) Niels Dejgaard Pedersen, 3:17:49, 2) Kristen Langkjær, 3:31:31
Below 30: 1) Birthe Reese 3:27:02, 2) Dan Otzen 3:45:50
Members: 112 (11 September)
1996
14th INTERNATIONAL ATHENS PEACE MARATHON, “GRIGORISLABRAKIS”, Sunday 20 October:
The race in Athens is named after “Grigoris Labrakis”, a Greek patriot and athletic, who was shot during a demonstration in 1963. In this year’s race 3422 runners participated. The high number of participants was achieved because the race celebrated its 100 years’ anniversary, and the route selected was almost identical to the one from the first Olympic games in 1896: From the Marathon Plain to the beautiful Olympic stadium in Athens, built in marble. Normally this race has approx. 900 participants. So unfortunately, the high number of participants caused some chaos at the starting point in Marathon. There was no water during the race and no medals for the runners who were not so fast. We did, though, receive very nice diplomas but without name and time registered which you had to add by yourself!
Many Danfoss runners, 36 members in total, had decided to take part in this “original” marathon race. And once again we brought many supporters for back up.
See map: dkd.jpg
Birthe Reese, DN came in first in the women’s class (3:49), fastest among the men was Ejgil Eriksen, DK (2:54).
Our Greek Danfoss agent, Crogenic, was our host Sunday evening in a restaurant called Old Horse Stable. We had an unforgettable evening with Greek food, wine, music, singing, and dancing.
Our trip to Athens was a great experience in an atmosphere of good companionship.
Members: 117 (10 October)
1997
Berlin Marathon is the race in Europe with the second highest number of participants. This year 15500 runners from 73 countries were running, of these 1739 were Danish. The reason why the race is so popular in Scandinavia is that the organisation behind is considered the best in the world. The route is flat, perhaps the fastest in the world and many Danfoss runners managed to set a personal record.
48 runners (guests included) participated and all of them made it to the finish line. 5 were participating in their first marathon race. 20 personal records contributed to making this race a huge athletic success for us.
Danfoss Germany was our host after the race.
See map: berlin.gif
Members: 131 (16. September)
1998
6 June:
For this 1/2 marathon race on the new bridge crossing Storebælt we could have used a hammock, because we spent quite a lot of time waiting both before and after the race. The race started in Nyborg with finishing line in Korsør, from where busses took the runners back to Nyborg, or it was possible to go back by train. It was a fantastic experience to run across Storebælt and more than 80 Danfoss runners participated.
25 July:
Only 10 Danfoss runners joined this trip to Helsinki Marathon. The route led us trough the streets of Helsinki and along the city shores, which made the route very beautiful but also tough. After the race Danfoss Finland was our host.
Name
Nationality Marathon time
Jennifer Hutchins US
4.31.25
Inge Madsen
DK
4.57.14
Hanne Knudsen
DK
4.45.59
Hans Chr Møller
DK
2.58.42
Kaj M.T. Madsen DK
3.00.03
Jürgen Babendererde D
3.48.24
Heinz-Georg Walter D
3.49.44
Harry Nicolai
DK
4.01.24
Ib Hansen
DK
4.17.45
Lars Pahlman
FI
4.35.0
1999
23 May:
Around 7000 runners from many different countries participated in Prague Marathon. Approx. 100 of these represented Denmark. From Danfoss Marathon Club 24 runners took part.
The route took us through the old part of Prague city on old paving stones across Charles Bridge followed by approx. 10 km along the Moldau river and finally through the historical part of Prague.
After the race – and upon all our efforts - we were invited by Tomas Maka from Danfoss’ sales office in Prague to join a typical Czech dinner.
Den 12. juni:
Several of us had been running in the other bridge races: Marathon across the two Lillebælt bridges in 1995 and “DET STORE BROLØB” across the new Storebælt Bridge in 1998. So, of course we wanted to join the race across the new Øresund Bridge, as well. Approximately 93,000 runners had registered for this 1/2 marathon race.
The race was organized by Sparta and the Malmö club MAI. During the day from 9.40 to about 17.00 runners were starting continuously. Wheelchairs and elite runners started before, though. The Danish runners were running across the bridge from Denmark to Sweden and then going back to Denmark by bus. Runners from Sweden were taken by bus to Denmark and were running back to Sweden.
Members of Danfoss Marathon Club participated in this race, but because of the high number of runners we were running only partly as a team! Read more about Grete’s experiences from the race: Broloebet.pdf
15th Kaiser's-Plus
Budapest Marathon
® 20001. oktober
Danfoss Marathon Club visited Budapest and 30 Danfoss runners participated in Budapest Marathon on Sunday, 1 October 2000.
Budapest Marathon is not among the greatest international city marathons. A total of approximately 3,000 runners completed the race, which was at the same time a great festival for families with children who could take part in a lot of activities in the city park, which was also the centre of the marathon race.
The race route took the runners through the streets of Budapest along the Danube River past the many impressive and famous buildings, which made Budapest one of Europe’s magnificent places 100 years ago. The race was a tough experience for the runners – perhaps due to a strong wind from the south and from time to time a high concentration of moisture in the air.
The fastest Danfoss runner was Preben Knudsen from Danfoss Viby who finished in three hours and six minutes. Fastest among the women was Bente Justesen from the Building Office in Nordborg, who finished in four hours and 15 minutes.
To be a Dane in Budapest turned out to be something really special since on that Sunday the Danish national women’s handball team won the Olympic gold medals in Sydney leaving – yes, Hungary! – with the silver medals. With the Danfoss logo and Danish flags we were easy to spot and received on that account many positive congratulations, - however, also a few less friendly comments!
Danfoss Budapest organized a perfect final – to end our stay in Budapest as they invited runners and supporters for dinner on Sunday night. Thank you to Danfoss Budapest for a fine event.
See route , photos, and results
2001
Copenhagen Marathon 20. maj:
This Marathon was a kind of anniversary for the Danfoss Marathon Club. It
was ten years ago a Danfoss company team participated in a Marathon. The club
was established in Paris 1992.
The Danfoss team had 24 runners. Not unexpectedly Bente
Justensen was the fastest Danfoss-runner in the women’s class. Kaj Madsen was
first for Danfoss in the men’s class.
Sunday evening runners and supporters had dinner in a
restaurant called Herzegovina in Tivoli.
