A Morning Run in Copenhagen

29 April 2012

216 Comments

I grabbed the opportunity to join in the fun by running the 5k wordpress run. A brilliant idea by WordPress – you simply run/walk/skip/dance/jog/skate/ 5k wherever you are in this world and then you blog about it.

As some of you may know I am visiting Copenhagen, and what better way to breathe in my old city than by running through its beautiful streets? I long to see  the little mermaid again – to give her a good morning kiss. I’m up and out by 7am – the only thing I forgot while planning this – a terrible jet-lag.

So off I go and this just proves that as soon as you get yourself out there it is amazing!! It’s absolutely fabulous – I have Copenhagen all to myself and the sun is rising, the air is fresh and not a person in the streets.

Right away, I meet this lovely little family:

I continue out to Langelinje and pass Gefion springvandet – revisiting my childhood.

Copenhagen is the “city of towers” and when I turn around I see the tower of the old stone English church where I was married and behind its steeple, the magnificent dome of the Marble church right next to where we live when we are here in Copenhagen.

I continue my run along Langelinje enjoying the fresh sea breeze and my solitude on the path.

Suddenly I see her sitting there in the morning sun. The little mermaid – I love her – and either my jet-lag or the sea breeze is suddenly making my eyes moisty.

I turn around and run back towards the city center – wanting to enjoy more of the city in the early morning sun.

Past Amalienborg, where Queen Margrethe lives – a beautiful palace in the center of Copenhagen with the Marble Church in the background. Past the small dock where the royal family, kids, grandchildren, and 2 dachshunds embark on their way to other parts of Denmark – we are in the land of the vikings remember, so by ship of course.

Run, run, run – I am honestly enjoying this run through Wonderful Copenhagen that holds so much  history, culture, architecture and beauty. An adventure through my own city and I mindfully see things that I just took for granted when I lived here. I am loving every minute.

I reach the old harbour – Nyhavn – a romantic place from the seafaring days but  today is full of restaurants and cafes. The place where everyone longs to sit outside in the sunshine and well into the long light summer nights.

This morning it is still quiet but later today it will be packed full of people enjoying life in the sunny side of the street!

And the quiet side of Nyhavn on the other side

Round the corner from Nyhavn I almost fall into a pile of bikes! Copenhagen is a paradise for many things among them cycling. And there are many bicycles!

How about this cute “bike-dress”!

I fell in love with this old lamp on my way home

And this adorable door

I love running – I can explore, I can experience, I can inhale life, I can do it anytime,  it’s cheap, I don’t have to book or reserve – I just do it, anytime, anywhere, anyplace.

On the way home I run into “Joe and the Juice” and get a big glass of Arth Away – a glass of green juice made from fresh spinach, apples and pineapple – I’m off to enjoy the rest of the day! Wishing you all a beautiful Sunday.

216 thoughts on “A Morning Run in Copenhagen”

  4. Oh, I love it! Running is the best way to explore and enjoy a city – especially in the early morning hours. Thank you for the photographs. I’ve never been to Copenhagen and I can see that it is a beautiful place!

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  8. I loved this city when I visited one summer. Glad to see it still thriving and I must admit that I am a bit envious! The gardens tie me up these days and travel is out of the question. Congrats on FP. Please visit my blog/world. D.

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  10. Very cool! I did the run with my network as well. I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of people to show up. You can check out my page on it if you like 🙂

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  15. I’m buying tickets to Copenhagen immediately. Just to get in a good run! Keep hearing the song from the movie Hans Christian Andersen (with Danny Kay)….

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  17. Pingback: Sunrise Exercise: The Plan « EmbraceLife23

  19. Loved taking this tour with you through Copenhagen. I am a runner, myself, and understand exactly what you mean when you talk about being able to explore and see things you might otherwise not get to see simply by virtue of traveling on foot. (I experienced the same wonderment last spring when I toured the Bay area of San Francisco via early morning run.) I have to say, one really gets the sense of running along with you – that you wrote this all in real-time (‘on the run’, as it were). Lovely photos, too (esp the churches). Really makes me want to visit Denmark. Cheers 🙂

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  22. what a great idea! I did a run through New York with an organised tour company. It was a fantastic way to see a part I hadn’t seen (it was around Astoria in Queens) and it REALLY helped to get over jet lag

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  27. Those are all really good points about why yoga is amazing. I love going for a run when I’m frustrated about something, everything straightens out and becomes more clear.

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  29. Lovely! I just got my first USA Passport with the help of my fiancee in Ukraine and we speak about your land often to visit it. Congrats on being Pressed like the cyclists Freshly upon the canal.

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  32. Love it!! From the otherside of the world, its inspiring to see such beautiful pictures of your home town!!

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  34. That’s a great idea! I wish i had known about the 5k blog thing sooner… i would have planned better lol it looks like you had a great morning run!

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  36. Hi Anne. I went on a trips to the Scandinavian countries when I was in high school and Copenhagen was by far my favorite place to visit. Thanks for taking me back. Congrats on the Freshly Pressed as well.

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  40. What a great post. The pics are beautiful!!! I grew up in Solvang California, ‘The Danish Capital of America’, so I would love to visit Denmark 1 day (I even have a post about Solvang, too!).

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  43. The strangest thought just ran through my mind: I thought, “I could really curl up in one of those boats and take a peaceful nap….” The waterfront is awful packed, but it looks so peaceful and dreamy. I need to go there!

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  53. I loved this so much. I went to Copenhagen for the first time last month and was so disappointed to have not brought my running shoes because I wanted this exact same experience. I adored Nyhavn and was lucky enough to have sunny weather so I could eat my meals on the harbor in the sunshine. Loved it!

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  56. One of my favorite ways to explore a new city is with an early morning run. Dawn light is the best for discovery, I think. Seeing your photos and descriptions of Copenhagen is making me want to visit! Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed, keep running and writing.

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  58. Thanks for sharing! Your photos bring back memories of walking around Copenhagen. Only I’ve never been fortunate enough to visit outside of winter! Copenhagen would be a beautiful place for a 5k run! 🙂

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  59. Thanks for sharing! Your photos bring back lots of good memories of walking around Copenhagen. Only, I’ve never had the good fortune to visit during the spring! Copenhagen would be a lovely place for running a 5k. 🙂

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  65. Exploring known and unknown cities on foot is a feeling like none other. Thanks for the beautiful pictures. I especially like the ducks, I always feel privileged to coexist with animals on my runs 🙂

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  66. Wonderful photos. I am trying to take up a little running again, but so far not working out. I may just have to opt to stay with biking, still a noble sport.

    Congratulations on being FP’d.

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  69. How beautiful! It’s amazing how you captured the very essence of where you were! I felt as if I were right there with you : ) Thanks for sharing, not just the pictures, but the personal stories behind them.

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  71. What is it about going home or to a place that feels like home that makes you appreciate it so much more. Thank you for not only taking a run and describing how you felt, but also taking pictures so that we could also feel almost like we were alongside you! And it goes without saying, your hometown is beautiful and the mermaid makes me misty too!

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  72. Thank you for sharing your beautiful run through Copenhagen. We appreciate what we have been without for a season, especially if it is a beautiful place. I appreciate that you not only described your feelings of an early run, but also took the time to take the photos. I feel as blessed as if I had been there with you!

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  73. I love this! I might be going to Copenhagen to study abroad next year and it looks lovely! I especially can’t wait to do my morning runs there:) Thank you for this!

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  77. I was there, oh, 40 years ago, and thought it was wonderful. This makes me want to go back. Your photos are lovely — nice eye.

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  79. I’ve been to Copenhagan! A beautiful city indeed. Did you pass any of those amazing bakeries with the fresh bread in the window on your run? That’s what I remember on those early mornings. I adore the photos of the harbor and the ships…most definitely where I would spend my time! I long to hear the accents of those people again.

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  82. What a brilliant idea – not just the run but using it to describe the city! I really want to go there now – your pictures are wonderful (love the bike – I want one!)

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  83. Wow, your early morning photos are beautiful without all the hustle bustle of people that you mentioned would be out and about shortly. Fantastic and beautiful images. Thank you so much for sharing them with me (everyone). What a colorful and wonderful blog. Great job!

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  84. Great post – I need to go running in Copenhagen soon – it’s only 20 km from here!

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  88. What a lovely post.. I”m proud to say I call Copenhagen home right now as well, what better way to explore the beauties of this city? Thanks for the pictures!

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  89. Beautiful! I wish I’d known about that wordpress 5k. I might just do it anyway hehe (c: Thanks for the wonderful commentary and the photos. I want to come visit Copenhagen now!

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  90. Obviously, you took some breaks on your run to snap photographs. That was a fun time, glad to take the run with you, even if only in my mind. Copenhagen is a beautiful city.

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  91. Running in a different/new city is always exciting and you have captured this perfectly in your narrative and photos. Thanks for sharing. Btw a dip in the Baltic is always refreshing after a run – there are great places you can do this in Copenhagen. Wallpaper travel guide goes into more detail ;o)

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  92. My mom has run in Copenhagen many times – one of her favorite spots to run along the 5 pools or lakes. It is one of her favorite cities and she has seen a lot of the world a place everyone should visit. She was a flight attendant for many years and early morning runs in cities around the world were one of her favorite things to do! Unfortunately, I did not get there before we moved back to the US.

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  93. Lovely run – lovely photos – from a lovely city – almost as lovely as Århus 😉
    Freshly pressed gives a lot of attention – and so many visits! This was also my first …
    See you again!

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  94. Aww Copenhagen is such a storybook little town. I love the simplicity of the place. Thank you for sharing. Would LOVE to go biking in a place like this….with a girl, of course lol

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  100. Looks like a beautiful city. I have a niece who will be studying there next year, and now I know I want to visit her there! Congrats on being freshly pressed 🙂

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  101. Will you really get through all these comments?! I loved your blog and pictures. My friend is from Denmark and visiting there now–made me wish I was there–and feel like I was at the same time. Great job!

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    • I am working my way through all these wonderful comments and every one of them makes so happy – thank you all!! And thank you Arla for your comment, hope you will visit Copenhagen one day 🙂

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  105. Congrats on being FP! Beautiful pics of a wonderful city. Thanks for taking me down memory lane – I’ve visited Copenhagen and hope to return some day. Happy travels.

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  107. I was in Copenhagen many years ago so thanks for the memories and as a big Hands Christian Anderson fan (I love the Snow Queen and the Little Match Girl) I love the little mermaid!

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  112. Loved this story! Not only did it bring back the visual memories of my first international trip at 17 years old (now 16 years later) but it also made me remember my youthfull innocence. Running and blogging, love it! I’m going to try it and in turn give my lovely city in South Africa a platform.

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  113. Good posts with amazing pictures. Looks like a beautiful place to visit and RUN. Good job on your mindset about running some people don’t understand the importance of health improvement and I dont mean just physical health but emotional and spiritual. Because when you run you not only experience physical health by making body movements but also you enjoy emotional feelings of what your eyes see and the understanding you discover on your way.

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  118. What a lovely post! Running is also my favourite way to explore a new place. I have only been to Copenhagen once, for a Canoe Polo tournament, and oh! It is a beautiful city, and your lovely photographs brought back many memories 🙂

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  122. Glad I clicked on the link. I have recently been sorting through my grandfathers photo’s he took while traveling the world in 1957 and there was one of the mermaid and I always wondered where it was taken. He wasn’t great at writing on them! I think there is also one of Nyhavn restaurant/cafe strip. It hasn’t changed much although it looked like you could park cars out the front.

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  126. Running is my favorite way to explore cities! When I was studying abroad I made it a mission to run through all the cities we stayed the night it. Nancy, Dijon, Oxford, Bath, you name it. New mission: go on a run in Copenhagen!! It looks beautiful.

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  131. I love how you photographed your city from the viewpoint of a runner. I always run and see things differently than when I walk or drive. Simply FANTASTIC! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

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  132. I was in Copenhagen two years ago and loved the city. The sight of all the bicycles is fascinating. Unfortunately the Little Mermaid was away in China for exhibition there but Hans Christian Anderson ‘s statue made up for it.

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  139. Thanks for sharing your photos! I have been to Copenhagen last summer and those photos brought back many memories. Thank you for that! It is a lovely city.

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  141. This is so beautiful! I wish I could be a morning person as well, not so lazy as I am now,so I could push myself to run,

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  146. Congratulations, Anne! The pictures you made are fabulous. It seems you could capture the real spirit of the city. I’ve been to Copenhagen last in year and I simply fell in love with this incredible city. It’s my favorite place in Europe. Thanks for bringing back my memories from there 🙂

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  148. Reblogged this on Dark of the Matinee and commented:
    Έχω παρατηρήσει ότι σας αρέσουν τα αφιερώματα στις ευρωπαϊκές πόλεις. Έτσι σήμερα σας παρουσιάζω την Κοπεγχάγη το πρωί. Μου έδωσε ιδέα να κάνω και γω το ίδιο στην Πάτρα!

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  151. Love, love, love Denmark! When I was in elementary school in No. VA, many years ago, my girlfriend’s family was Danish. They made sure our class got to visit the Embassy in D.C. It was lovely, I’ve never forgotten it! Since that visit, I have had a great appreciation for your country. Beautiful post! Congradulations for being on Freshly Pressed!

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  156. Loved reading this. I visited Copenhage and few years ago and fell in love with the gorgeous city. Your run captured so many of the highlights of a remarkable city!

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  158. A wonderful ‘blog’ Anne. The pictures brought back many memories. I did so enjoy my many visits to Denmark – it’s such an interesting and beautiful country. Your description of the city and your obvious joy in running through it, made me wish I wasn’t so old and unable to even walk through this city (Victoria). It sounds as if “green” smoothies have become popular there too. You picked a good time for your trip – perfect weather. Goodnight – Pat

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  159. Thank you for sharing our beautyful city! Great pics … I´m wondering if you really were running, beeing able to do all these nice shots 😉 Keep running and sharing!

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    • Thank you! I run the “Galloway way” – walk/run. This gives me plenty of time to enjoy the places I run and take photos and get some exercise at the same time. Fun run! 🙂

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      • Sounds amazing. I did´nt know about the “Galloway way” 😉 … My running has a more meditative approach “High speed and mind blowing” 😀

        By the way, you might be able to give me a hint regarding wordpress blogging? I´m looking for a way to add the facebook, twitter, wordpress-like and linked in buttons to my posts. But I haven´t managed yet :-/ … Thanks in advance, I would really appreciate and advice here.

      • Sounds great!! Running really can be meditative 🙂
        You go into Dashboard then Settings then there is another link called “Sharing” and there you have all the options both for sharing and adding Facebook, Twitter ect so people can share your blog too.
        Hope this helps! Have a great weekend!

  160. That’s it! I’m moving to Copenhagen. Maybe that would finally motivate me to get off my duff and go running! Great pics, thanks for sharing 🙂

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  161. Love your post. I have been to Kopenhagen in September 2010 and I fell in love with it. I love to friendly people and architecture! A place I will def. visit again. Nice to see places I have been as well. Great idea about the 5 k run anywhere, anytime….
    x

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  165. Thanks Anne, what a perfect post for me: I’ll be working for a couple of days in Copenhagen in October, I’ll be running there (as everywhere I am), and as a vegan and juice lover I was so happy to see you mention a spot that sells green juices! 🙂

    Reply

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