On March 23 this year, Johannes Thingnes Bø ended his biathlon career after nearly 15 years on the World Cup circuit. Just a few weeks later, he debuted in a half marathon at the prestigious Grue-løpene (Grue Races). And now, he’s doing it again. On Saturday, June 14, the biathlon star is set to run the Birken Fjellmaraton (Birken Mountain Marathon).
| Site | Subscription Price | Supported Countries |
|---|---|---|
| FuboTV | 5-day free trial, $10–$90/month | USA, Canada, Spain |
| ESPN+ | $11.99/month | USA |
| Fanatiz | €6.99–€10.99/month | Worldwide |
| StreamLocator | 7-day free trial, no credit card required! $9.90/month | Worldwide |
Thingnes Bø is one of 356 registered participants. The Birken Fjellmaraton is one of two distances that are fully booked for the first time in the event’s history. The 42-kilometer trail race starts at Sjusjøen at 08:30 and finishes at Håkons Hall in Lillehammer.
Switching Sports
When Thingnes Bø retired in March, he joked that his plan was to lie on the couch and get fat.
That’s not how things turned out. Immediately afterward, he sold the roller ski treadmill that had occupied his basement living room for years – he wouldn’t be needing it anymore. Now, the 32-year-old has found a new sport: running. The biathlon star is now working with the German sports giant Adidas.
| Site | Subscription Price | Supported Countries |
|---|---|---|
| FuboTV | 5-day free trial, $10–$90/month | USA, Canada, Spain |
| ESPN+ | $11.99/month | USA |
| Fanatiz | €6.99–€10.99/month | Worldwide |
| StreamLocator | 7-day free trial, no credit card required! $9.90/month | Worldwide |
At his half-marathon debut in Grue on May 1, just a few weeks after ending his biathlon career, he clocked a highly respectable 1:20:19, finishing 77th overall. He admitted he was a little disappointed to miss his dream goal of 1:20 by 19 seconds, but didn’t realize it until later.
Also Read: The best books to pack for your off-season holiday
Fans Beg for a Comeback
After Johannes Thingnes Bø announced his partnership with Adidas, fans began begging him to return to biathlon. But the 32-year-old is keeping his cards close to his chest.
“I retired because I didn’t have time to train. And look at me now: I have time to train because I retired,” Thingnes Bø wrote on Instagram earlier this spring.
| Site | Subscription Price | Supported Countries |
|---|---|---|
| FuboTV | 5-day free trial, $10–$90/month | USA, Canada, Spain |
| ESPN+ | $11.99/month | USA |
| Fanatiz | €6.99–€10.99/month | Worldwide |
| StreamLocator | 7-day free trial, no credit card required! $9.90/month | Worldwide |
Running Fever among Former Athletes
Thingnes Bø isn’t the only athlete to catch the running bug after stepping away from the World Cup.
During his race debut at the Grue Half Marathon, the biathlon star crossed paths with Hans Christer Holund, who retired after the 2023 World Championship season.
For the 34-year-old from Nittedal, his results really took off after he shifted from half marathons to 10-kilometer races. He’s now racking personal bests, and in Grue, the former cross-country skier finished 4th overall in the 10km, smashing his previous PB from the Drammen 10K in April by almost 30 seconds.
Tiril Eckhoff has also laced up her running shoes since retiring. In September, she made her debut at the Oslo Marathon, finishing among the top 50 women.
Are you interested in training for long-distance and traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.
As a member of ProXCskiing.com, you get full access to all content on the site and live streaming of Ski Classics Pro Tour events with English commentary.
When you become part of one of the world’s leading XC ski communities, you will receive many exclusive offers all year round.
REGISTER HERE AS A MEMBER
