Bislett 24-Hour Indoor Challenge

Event Overview

Course & Terrain

Fixed-time 24-hour race on the indoor track two floors below street level at Bislett Stadium. The organizer gives the lap as 546.5 m, the length AIMS measured in 2022. Only the 24-hour result and the 100-mile split are official; the 6-hour, 12-hour and 100 km splits are published as unofficial results.

Key course features to know before comparing this race:

• Indoor track under the Bislett Stadium stands, entered from Sofies gate
• Support zone and the organizer’s service station on the sprint straight
• Direction changes at 4:00 PM, 10:00 PM and 4:00 AM in the 2025 schedule
• 24-hour live TV from DirekteSport in recent editions

All runners have the same right to the inside lane, so faster runners pass on the outside. Runners walking side by side must leave the inside lane free, and nobody may stop, sit or lie on the track. Shoes may have a sole no thicker than 40 mm and only one carbon plate, and spot checks are possible. Running shirtless is not allowed.

The race is indoors, but the organizer warns that the track was not built for so many people over so long and that it manages the temperature only by opening and closing doors. Bring layers for a space that can feel too warm or too cold.

Entry & Logistics

Why This Race Matters

Bislett 24 is a 24-hour race on the indoor running track beneath the stands of Bislett Stadium in central Oslo. It was first held in 2006, and 2026 is the 19th edition and the ninth organized by Romerike Ultraløperklubb; the 2020 race was cancelled because of COVID-19. The organizer calls it “the year’s longest Christmas party” and describes it as probably Norway’s most high-profile ultra event, and Kondis lists it as a quality-certified race. Demand in 2025 led the organizer to switch to a lottery for 2026. Both course records date from 2021: Allan Hovda ran 264.887 km, then a Norwegian best, and Therese Falk ran 261.170 km, which the organizer called a European best. The 2025 race was also the Norwegian 24-hour championship, the seventh time Bislett held that status.

Historical benchmark notes in the directory record (verify current records with the linked official sources):

• Course records: men 264.887 km, Allan Hovda, 2021; women 261.170 km, Therese Falk, 2021 (organizer’s 2025 participant information).
• Hovda’s 264.887 km was a Norwegian best when he set it, beating the 257 km Bjørn Tore Kronen Taranger ran at Bislett in 2015, which was itself a Norwegian record. Jo Inge Norum raised the Norwegian record to 285.513 km at the 2025 World Championships in Albi.
• Falk’s 261.170 km in 2021 improved her own Norwegian record, and the organizer and Kondis called it a European best.
• Most wins: Bjørn Tore Kronen Taranger won the men’s race five times (2012, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2022), and Therese Falk was first woman four times (2015, 2016, 2019 and 2021), according to DUV.
• Fastest 100-mile split in DUV’s records for the race: Ingrid Margrethe Lid, 13:46:23 in 2023. In 2025 she ran 258.210 km, the furthest of any runner that year.

Preparing for a Race Like Bislett 24-Hour Indoor Challenge

The 24-hour race guide covers the format as a whole. These guides go deeper:

• 24-hour races explained: How the format works and what to compare before entering.
• How to train for a 24-hour race: Progression, walking, night-gear practice, fueling and tapering.
• 24-hour race pacing strategy: Conservative starts, run/walk options and late-race reassessment.
• What to eat during a 24-hour race: Food choices, stomach problems, hydration and caffeine.

Best Fit

• Runners who want a first or faster 24-hour in a controlled indoor setting
• Nordic runners chasing the performance medal for 150 km (men) or 130 km (women)
• Athletes who like a full-service race with a lively crowd and live TV

Planning Notes

• Start conservatively and use flexible process checkpoints for effort, walking, food, fluid, alertness, and symptoms instead of forcing one hourly distance target.
• Repetitive surfaces can expose fit, friction, and loading problems. Check in when symptoms or conditions change, and use only footwear already tested for the course.
• The directory marks this as having comparatively simpler logistics. That editorial label is not a safety rating; verify cutoffs, terrain, support, crew access, and withdrawal procedures.
• Places are allocated by lottery, so plan for the May registration window
• A 546.5 m indoor lap means close quarters with about 160 runners
• Supporters must stay in the support zone and cannot use the service station
• The 2026 rules and schedule may differ from the 2025 participant information

Event FAQs

Related Preparation

• Browse the curated 24-hour race calendar
• Compare this race in the full 2026 calendar
• Browse the 24-hour race calendar
• Open the 24-Hour format guide
• Compare all race formats
• Use the timed-race pace calculator
• Build a crew and drop-bag plan
• Build a race-specific gear checklist