Norwegian Festival Grete’s Great Gallop / Norway Run / Troll Stroll - Event Gallery

October 3, 2009 [Local Gallery] [Video] [Norway Run Results] [Grete's Great Gallop Results]

The Norwegian Festival celebrates the culture, music, food, fun, and runners of Norway. The Norway Run, a 1.7-mile race, Grete’s Great Gallop, a half-marathon named after nine-time New York City Marathon champion Grete Waitz, and the Troll Stroll, a kids’ race, made up the athletic portion of the day. Runners and friends gathered at the Bandshell for post-race entertainment.

Ambassador Sissel Breie (center), Consulate General of Norway, posed with musicians before the races.	Students from the KIPP Academy Charter School in the Bronx joined in the fun.	Friends from the Consulate General of Norway enjoyed waffles for breakfast.	The fleetest locals flood the start line at the Norway Run.
Gunvor Eldegard of Manhattan was pleased to honor her roots.	Runners traveled far to participate—Frank Bauer and Katja Benninghaus hail from Frankfurt.	Consummate champion Grete Waitz proudly held the finish line tape.	Mohammed Awol, WSX, completed the course in a flash.
Maria Lauretani’s 9:44 earned her a trip to Norway.	The forecasted rain didn’t dampen the Grete’s Great Gallop competition.	These runners were pumped to begin their 13.1-mile journey around Central Park.	Grete Waitz high-fived runners as they passed through the start area.
Team for Kids, adult runners who support kids’ running programs, showed their green spirit.	Humid conditions didn’t slow Ketema Nigusse, WSX, who broke the tape in 1:06:52.	Buzunesh Deba’s 1:14:52 winning time proves that she’s in good shape for her ING New York City Marathon debut.	Many children showed off painted faces as they completed the Troll Stroll.
Participants got their arms adorned with temporary flag tattoos.	Traditional Norwegian music and dancing followed the races.	Bagles, lox, and…barbarians? No, just friendly Vikings.	StatoilHydro donated money to Right to Play (RTP); Sissel Breie (left), Mario Argote, RTP’s deputy national director (center), and RTP athlete and three-time Olympian Devon Harris displayed the check.