What is it that Klara appreciates about nature? “Nature helps me to relax and clear my mind. I feel free. And then it's also a time to take in all the beauty we have around us and are part of, regardless of the season, from trees and flower buds to birds chirping, autumn leaves, fog, expanses, the scent of moss and crisp air”.
Her interest in running began almost 20 years ago when her sister-in-law, who worked in a running shoe store, helped her find her first proper running shoes. “I was around 25 at the time, and that was the start of my running journey,” says Klara. In the years that followed, she ran for the exercise - and for the feeling of freedom.” Running became my breathing space and meditation, where the attraction to get out into nature to breathe the fresh forest air, hear the birds, and see the wide-open spaces, only increased.”
But after two pregnancies, everything changed. “My body couldn't run anymore; I stopped running for almost eight years. It was like grief.”
Rehabilitation, cycling, and persistence helped to some extent, but it was only after an operation and a chance meeting with a running group on social media that the turnaround came. “I had never heard of running technique - you just run, right? But after the first session with the group, I was hooked. The pain disappeared, I learned how to run correctly, and felt a huge sense of gratitude for getting my body back.”
Since then, running has once again become a natural part of Klara's life. She runs two to three times a week, on weekend mornings before the kids wake up or during dog walks. And her favorite run? A 10-kilometer run, preferably in the forest or along the sea. “Running in nature helps me clear my mind, relax, and just be. It's like meditation in motion.”
A particular milestone in her running life was when she ran her first Pink Ribbon race after her break. “I think I smiled the whole race. It was a pure victory that my body could do it.” Since then, she has participated in the Lidingöloppet's various races five times and now dreams of one day completing a trail race in the mountains.
Before a race, she loads up with pasta the night before, porridge in the morning, and a banana an hour before the start. Sleep is important - and so is sticking to the routines that make training possible in everyday life.
Tips for beginners
For beginners, she has one clear piece of advice: “Find what motivates you. My mantra on tough days is 'never regret a workout'. And think about how you'll feel afterwards - that usually gets me out the door, even when it's gray and drizzling. Visualize a reward for yourself after the run, such as a cup of tea under a blanket, or snuggling up in front of a fire.” She also suggests joining a running group: “You'll get technique, variety, and lots of encouragement from others in the group.”
Klara concludes by describing her favorite moment on the trail: an early morning along the coast of Gotland, with a view of the Karlsöarna islands, the sun just rising, the birds chirping, the crisp air and the animals letting her pass in silence. “These are the moments that make me never want to stop running”.
And for Klara, spending time in nature has always been a given, and as a new member of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, she encourages others to join. “In these times of climate change and rising temperatures on earth - it has never been more important”, Klara concludes.
Do you also want to become a member of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation? Read more about it here!
