 About Björn Suneson
About Björn Suneson
Occupation: Former economics reporter on the Svenska Dagbladet in Stockholm. Now
happily retired a few years before I should have left the job.
Age: 64
Training: An awful lot, often long distances but mostly in a playful and adventurous way. No
background as an athlete. Started running as late as at the age of 35. Have now been running
for 30 years, a total distance of about 840 000 miles, which is equal to more than three times
round the globe. For the last ten years I’ve had an annual average of about 4100 miles which
makes almost 80 miles a week. Before I used to train three times a day but now I train 1-
2 times and usually have one day of rest per week. Have almost never had any injuries. My
priority is distance before quality training and most of my training is moderate running for
long distances.
Sports club: Since 2012 I compete for Vallentuna FK. It used to be Majornas IK where I still
am a member.
Competitions: Mainly marathons and half marathons.
Marathons: 61 runs, the fastest in 2.51 (Söderhamn 1991). My best run with age taken in
consideration was 2005 in Hamburg where at the age of 57 I made it in 2.55. I’ve made
at least one marathon a year since my debut in 1982. For many years I’ve been one of the
best runners in Sweden in my age group in the marathon and half marathon. My 3.12 in the
Stockholm Marathon in 2011 was the best time that year in Sweden for men of 60 or older.
Half marathons: My fastest 1.20.00 (Gävle). Best run in the Göteborgsvarvet as a 58 year old
in 1.25 37. Have run about 100 half marathons.
Ultra runs: I don’t compete in such races but I’ve made many long solo runs in Sweden and in
the USA, among others:
* 2004 Stockholm-Göteborg, 325 miles with a backpack.
* 2005 Chicago-New Orleans, 995 miles with a backpack.
* 2006 Stockholm-Kramfors, 370 miles with a stroller.
* 2007 Coast to coast in the USA, 3170 miles in 95 days solo from Florence, OR to Virginia
Beach, VA
* 2008 Denver, CO-Oklahoma City, OK, 620 miles with a stroller together with my brother
Jan on roller-blades.
* 2010 Coast to coast in the USA, 3325 miles in 101 days solo from Westport, WA to Tybee
Island, GA
* 2011 Stockholm-Mölle, 390 miles in 11 days with a stroller.
Om March 19 2012 I start my third coast to coast run in the USA, over 3100 miles, from
Seaside, OR till Ocean Grove, NJ. Since 1909 a total of 262 people have crossed the
American continent on foot and most of them have had an accompanying car. 28 people have
done it twice, one person four times. If I succeed there is only one person in the world who
has done it more times but nobody without company. On top of that I’ll be one of the world’s
oldest coast to coast runners.
Family: Married to Sofia who I have five children with, two of which still live at home.
Motto: Keep on running!
Updated January 6 2012
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