The Jogging boom
Field Adventures
In the 70s and 80s, Norwegians laced up their sneakers and joined the joggebølgen — the great “jogging boom.” As our friend Thor Gotaas points out in Running: A Global History, running used to be something only athletes — or people running from the cops — did.
Then came jogging. Born in New Zealand, hyped in the U.S., and suddenly everywhere. Norwegians hit the streets in droves chasing health, fun and a bit of fresh air. Marathons, fun runs and local street races exploded.
Running — the mother of all sports — became more than a workout. It became a lifestyle. And for many, it quickly turned from weekend hobby to full-blown addiction. The good kind.
As our friend Thor states it: Life is movement.
Now? We’re riding a new wave. Different shoes, same old itch to move.
Thor Gotaas is a Norwegian author, folklorist, and cultural historian known for his quirky deep dives into outsider communities and endurance sports. He’s written 40+ books on everything from vagabonds and ski bums to ultrarunners and oddballs. If it’s weird, wild, or wonderfully Norwegian—Thor’s probably written about it.
He gained international recognition with Running: A Global History, and is well known in Norway for books like Femmila (about the legendary 50 km ski race) and På loffen (about drifters and wanderers).
SHOP RUNNING: A GLOBAL HISTORY (ENGLISH)SHOP RUNNING: A GLOBAL HISTORY (NORWEGIAN)