The Swedish spring celebration Valborg is often associated with student culture and alcohol, but this year the celebration will be accompanied by a sober alternative with a focus on health and wellbeing - Kausläppet 2024.
– We’re hoping that a lot of students, teachers and other members of staff want to join this sober activity, says student Henrik Karlsson Skog.
He and Emil Turborn are doing their practical placement as part of the event team behind Kausläppet, which is an initiative by the Student Health Services and the Sports and Health Coaching Programme in collaboration with Karlstad Student Union, student associations and the university.
Kausläppet is a five-kilometre race, starting and finishing by the outdoor gym next to House 21. There is a natural explanation why they chose to place the race in connection with Valborg:
– It’s because we want to introduce a sober activity on a day that is traditionally associated with partying and alcohol in student circles, says Mira Fielding, counsellor at the Student Health Services.
– We learned about the plans for Kausläppet via our supervisors and thought it would be an interesting event to join for our practical placement. We’re in an intensive phase of the final stage, says Emil Turborn, and Henrik Karlsson Skog agrees.
Both of them have participated in several running races in the past and find it exciting to be part of the other side this time, as organisers.
Kausläppet starts at the outdoor gym next to House 21 and covers a five-kilometre track in the woods north of the university, finishing back at the outdoor gym.
– The student union is planning several festive activities in this location during Valborg, so it’s a good idea to have the start and finish in the same place, says Mira Fielding.
She says that the hope is for Kausläppet to become a Valborg tradition at Karlstad University and that this first race will be a test of interest, the track and organisation of the race.
– The idea is that Kausläppet will attract amateur runners as well as experienced runners who want to finish on a specific time or place or perhaps use it as a practice run in preparation for other races later in the year. We are also hoping for sponsoring so that we can offer nice prizes. The more sponsoring, the better the prizes, says Mira Fielding.
– We invite everyone who can to join. University staff can use their weekly wellness hour to take part in the race.
Kausläppet 2024 starts at 10.30, Tuesday 30 April. You can find more information about the race and how to register here:
