Birkir
GENERAL MANAGER, RUNNING GUIDE, PT
Running has been a way of life for Birkir since childhood. Enjoying the ride is a priority to him. Which is why running in scenic pearls of nature is by far his favorite type of running.
Before discovering trail running, Birkir used to race regularly in road races. Even though competing is not his focus, Birkir still likes to participate in various running events. He has done the Vibram Hong Kong 100, Laugavegur Ultra (55 km) and Hengill Ultra (50 miles) with good results.
Probably the country´s only male who has more shoes than his wife, Birkir is slightly obsessed with running shoes. He is a physical therapist and holds lectures on running shoes, running form and injury prevention. He is happy to discuss these and give advice if asked.
Birkir loves to meet new people, travel, try different kinds of food and spend time with family and friends. In addition to Icelandic, he speaks excellent English and Swedish.
Birkir is responsible for our local running community called “Náttúruhlaup” (Nature Running). We hold trail running courses for locals three times a year and our all year around running community consist of more than 300 people.
Elísabet
MANAGER, RUNNING GUIDE
Elisabet has been a passionate runner for over ten years and ran her first marathon in 2005. Since 2009 she has competed in many ultra trail races like Laugavegur Ultra in Iceland, Ultra Trail Mt. Fuji in Japan, Ultra Trail du Mt. Blanc (UTMB, TDS and CCC), Lavaredo Ultra Trail and Transgrancanaria. She was the first Icelandic person to finish the gruelling Tor des Géants in Italy, a one stage 340km mountain endurance race.
Elisabet holds a masters degree in nutrition and is addicted to exploring new trails and enjoys the post run bliss with a trip to the local pool, beer and delicious food.
On top of guiding, Elísabet holds 12 week long courses for local ultra runners, assisting them in preparing for their next ultra.
Hanna Maria
PROJECT MANAGER, RUNNING GUIDE
Hanna Maria has worked in tourism almost all her adult life; planning and selling tours around Iceland. She loves to travel and interact with people of different nationalities and cultures. She is icelandic but grew up in Sweden and has also lived in Spain and Honduras.
Hanna had never been a fan of running – or sports in general, for that matter – until 2020 in the midst of public restrictions due to Covid, she discoverer how exhilirating it was to spend time hiking and trail running in the magnificent and peaceful nature of Iceland. After that, there was no turning back and she started running with “Nátturuhlaup”; the local running community.
In January 2022 she joined the Arctic running team, where she helps organize the running tours in Iceland and abroad, and sometimes she steps in as a running coach in the beginnners’ group in “Náttúruhlaup”.
Hanna’s life motto is “Þetta reddast!” (google it! 😊)
Gunnur
RUNNING GUIDE
Gunnur is a physical therapist, professional guide and a mother of three. She loves running in nature, especially in the highlands.
Gunnur´s motto is: "It is never bad weather, only bad clothing". When recovering from running sessions, Gunnur goes swimming in one of Iceland’s great swimming pool or cools off in the cold rivers. Gunnurs favourite drink is clean water from the streams accompanied with honey and chocolate. Gunnur has been teaching first aid for the Icelandic Red Cross. Gunnur speaks Icelandic, English, Danish and Swedish and enjoys getting to know new people from around the globe.
Þóra Bríet
RUNNING GUIDE
Þóra is a ultrarunner and learning to be come a professional guide. Running has always been a part of her life, she is the daughter of Pétur Helgason the founder of Powerade Winter Running and The Spring and Autumn Marathons in Iceland.
Þóra started running with the Arctic Running community Nátturuhlaup as a coach in 2018 and has since ran several ultras, Laugavegur (55 km), North Ultra (56 km) and Hengill Ultra (106 km). The mountains is were Þóra loves to be and to travel with her family, were she finds new trails and can explore nature, meet new people and learn about different cultures.
Þóra speaks fluently English and Danish as she lived in Denmark for over 7 years. Her motto is “enjoythe day, it won’t come back” Þóra sees the positive in every situation and is always smiling, when your are running how can you not?
Halldóra Proppé
RUNNING GUIDE
Halldóra Gyða Matthíasdóttir Proppé, running guide. Halldóra has been running on a regular basis since 2011.
She has finished eight marathons and multiple ultras in Iceland and abroad. To name a few: Laugavegur ultra marathon, The Diagonale des Fous in Réunion Island, Lavaredo Ultra Trail in Italy and CCC in Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc.
Halldóra has also done five Ironman´s and taken part in Cross Country Ski competitions like Vasaloppet and Birkibeinerennet. She has finished the Svenska Klassiker and the Icelandic Landvaettur program.
Halldóra´s vision is to enjoy every minute and moment of her life. BE HAPPY NOW.
Svavar Sigurður
WEB DESIGNER
Svavar grew up in the south part of Iceland and in Sweden. He is a geographer and teacher with degrees from the University of Iceland.
Svavar is a big fan of sports in general and football (soccer) is at the top of his list. Other interests include politics, environmental issues, nature and traveling in Iceland or abroad. However, his favorite moments are with his family.
In 1996, Svavar was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Consequently, running is not an option but he enjoys walking. At Arctic Running, he updates the website and performs various other computer related tasks which suits him well. Svavar started working at Arctic Running in 2013 and loves working in the positive atmosphere that characterises the company culture.
Ingvar
RUNNING GUIDE
Ingvar started running in high school and has competed in running from track races to ultra marathons over his running career. He has been competing in athletics and trail running with the national team and has a few national records.
Over five years ago Ingvar started coaching and guiding for Arctic Running. Over the years he‘s coached multiple beginners trail running programs, guided running trips both for foreigners in Iceland and for Icelanders abroad.
Nowadays he‘s mainly running for the fun of it, taking his son in the stroller, exploring new trails with friends, and enjoying the nature.
Ingvar is educated an engineer and organized as one. He speaks fluently Icelandic and English and knows a bit of Italian. Ingvar enjoys meeting new persons and getting to know different cultures around the globe.
Guðmundur Freyr
RUNNING GUIDE AND PHOTOGRAPHER
Gummi is a mountaineer who actually did not like running until he tried trail running, then there was no turning back. He has been active in outdoor sports and photography since 2005 - from climbing altitude rock and ice in the Alps, paragliding from the top of Icelandic mountains to running trails and paths in Iceland.
The favorite types of adventure for Gummi is mainly in the rural areas Iceland. Trips to the highlands, regardless if the method is hiking, running, cycling or ski winter expedition - it would be his choice of having fun and enjoying life.
Gummi has done the Laugavegur run (55k) but his true passion is running less known routes in the highlands with friends. He also has a unique tradition of climbing mt. Skessuhorn every christmas. An ice climb on an iconic mountain only 1 hour drive from Reykjavík.
