Excerpt from the anniversary book "With brisk steps", which was published in connection with the 50th anniversary.

In 1969 I was a soldier in Oksbøl, and I had heard that they were trying to start something in Viborg. So a few of us started training – and then we lined up for the Hærvejsmarch with a soldier team. So it was actually quite by chance that I joined.

The Haervejsmarch has been something of a family tradition. My father helped walk the march for the first 25 years – and every year large parts of the family meet in Viborg in connection with the Haervejsmarch.

The first year I participated as a soldier - in big heavy soldier's boots. There were somewhere between 2,400 and 2,500 of us who registered – and barely 1,800 of us who completed it. The first year we experienced that in some places we were booed when we passed by. But then the number of participants increased dramatically – and then we didn't experience that anymore.

Starting with an Underberg

I still meet one of my soldier buddies from 1969 every year. We have walked the march together for the past 25 years. And another soldier buddie with whom I had been to sergeant school has also joined. He participated in the first years – but did not join the Haervejsmarch for a period of 30 years. When he then called and said he would like to walk with us again, it was just nice.

We walk the two 30 kilometer distances together – and we enjoy it. We actually only see each other that one time a year, but we get along well with each other. We always meet on Friday afternoon or evening at the Tinghallen – and then we have a beer. Saturday morning we start walking at 5 o’clock – or maybe not until 6 o’clock. We start with an Underberg – and then we go out there. At the first rest area we meet with the whole team, which is supported by Men’s Wear, for coffee and rolls. And along the way you walk and talk to people. Yes, and then we will meet again on Sunday morning to walk the second half of the march.

A tradition
Walking the Hærvejsmarch has become a tradition for me. There has not been a single year when I have not participated in the Hærvejsmarch. But there have been two years when it was very close to me not being able to go. One time I had hepatitis, and the other time I suffered from a terrible stomachache. But I did it anyway.

I have also persuaded my wife to go along. She has probably walked the walk 25-30 times by now. And it is actually nice. Both my children, my sister and brother-in-law are also walking.
This year I am walking the route of two times 30 kilometers. It is really nice. It is a walk that you can walk and enjoy without being completely destroyed by it. By the way, I am probably the youngest of those who have completed the march in all the years. I was only 18 years old when I did it for the first time.

See also Ove Thirup in the video clips below