By Sofie Astrup, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
File photo: AAU

After previous years' success with over 1,100 AAU participants at the DHL Relay in Aalborg and Copenhagen, it is time to register again. True to tradition, AAU participates in the DHL Relay Race 2025 and the West Coast Race with its campus in Esbjerg. 

If you are still thinking about whether you should participate, here are two AAU colleagues' suggestions on what you can get out of lacing up your running shoes and wearing the AAU running shirt with them. 

Marie Jull Sørensen, Casper Fuentes Jørgensen and Martin Bonderup Østergaard from the Department of Law, AAU Communication and Public Affairs and Department of Chemistry and Bioscience have alle participated in the DHL Relay Race several years in a row, and they are ready again this year.

How many times have you participated?

Marie: I have been there every time, except for only a few.

Casper: I participated for the first time in the year 2012 – and I actually still have my running shirt back from then. Since then, I have participated 10-11 times.

Martin: I'm participating for the 8th or 9th time, I think.

Why are you participating in the DHL Relay again?

Marie: It is nice to socialise with colleagues about something other than work - it is also a personal challenge every time, and then you get an opportunity to train a little before the race.

Casper: It gives a really good sense of community, and you get to talk to some colleagues you don't meet on a daily basis, which can make it easier to talk afterwards. I also experience a team spirit where we have a common goal and where we laugh and have a good time. I think this is really good for the working environment, and therefore it is also very well invested.

Martin: I participate in the DHL Relay for two reasons: First to have a great evening with colleagues, where other things than research are in focus; and second, the competition segment where I can both compete against myself from previous years, but also with my colleagues.

What do you get out of participating in the relay?

Marie: It is a nice experience with colleagues, and it is also a healthy activity.

Casper: We are in a team of five people, and often you get on a team with some people who you don't talk to on a daily basis. This means that you naturally get to talk to some new people.

Martin: The DHL Relay is a good social event where you can talk to colleagues from both your own and other departments and have some internal competitions: Who is the fastest? Which team performs best?

Why do you encourage others to come along?

Marie: Doing something fun with your colleagues provides a better working environment, as we get to know each other and talk about topics other than work when we are taken out of or daily life. And then you also get to know some of the colleagues from the other departments.

Casper: Firstly, it is good to be a little physically active occasionally, and secondly, it is a really nice event where AAUs from different departments are gathered. In addition, there is really good food, and afterwards there is also time to have a beer, if you are into it. 

Martin: I think people should participate because it is a good opportunity get to know colleagues from both their own and other departments. In addition, the relay is usually a big topic in conversations in the successive days.

Watch or rewatch the video from last year: