More and more people choose to run slowly.

The "slow running" trend, where you simply choose to slow down your running pace, has taken hold in Sweden.

A survey of several large exercise races in Sweden made by SVT Dalarna shows that the running times are getting slower.

Figures from Göteborgsvarvet show that running times on the race have increased by an average of nine minutes since 2000.

Slow is poppis

Almost two years ago, Maria Andersson in Falun started the "Happy training group" where the focus is on the joy of movement.

The most appreciated sessions are the slower sessions, where you run slowly.

- There are members who have trained and competed at a high level who appreciate the slow sessions because there is no prestige, says Maria Andersson.

Isn't it just that people can't run faster?

- No one who moves is lazy, or when it comes to the joy of movement.

On the other hand, it is worse if you stress and incite a training session to make it look good in front of others, says Maria Andersson.

The running expert explains in the video below: “This is low-intensity running”

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The elite coach in running and cross-country skiing, Kalle Gräfnings, explains what low-intensity training is and what happens in the body when you run slowly.

Photo: Jennifer Howgate/SVT