Do not worry if you see people
Looking preoccupied, nervous and focused
Running in the streets
Without looking in front of them
Actually they all read while running
You can see hundreds of them
They do not talk to each other
They may wear shorts revealing their bare legs
Under minus degrees
Do not worry
They are Norwegians
They will run for hours
In the cold
Under the rain
On icy roads
Or on snowy mountain paths
No type of terrain will stop them
They are descendants of the Vikings
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They are practicing a sport
A very Norwegian sport
Requiring no verbal communication
No collaboration with others
And which can be practiced under any weather conditions
It is called "Orientering"
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Welcome to Norway
Where people may behave differently
This weekend there are many of them in Trondheim
Please take care when you walk on the street
Especially if you are wearing high heels and a dress in the morning
They are O-løpere
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Source: "The Social Guidebook to Norway"
julien@monda.no