Meet the MOVV’er: A Conversation with Anders Laursen

Last month, MOVV Ambassador Anders Laursen finished 15th at the World Championship for 48-hour running, covering 336.8 kilometers over two days in Denmark's national colors. Not bad for someone who once made his family promise to talk him out of ever running another marathon.

Tell us about your running journey. How did you get started with running, and what keeps you motivated?

It goes way back. I've always used running as my tool to control my weight. I've struggled with weight my whole life, so to not get completely out of control, I ran. But without enjoying it – more as a duty.

After I lost my mother in fall 2006, I decided to train for a marathon. I completed it in May 2007 in 3 hours 49 minutes and swore I'd never do that again. I even asked my family to talk me out of it if I ever got that idea again. I kept that promise for seven years.

What brought you back to running after that break?

Before my wedding, I needed to lose weight again and started running consistently. Ended up with a 3:23 marathon in May 2014 – one week after the wedding.

Again, a break from consistent running until my current running buddy challenged me at a party in November 2022 to join him for the ZUT race in June 2023. A monster of 110km in the mountains of southern Germany. Not only almost three times my longest run, but also with around 5,000 meters of elevation. It sounded like a great idea at that moment. The day after, I realized what I'd gotten myself into.

I'm someone who doesn't back out once I've taken up a challenge, so my wife and I agreed to give it a go. I started training more consistently and with higher volume than ever before.

How did that first ultra attempt go?

As preparation, we signed up for a 60km trail race in Silkeborg in April 2023. That went surprisingly well, and suddenly I was an ultrarunner, fueled with confidence for ZUT.

ZUT was a completely different story though – a real beast compared to Silkeborg. We started at 10 PM and ran into the night and up in the mountains. Unfortunately, this was too big of a challenge for us at that point. When my buddy got a knee injury, I decided to leave the race with him. That feeling of disappointment has haunted me ever since, but also helped me recall that feeling when it gets tough.

Despite the DNF, I was completely hooked. That feeling of standing on top of a mountain and seeing the sunrise is amazing and indescribable.

From there, your progression was incredible. Tell us about that journey to the world championships.

From there, it went fast. I completed 100km in September 2023, then 100 miles in March 2024 in a backyard race where I completed 24 loops. Next challenge was a 48-hour run in October 2024, where I managed to cover 310km. That got me a position on the Danish National team for multiday running.

At the World Championship for 48-hour running in May-June 2025, I covered 336.8km for 15th place. I'm more motivated than ever to reach much higher distances.

What drives you to keep pushing these limits?

My primary motivation is to push my limits and learn from the crises I'm facing. I never imagined how much more the human body is capable of before I entered ultrarunning, and I'm so fascinated and curious about this. The learnings have given me perspective on other aspects of life too. I see challenges from work suddenly seem smaller and easier to overcome if I just lean forward and keep pushing.

I also find huge satisfaction if I hear that my story motivates other people to be more active, because I truly believe that with a more active lifestyle comes a better life in general. The payoff for time spent on physical activities is tenfold worth it in improved life quality.

Beyond the physical challenge, what does running mean to you personally?

Running is my therapy and meditation. I use it to clear my head in a busy life, to brainstorm when work tasks need a new perspective. If I have a problem at work, I take it on a run. I always come back with solutions – and the energy to be more present with my family.

I've also found almost a family in the ultrarunning community – like-minded people who share the same passion to push limits and never be satisfied with status quo. These are people who understand that real satisfaction comes from leaving your comfort zone.

Through running, I'm definitely a better version than I was before – a better father and husband.

What's your favorite type of training?

Running is very much a two-sided experience for me. There's an exploration side where you can make an A-to-B run and see stunning nature and views – I really enjoy mountain trails for this.

But I've found so much learning in track races where you really have to work on mentality to overcome the temptation of getting comfortable. I've learned so much about myself through these experiences. There's much more satisfaction to capture in life if you dare to get out of your comfort zone. This is where real learning happens.

What's the biggest lesson running has taught you?

You can do so much more than you think if you dare. It's always the mind that quits before the body.

What was different when you first tried MOVV?

The fitting is great. The padding around the heel and tongue makes them feel safe to movv in. But what really stood out was that I didn't have to think about stability during my runs.

For runners considering MOVV, what would you tell them?

If your main purpose is to train consistently without worrying about getting injured – and you're not obsessing over pace – MOVV is an excellent choice.

MOVV has become my go-to for easy runs because of the safe guidance in every step.

What's next for you?

I'm more motivated than ever to push that 48-hour distance higher. The human body is capable of so much more than we imagine – I'm just getting started. But whatever comes next, I know my foundation is solid. When you have gear you trust, you can focus on the impossible.

"You can do so much more than you think if you dare. It's always the mind that quits before the body." – Anders Laursen

Ready to start your own movvement? Whatever your pace, whatever your distance, MOVV is engineered to keep you moving forward safely. Because the best run is the one that happens tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that.