# Running a Marathon in North Korea — What Freedom Actually Feels Like | Johan Nylander

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ageless-athlete-how-to-stay-strong-curious-capable-for-life-6749071/running-a-marathon-in-north-korea-what-freedom-actually-feels-like-johan-nylander
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/ageless-athlete-how-to-stay-strong-curious-capable-for-life-6749071/running-a-marathon-in-north-korea-what-freedom-actually-feels-like-johan-nylander.md
Podcast: [Ageless Athlete — How to Stay Strong, Curious & Capable for Life](https://stenobird.com/podcast/ageless-athlete-how-to-stay-strong-curious-capable-for-life-6749071)
Published: 2026-02-18T13:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/2300423/episodes/18683378-running-a-marathon-in-north-korea-what-freedom-actually-feels-like-johan-nylander.mp3
Audio file: https://pdcn.co/e/www.buzzsprout.com/2300423/episodes/18683378-running-a-marathon-in-north-korea-what-freedom-actually-feels-like-johan-nylander.mp3
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Duration seconds: 4700

## Resource

What does running feel like inside one of the most controlled countries in the world? Johan Nylander entered North Korea shortly after it reopened—joining a small group of foreign visitors to run the Pyongyang Marathon. At 52, he found himself on a starting line few outsiders ever experience. But this story doesn’t start there. After years covering geopolitics across Asia, Johan was burned out—physically depleted and struggling to run even a single kilometer. What followed was a quiet rebuild...

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