The Runner Chronicles

At VAERT, we deeply admire individuals who channel their creativity while pursuing what they love. That’s why we reached out to Julie Hyld—a passionate runner from Copenhagen and the founder of VoltWomen and Hyld Studio. A creative powerhouse with impressive times in both the half marathon and 10K, Julie empowers runners, especially women, making her the perfect person for our latest edition of the Runner Chronicles.

In this Chronicles, we will explore various topics, including the experience of running, the importance of proper fueling, and women's safety. Julie sheds light on the journeys of other runners and creatives, celebrating the connection between movement and self-expression. These values are not only at the core of Julie’s work but also deeply embedded in what we stand for at VAERT. Her ability to inspire and uplift those around her makes this feature all the more special.

Hi Julie! Let’s start with an introduction of yourself.

Hi VÆRT. It never gets easy to do an introduction of myself, and who I am… but let’s try! Very briefly, my name is Julie, I am 34 years old, and I live in Copenhagen. As for running, in its physical form, I realized sometime in my late teens that I was just living a comfortable life without ever challenging or using my body. So I started running because it was the easiest thing to do. As soon as I got over that period where you just feel like a sack of potatoes, I felt this amazing feeling of being able to evolve into a better human, in its very purest form.

One thing let to another, and I joined NBRO running in Copenhagen and founded a platform for women in sport. With NBRO, I learned how to do tempo runs and intervals and how to really incorporate running into your life. It introduced me to my best friends—and to the world of lactate. While with VoltWomen, we focused on inequality for women in sports while also highlighting stories from our community all over the world. Something that is still relevant today, but unfortunately we just didn’t have the time to keep the platform going.

Instagram: @hyld

Favorite race of 2024.

Favorite race of 2024 was the Hackney Half—I had so much fun at that course with spectators and other runners. It was also the last race before I got a big setback with an Achilles injury. But I have many good races and many bad races, it’s kinda how it is with races. Some races I dedicated so much time and effort to perform, but then on the day it just doesn’t work out. I love training, I love having goals and working toward them, and racing is just the cherry on top.

How do you fuel for your runs?

Well, it took me like 10 years of running before I realized how much fueling does. I envy all the new runners who come into this sport with so much knowledge—but I’m also just super happy that the sport is getting the attention it deserves. Ten years ago, I would fuel with liters of beetroot juice and pasta and call it a day. Now, I use Maurten the day before, on race day, during the race, and after. Even for my hard intervals, I usually bring a gel. I used to run half marathons with half a gel—or none at all—and no water. Now, I follow a fueling guide and take around six. I gotta say, having all this knowledge is a game changer.

Creativity meets sports at Hyld. Could you tell us more about Hyld Studio?

I have a background in Visual Communication, which back in the days took me to work in the graphics department for running at Nike HQ in Portland. While there, I quickly found out that I didn’t want to do graphic design. While figuring this out and being in my dream destination, I had some personal issues with illness in my immediate family, which brought me back home to Copenhagen.

In Copenhagen, I joined an agency focused on PR & Communications, which had recently signed Nike as a client. This gave me the opportunity to learn everything about PR & Communications while still working with a familiar brand. It took me 6 years of doing that, until I founded my own agency HYLD STUDIO, where I do branding and creative production for a few competitors to Nike. I try to find creativity in everything that is not just running, and my favorite thing is that I get to work with people I really like and even pay them because they are talented.

Your favorite running picture on your phone.

I have TOO many!!!!!! But this is the most recent I love.

How do you view the place of women in the running scene?

It’s a lot better place than it was 10 years ago, and it’s still evolving. 2024 saw some of the craziest records being broken by women in running, and I think a lot of it is also due to companies and coaches that understand the female athlete better and can help them evolve, but also the power of seeing other strong women pushing boundaries. This also goes into the communities. When I started running, it was primarily a male-dominated territory, which it still is, but much better. There was less understanding of how times were converted, and the focus was primarily on the fastest, which was always the guys, so as a female, you could feel quite alone. I don’t think it’s a completely perfect world for women in sports. 2024 also saw how female ski-jumper Selina Feting was awarded shampoo and body lotion, while the man from the same category got prize money.

And what about women’s safety while running?

I think there’s still many parts of the world where running doesn’t feel safe, and maybe also for some women here in Copenhagen. But I never feel unsafe here on the streets. I've occasionally experienced some men making a comment about my body or me when I run by. It never made me feel unsafe, but of course, I would appreciate it if it didn’t happen. On the positive side of this, I also experience in races that people cheer me on for being in the faster category, and I always get more cheers than my boyfriend when he is pacing me to fast times.