Running Across Two Countries
This Sunday, I’m running the Bridge Run 2025 — a 21 km (half marathon) race that stretches between Denmark and Sweden across the Öresund Bridge. I actually walked across that same bridge when it first opened about 25 years ago (back when it was allowed for pedestrians during the inauguration). There were plans to make the run an annual event, but I guess shutting down one of the busiest bridges in northern Europe for a whole day turned out to be a bit too costly. So finally, this year, they’re doing it again!
I’ve been a runner throughout my adult life, and while this isn’t the furthest I’ve ever run (that would be 30 km at Lidingöloppet in 2018), it’s a big deal to me personally. After gaining a lot of weight and losing my fitness after having kids, I’ve worked hard to get back into shape — and this run feels like a great way to celebrate that progress.
I’ll update this post with my final time and maybe a picture or two after Sunday, so check back if you’re curious. I’m aiming to complete the run in approximately two hours. Who knows — maybe next time I’ll tackle a full marathon?
Update: My time was 1:57:10!
I am also incredibly proud of my wife who also finished despite being sick a lot this spring and barely having any time to train.
Nerd Dads Assemble: Painting Space Dwarfs
I recently started playing a new(ish) game with a few fellow nerd dads Kill Team, and I figured it was time to show off my progress painting one of my 14 special little guys—space dwarf salvagers, to be precise.
This post is light on words and heavy on pictures, but I’ll walk you through a bit of the process.
First Steps (Not Pictured):
Before painting, I spent some time cutting out all the parts, gluing everything together, and giving the whole model a solid basecoat using an off-white shade called Wraithbone. This helps the colors pop later.
Painting Magic:
I’m using Contrast paints—they’re like inks that naturally settle into the recesses while thinning out over raised surfaces, giving automatic shading and depth. I love how intuitive they are. I’m using Citadel paints, but plenty of other brands offer similar options if you’re curious to try them out.
A Quick Thanks:
Huge shout-out to WarHipster on YouTube for the awesome paint scheme guide that inspired this look.
So without further ado, let me introduce you to…
Thayne Varrik “Stoneheart” Drunn of the Heartkyn Salvagers.
My Son Keeps the Heroes Out
I recently kickstarted (crowdfunding board games has been a hobby of mine for many years now) a very cute board game called Keep the Heroes Out. It is fairly straightforward, with no text—only symbols—so I hoped I could play it with my five-year-old son and possibly even my three-year-old daughter. And I was not disappointed.
While my daughter can’t really focus for an entire play session, my son has declared it his favorite game of all time (this illustrious title has been passed from game to game a few times already, but I still consider it quite an accolade). He has even made his own paper game pieces and designed both monsters and cards for the game. You could say I’m quite the proud father.
The game itself is a co-op tower defense deck builder. Quite a mouthful, but the gist of it is that you work together to defend against waves of enemies while acquiring stronger cards for your decks and eventually persevering until the onslaught ends.
In this case, the game puts you in the role of monsters guarding their dungeon (which sadly doesn’t translate well into Swedish, as the closest words either mean “prison dungeon” or just “cave”) from nasty heroes trying to steal all your valuable loot. Each player gets to choose a tribe of monsters—some with a lot of units, or “meeples,” like the slimes or ratkin with eight or more cute little fellas, or the mighty dragon that only has one piece to move around. This adds an asymmetrical aspect to the game, allowing players to tailor the gameplay to their preferences.
We’ve already played two games and won both, and my son is raring to go and tackle the harder difficulties. I can really recommend this game for both casual and more hardcore gamers (it has variable difficulty levels), and the aesthetics are amazing (the wooden meeples are gorgeous). The optional expansion packs that replace the non-wood meeple tokens with actual wooden pieces elevate the feel of the game to the next level.
Check it out on Board Game Geek!
My daughter loves the Unicorn monster and my son is a big fan of the Slimes. I took control of the covetous Gnolls!
Return to Blood Angels
I have been collecting, building, painting, and playing with miniatures on and off since I was less than ten years old. It’s a hobby that I have a real love/hate relationship with. Of all the different miniature games I’ve played, Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40,000 have a special place in my heart, and I always seem to return to them. Whether it’s for the minis, the books, the video games, or something else, Warhammer always manages to light a passion in me.
I first got into Warhammer through my friends in elementary school, and it quickly became a shared interest. Later, when I was around 16-17, I met a friend who was just as into Warhammer as I was, and we bonded over it. My grandpa, who built model ships, also supported my hobby a lot, which meant a lot to me.
Recently, I began playing a god-awful gacha mobile game called Warhammer 40k: Tacticus. While the game is grindy and very much P2W (pay to win), it did reignite my love for Warhammer. My faction of choice has always been the Blood Angels, even though I’ve dabbled in other ones in the past. Blood Angels are part of the Armies of Mankind—specifically the Space Marines. They’re not really the good guys (no one is in Warhammer), but they’re the closest you get to it. These bioengineered warriors, clad in red and gold, are tragic heroes with a vampiric theme. Cursed with the Red Thirst, they crave blood and eventually fall to madness, this Black Rage makes them relive ancient battles without being able to tell friend from foe. Despite this, they try to suppress their urges and act with even more grace, honor, and kindness—at least outside of battle. When facing the enemies of mankind, however, their bloodlust often takes over, turning them into an unstoppable force.
I just think they’re neat.
So, of course, I went to my local geek store, Science Fiction Bookstore, and found a very nice Blood Angels mug—but sadly not the novels I was looking for. I also picked up Space Marine 2 on Steam and have started playing the campaign with a friend. And lastly, I dusted off some old miniatures I had lying around that I want to paint and display.
Having hobbies is great! Having several so you can switch between them when interest wanes is even better.
Prague: Flesh and Blood World Premiere
This weekend, I traveled to Prague to participate in the World Premiere of the new Flesh and Blood set, a card game I’ve been deeply invested in for the past four months. I made the journey from Sweden with two of my closest friends, excited for the event and everything it had to offer.
The experience was a mix of highs and lows. On the bright side, I got to meet some amazing people, play some intense games, and even see some impressive cosplays. Unfortunately, I fell quite sick shortly after arriving. Thankfully, I found some quirky-looking ibuprofen to keep me going, but as I write this, I can’t help but miss my wife and kids back home.
One unexpected highlight of the trip was finding a fantastic vegan restaurant. The food was so good that it felt like it brought some color back to my cheeks. The soup, in particular, was to die for—a comforting, flavorful bowl that was exactly what I needed to recharge.Despite the challenges, the trip wasn’t a total loss. I managed to pick up some rare cards and score a few wins. I’m already looking forward to reconnecting with my local Flesh and Blood group and enjoying more games when I return.
Terraforming Mars
The backstory
When I was first introduced to Terraforming Mars, it was through an outdoor gym program for fathers and kids. There, I connected with a few dads who shared my love for board games – and especially one game: Terraforming Mars. After years of playing it sporadically and never winning, I recently got to play it again. For the first time, it stuck in my mind long after the session was over. When I found it on sale, it felt like a sign. I ordered it immediately and can’t wait for it to arrive.
The Game
Terraforming Mars is about massive megacorporations competing to make Mars habitable for humanity. It’s a game about corporate greed but also innovation, technological progress, and hope for the future.
Despite knowing about the game for a long time (it was first released in 2016), a few things held me back from buying it earlier. First, the artwork – often compared to clip art – is not the most visually appealing. Second, I’m not a particularly competitive gamer, and Terraforming Mars can be unforgiving, with early mistakes snowballing into long-term disadvantages. Lastly, while the theme is unique and well-executed, space and sci-fi have never been my favorite genres in board games.
So why did I finally decide to buy it? The game has some amazing mechanics. The drafting and engine-building elements are incredibly satisfying, offering multiple paths to victory. Plus, the scoring system keeps things uncertain until the very end, so you never feel defeated halfway through a long session. Expansions add even more variety, and the strong connection between theme and mechanics makes you feel like you truly are transforming Mars.
Looking Ahead
I’m excited to own a copy of Terraforming Mars and share it with my friends. Whether we play to win or simply to enjoy the journey of terraforming the red planet, I know this game will bring us hours of memorable fun.