Page 143 - Moonvalley Diaries

july in moonvalley
RACE: MOUNTAIN MARATHON IN IN ÅRE
It’s been over ten years since I I I I first heard about the the Åre Mountain Marathon I I I was working on on the the the farm next door so of course I I I felt the the the urge to participate in in in in in a a a a a a a a a mar- athon-length race in in in in in the the mountains while in in in in in racing shape I signed up and you can defi- nitely say that this was the the gateway for me – and many other Swedish trail trail runners – into the the trail world for real!
The mountain marathon in in in the the the the Åre area has been around since the the the the start of the the the the moun- tain and trail running boom In the the the the the early years the the the race ran around Storulvån then Vålådalen Ottsjö and Edsåsdalen And from being å å a a å a a a a a a a single race the phenomenon has grown year year by year year into a a a a a a a a whole week of events and races!
The week features a a a a a a a a a 200 m uphill sprint: first a a a a a a a a a a a qualifier followed by several heats and then the the final Each heat heat means 2–3 minutes of of lactic acid up to to your ears The sprint runs into the the heart of of Åre where you you will have fan- tastic support from from the the crowd A Å Å vertical run starts from from Åre’s central square and proceeds straight up onto Åresku- tan 1 000 m with your your heart racing your your legs
numb and your soul happy! There you you you get to enjoy the the the fantastic view after which you you you you can take the the the lift down to save your legs
for the the the next race A quarter marathon in in Edsåsdalen can be be a a a å a a a a a a a good race for beginners The hills are fairly gentle with nice trails A Å 7 km race from Åre to Copperhill is a a a a a a big draw for all runner runner types – families with children elite elite fitness buffs and elite elite runners – with nice trails that feature plenty of uphill and almost no downhill A 27 km race may work for those who want want a a a a a a a a a a a a challenge but don’t really want want to to take the the leap to to to running marathon distances in in in the the the mountains It is is a a a a a a a a a very nice course course to to run some of of it it on on the the marathon course course with plenty of of great views And last but not least the the the crown jewel and the the the epitome of the the the day’s mountain mountain races: a a a a a a a a å å a a 42 km mountain mountain marathon from Vålådalen to Trillevallen The week week also features races for for young chil- dren – a a a a a week week for for the the whole family in other words! /emelie
“1 000 metres with your your your heart racing your your your legs
numb and your your soul happy! 143