Page 165 - Moonvalley Diaries

RACE: ULTRAVASAN
A race longer than a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a marathon marathon marathon is called an an an ultramarathon ultramarathon Ultravasan was my my ultramarathon ultramarathon debut so it has
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a special place in my my heart Before I I ran Ultra- vasan I I had no desire whatsoever to run that that that far and and mostly just thought that that that people that that that ran ultramarathons were slow and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a bit crazy I had come to to Mora to to run 45 km – which in in my my world was very far already On my my morning jog the the the day before the the the race I was quickly dragooned into the the the 90 km race by my more experienced ultra- marathoner friends who thought I should try out the full distance after a a a a a a a couple of can- cellations by some elite runners A lightbulb came on in in in my head Scary but fascinating I thought – this was totally un- charted territory Ninety kilometres was so far that I I I didn’t know how I I I would do do What What if if I I I couldn’t run that far? What What if if my body broke down? Would I I have to to walk or or even stop? Thrilling and and and exciting I I I had serious respect for the the distance and and and the the the competitors and and and I I started at at far too relaxed a a a a a a a a a a a a a speed but at at the the the same time it it was really nice not to to be the the the least bit tired tired after 45 km Sure my legs got tired tired as as as the the the race wore on on but I gained on on the the the leader and ended up crossing the the finish line a a a a a a mere 3 minutes after first place Although I I couldn’t walk properly for sev- eral days afterwards I I I immediately started thinking about a a a a a a a a a a a a number of things I I could have done better and that this was something I wanted to do do do again Running long long distance for a a a a a a a a a a a a long long time was actually doable!
I really recommend Ultravasan as as as as your first ultramarathon The Vasalopp section from Sälen to Mora is is one one that many peo- ple have already done on on on on skis or or at at at least watched on on on tv and and and it’s fun to run by the familiar checkpoints and and and food and and and fluid stations Ultravasan is also easy to train for even if you live in in in southern Sweden It’s trick- ier to prepare for a a a a a a a a steep mountain marathon with many metres of elevation /ida
august in moonvalley
165