#skimarathon

Getting pumped for my next challenge- skimarathon kandersteg #skitouring #racedayislooming #chillypowder #gettingnervous #skimarathon #chillypowder (at Kandersteg International Scout Centre)

For 2h20 have the 100km racers been on track when us, last starting group of 50km race, are allowed on the iconic Lahti stadium. Suddenly it's all so serious. This, after all, is where the next edition of World Cup will be held only a couple of weeks from now. I march with purpose, and nab myself a pole position. We've only been outside for perhaps ten minutes. This would be inconceivable at Vasaloppet where you start some 6h after travelling and freezing yourself to death whilst waiting. Oh, the joys of a less-frequented race!

Have finally located some women. Naturally they are in the ladies' room...

In 1980 began the era of a new kind of superhero. Finishing in an astonishing 4:28:28, the powerhouse from Kitee moved women's skiing into a whole new league. Her name was Sisko Kainulainen and she would go on to win again the next year, and the year after. In fact, she won Finlandiahiihto six years in a row. One year when a 90km ultra course was on offer, she'd win that, too. And in 1985 when they introduced Reppu-Finlandia (a backpack-laden race akin to Birkebeiner), she went and won that, too, despite the -29° deep freeze. All in all, Kainulainen took 12 golds from Finlandiahiihto. She has also won the 90km Pirkan Hiihto five times. Remarkable woman!

1975. Glass fibre skis, a recent invention, had just won over the masses. Amateurs were making the switch for fibre, relegating old wooden skis for training or commuting. With fibre came astonishing speed. Veikko Hakulinen, who in 1952 had won Olympic gold in the 50km distance in 3:33'33", now finished Finlandiahiihto in 2:26'30" – this 23 years later! Incredible stuff.

And so Finlandiahiihto's pioneers were off with a bang!

When you’ve skied 90km and do not go by the name of Britta Johansson Norgren, you’re going to have to deal with consequences the day after. Such as your hip flexors bulging to breaking point. I swear by the formidable Ormsalva – established in 1979 just like yours truly!

Read about Vasaloppet history here: http://concledoc.tumblr.com/post/112708451085/27022015-the-origins-of-vasaloppet-at-90km