Tuomo Vauhkonen Coaching a republié ceci
This was my 3rd Ultra Marathon of the year. Here is the Race Recap, Insights and lessons learned… This last 100 km race up in Lapland was a part of NUTS (Northern Ultra Trail Service) circuit here in Finland. We started at 23:00/ 11 pm in the midnight sun with some 300+ excited runners to take on the trails and this Epic Adventure. I Started well with the first 400 m+ climb. Sunset and Sunrise simultaneously offered spectacular views and light from the summit! (Pictures in later posts…) I have never really experienced it in the same way and this memory from the first 5 km was already worth the trip..! Decent was fairly fast as I wanted to respect the race and keep my pace before the first Aid Station. 8-28 km A quick refill, couple bananas and off to a first 20km leg of solid Single tracks. 28 km-53 km Second Aid Station was also a quick stop as it was pretty cold around 5-10 Celsius at 2:30 am. 53 km Aid Station had a Drop Bag and some better food available so I took my time to take care of myself. I changed socks, shorts and slipped into a fresh shirt. Maybe a 20 min stop.. Leaving this Aid I was told that the rest of the course will be mostly runnable and easy. Yet after about 20-30 min I started to feel heavy and my pace dropped. I wasn’t able to keep up with my Goal of an under 15h finish. This dropped my moral down a bit too.. At 83 km Aid I kind of knew that I probably won’t make it under 15 h, so switched my Mindset to just enjoy the rest of the race and next 8 km with going up and down to Yllas Summit was good and Fun. At 90 km Aid was the first time we had something fresh (mandarins) and I absolutely swallowed probably three handfuls of them! :) This wasn’t the greatest idea at that stage even though they felt like the best mandarins I have eaten in my entire life..!! :))) Leaving the aid we still had about 13-14 km left and the mandarins started to give me some stomach issues. Nothing critical but I wasn’t able to run as smoothly as I wanted with the legs that already had 90 km+ on them. Last leg from “Kellokas“ to Finish was a slug fest trying to run as much as possible, yet probably walking half the time too… After 16+ hours since the start I was happy to see the finish line, get a Sauna and a clean up. Overall on the positives: - No cramps nor injuries. - Best pre-race condition and lead up to a race was injury free too. - Body and legs were able to take the 16 h beating fairly well this time. - Faster aid Stations. Learnings and Lessons: - Last minute preparations were too rushed. - Fully underestimated the course and overestimated my own condition. - Nutrition and Hydration after 80 km was not on point anymore. - More Strength Training needed to keep the running form. It was one of the most Epic races up in Lapland summiting peaks and enjoying the midnight sun. Will be back to hit that Sub 15 h mark FOR SURE!! Overall when I am on the trails I feel the most Alive, Free and at Peace!