NORDMARKSTRAVERN TRAIL RUNNING FESTIVAL OSLO, NORWAY

This was a special trail running festival. Not only was it the race that we built an entire running program at Monolitten CrossFit but it was also my first international race. So the nerves we two fold. One set of nerves for the runners who had trained their entire summer for the race and my own set of nerves.

First I am happy to report that everyone that took on a distance, finished! Which in itself felt huge. Besides sore muscles, maybe a blister or a toe bruise, everyone stay uninjured during the event. And most of us gathered to retell stories of the race afterwards with a celebratory picnic near the finish line.

I will just retell a little of my experience of my first race in Norway which was the 30k. We started by being shuttled to the start line in a very nice bus. And everyone was excited and joking and it you could tell everyone had those pre race feelings. I am so used to be a “lone wolf” at races, so to have so many people at the start line was fun. We stretched and held each other’s bags and kept the jokes coming. The start finally arrived and were off in a big column of humans running in the north forest of Oslo. The race was run on a lot double track/gravel road. When we did hit trails, they were super technical. So many roots and rocks and rock slabs. These trails just had an older feel to them and while they were well maintained it still meant having to really concentrate where each foot was placed.

I had the thought, wonder if Norwegians would think of trails in Idaho as “technical” or easy. Here in Idaho, what I think is runnable and what is technical could be just a matter of familiarity. While for Norwegians in Nordmarka (north forest) they are so familiar with the trails that they just bop along with no thought. It was quite impressive.

The hardest part of the race was a huge downhill full of roots and rocks that slowed me down to a walk/job. But once past that, sort of cruised through the sections pretty easily. With the last 5k just be a dive bomb downhill on gravel roads. So fun!

The aid stations were fun too as they had beverages that I’m not used to seeing. While it may be a common thing to see in a Norwegian fridge, it was super exciting to me. They had this black currant syrup that most kids grow up with. (Solbær Sirup) They simply add some water to it. I wonder how cups of that magic liquid did I have? It felt like pure energy!!

My favorite part of finishing and immediately going back onto the race route to get to see the others finish. Loved getting to cheer them on and see them pushing all the way to the finish line.

And I am curious as to which race next year we will take on.