Three very tense friends drove 10 hours up north with the mission of completing the historical cross country skiing race Vasaloppet of 90 km. We've for a longer period been training for this event and not it was time to see if we've been good enough. My goal was to beat my Norwegian boss who did it in 9.30 hours. But the fact that I have had no training on snow at all didn't make me cocky at all. But the will to get a good time was very strong.
The start at 7am in -13 degree's was a magic feeling. Thousands of freezing people were gathered and keen to get away. We ere off and the first couple of km I just tried to find some sort of technique that I felt could work for 9-10 hours. I was amazed how fresh I felt the first 4 hours of the race. Then there were only a few km left until half way which motivated me to keep up the pace. I then realized that I was holding a pace of 10km per hour which would give me a finish time way under my boss. That's when the devil horns started to grow and I was determined to get a time under 9 hours. But right after was when it started feeling really tough. My body was screaming for energy. And with only blueberry soup, energy drinks, bouillon and wheat bun for the last couple of hours the energy was already on minus. But never underestimate a woman will! I ignored my body and just went for it. To stop was never ever an option. Slowing down was sometimes an option but nothing I choose.
My watch on my wrist suddenly showed lo battery and I lost control of my time. This was so frustrating and the last 20km I manage to get through by pure "Pernilla-will". The finish line was an amazing feeling to ski through. When passing the goal I was to exhausted to feel any joy or happiness at all. I had to concentrate to stay on my feet. I've never ever felt this level of fatigue. Limping to the bus that would take me to the showers felt like another marathon. But then I met my friend who checked our time and I realized I'd made it! 8.57 was my final time. I'm now a proud Swede who can and will put this challenge on my CV for ever! I did it and no pain in the world can ever make it not worth doing.
Vasaloppet: is an annual long distance (90km) cross-country ski race held on the first Sunday of March in north-western Dalarna, Sweden between the village of Sälen and town of Mora. It is the oldest, one of the longest, and in populate consideration the biggest cross-country ski race in the world. In the 80th race, held on 7th Match 2004, some 15 500 skiers completed the main event. More than 40 000 participated in one of the seven different races held during the first week of March. The race was first run in 1922, inspired by a run by King Gustav Vasa in 1520.
