How do you have to be? In the footsteps of the first polar researchers, a few hundred cross -country skiers play the longest race in the world, the “Nordenkiöldloppet” every year. An unimaginable fight against darkness, fatigue – and against your own psyche.
Alone on skis through the endless vastness of Lapland in the northern Arctic Circle, past reindeer herds, over huge frozen lakes, only accompanied by the sounds of nature that are steamed by snow – this almost clichéd Scandinavian idyll forms the framework for the ultra racing in Nordic skiing, the “Nordenskiöldloppet”. 220 kilometers in classic style, which is almost three times as long as the world -famous Wasalauf.
Thomas Koch from Stralsund is there for the second time. The 60-year-old is an old rabbit in terms of ultra racing both on skis and on foot. “Such a race is like meditation. The longer it takes, the deeper you dive” “he describes his mental strategy before the start. This is exactly why with such extreme loads, use the head as a drive and do not make it a blockade. Therefore, there is probably no hustle and bustle behind the small group of top athletes, in the large field of a total of 400 participants, including 50 women. “Here is very few for the time, but – if possible – to enjoy the unique nature”says Koch. Only stroll too much. After a slippery 30 hours you have to be at the finish at the latest.
In the footsteps of 1884
The “Nordenkiöldloppet” takes place for the sixth time this year, but has a much, much longer tradition. He goes back to 1884. In order to imitate his successful Grönland expedition from the year earlier, polar researcher Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld launched a competition in which a distance of 220 kilometers had to be mastered in one day. 18 men were at the start. The Swede Pavva Lasse Nilsson Tuorda won in a time of 21 hours and 22 minutes, including a two -hour break. Its winning time still marks a magical barrier: if you stay underneath, you get a medal. Who stays over it, none.
It gets scarce for Thomas Koch. Because nature strikes back. It is far too warm. “Sometimes you are ankle deep in the water, there are always falls. So skiing is not fun”Half of the race is already exhausted. The climate is the biggest challenge for the organizers. Normal temperatures are now around ten degrees Celsius and real snow masses. The bizarre reality: to create a reasonably passable trail, the municipality of Jokkmokk put snow out of the gardens and carted them over.
In the darkness of the Arctic night
The winner is already at the finish line when Thomas Koch is just getting back to you. Almost twelve hours are already on the clock. Now again 110 kilometers. Mostly in the darkness of the Arctic night. “When the fatigue comes and you realize that you are still traveling all night, that’s a psychological component”, Koch describes the monstrous mental stress almost cute.
With every hour in the dark, more and more runners give up. Disrivized, mentally at the end or for security reasons. In the end, three quarters of the launched people reach the goal.
Falls and icy legs
Thomas Koch also manages. After several falls. His legs are icy, it gets hot water poured over the bonds to solve the skis. “Now I have enough of winter and look forward to spring”he jokes – to say when asked about a repetition: “If you ask me now, definitely not!”
Almost 22 hours on skis through the Arctic. Thomas Koch does not get a medal because he missed the winner of 1884 by half an hour.