What a race! The last edition of the Tromso Skyrace did not disappoint! With 4800m of climbing over 58km, in the Arctic circle, this was always going to be a bucket-list race. And what better opportunity than the last ever edition!
The race mandatory kit list was non-existent: the race organisers advocated self-sufficiency in the mountains. No race HQ emergency phone number either: the race director responded to a query about that sign a quip “I’ll be based on the top of the mountain and I don’t have a helicopter in my backpack so you need to call 112 if you’re in trouble!” On the race I was chatting with a local runner who explained the Norwegian approach to mountains and the sea. “They belong to everyone, for their enjoyment” he concluded. This message there was no policing of how you should enjoy them, or requirements for how to keep yourself safe. I was left wondering how a race back in the UK would get insurance cover without mandatory kit, but was pleased that the organisers weren’t mollycoddling us.
The route was simple. Out of town, over the bridge, then up the first hill, the onward to Bontuva, then snaking our way up to the summit of Tromsdalstind with a 3 hour cut-off. I made the cut-off with over 20 minutes to spare. Then a highly technical all the way down from 1200m to sea level, followed by a 2km flat section (possibly the longest runnable section outside of town) to the next checkpoint at a layby, which had a 5 hour cut-off. I filled my water bottles up at streams and rivers that we crossed, as there were no water provisions. I was entirely self-sufficient for food and made use of the bag drop facility at the lay-by checkpoint (though I could have eaten some snacks at the layby checkpoint.
I continued up hill to the start of the summit ridge of Hamperokken. I had banked an hour against the 5 hour cut-off window, and had to reach the summit ridge within 6 hours. This was achievable, though I still had to reach the summit of over 1400m and get all the way back down before the next cut-off of 8 hours. The summit ridge was technical scrambling in places, with exposure and big drops. I remembered reading about a serious accident on this race a few years ago, and FOCUSED as I scrambled to the top, using fixed ropes where they were laid. I lamented have an out of date will. The views down to the glaciers and all the way to the sea were exceptional.
There were large fields of boulders that I gingerly crossed, hoping not to trip and break a leg, whilst more seasoned local runners bounced on these loose rocks light as a feather. As I descended back all the way down, over snow and eventually down to the forest, I realised I had los tmy advantage, and the 8 hour cut-off was looming. I wouldn’t make it. I got to the cut-off in 8:20, and was congratulated and timed out. Bus loads of other racers were getting bused out too. All my friends who I ran with ended here.
Retrospective
Was I disappointed? Not hugely. SUre, it’s another DNF to add to my small collection, but I had trained solidly for this race for months. The terrain was wild and beautiful, and it was a great excursion with friends, plus I made new friends whilst I was out there. With hindsight, I wish I had trained more by walking up and down mountains in North Wales, particularly rocky ones with poor/no paths. Yes, walking – a lot of the terrain was, for many runners on this ultra, walkable, with time made up on the flats, less steep ascent and the descents.
What’s Next
I have the Chester Marathon in October 2023, so I only have a few more weeks to switch from ultra training to marathon training… speed speed speed! I should know in the next few weeks whether a new PB is on the cards. It’s good to be back!
Keep racing
GeekintheHills
Geek in the Hills 