Trailrunning World Championship Long

Representing your country is something special! I have been fortunate to do it in 3 different sports: Nordic skiing, skimo, and trail running twice before. Every time has been unique and special in itself, but this Trail World Championship in Canfranc was a specially fun one!

Going back a little bit, my goal for the season was to do the full UTMB. But when I decided to drop down to OCC, it opened up the opportunity to also race the World Championship long. It was disappointing to not do UTMB, but at the same time, given the opportunity to represent your country in a World Championship is also special, and I was so motivated to do well!

Recovery from OCC was not the best. Like a lot of other runners, I got the classic post-UTMB flu and had some days in bed. But it wasn’t too bad; I needed to get back my energy from OCC, so some extra rest was probably good for the mind and the motivation. But during the week before Worlds, my legs felt like jelly, stiff, and cramping, and I did not feel as confident going into Worlds as I did for OCC. I traveled down just 3 days before the event, managed to see a small part of the course, but the rest would be a surprise for race day. The day before the race, I did a small jogging session, and I felt quite good and excited for the race.

World Championship in Canfranc started Saturday at 07:00 in the dark. It was a chilly morning, but the forecast said it would get warmer during the day. It started fast on a flat/gradual downhill and then a big climb up in the mountains. I felt good from the start and led the climb together with Jim Wamsley and Benjamin Roubiol. We got the sunrise when just getting up to the first plateau. Jim pushed the flat, me the uphill, and we had a good chat and agreed to work together. In the first descent, we were joined by Louison Coiffet. Sometimes, Jim and I would get a gap, but as soon as it was downhill, the French guy would catch us. Down to the first crewed aid station, my legs started to feel kinda wobbly and felt some knee pain, so I took it easier than the others down to the aid station. It started to get warm up in the mountains as well, so I took time to drink and stay hydrated. I felt better in the climbs than on the downhill, so I caught up with Jim, Benjamin and Louison in the next uphill.

The mountains on this course were just breathtaking at times, and it felt like proper mountain running. It was technical, steep, high, and tough. It had everything for a hard race course, and it felt like the optimal World Championship course where you had to be strong in the legs, have the technical skills, endurance, and toughness to perform.

We came up to the summit at the halfway point, and soon as it got technical, my legs couldn’t keep up with the others. I stumbled and got too passive. I started to feel the top position slip away, and I had to just focus on myself.  I was still 4th in the race, and it was still much ground to cover and time to get back to the podium. The course was relentless, and both the heat and altitude started to take a toll. I managed to eat and drink, but it felt more and more tiered. I ran and thought that now a lot of people would pass me, but no one seemed to get real closer, so I realized that everyone must be suffering on this course. As long as I kept a solid pace, I could still get a good position. Eventually, Christian Minoggio caught up with me at 54km, and soon there after, Peter Frano. But my legs still felt good on faster terrain and in uphill, plus most of the big downhills were done, except for the last one, so I did not give up yet and was still hoping that someone would blow up hard in front.

I decided to put all that I had into the last climbs, and I caught up again with Peter just before the summit, and we could see Christian not far in front. But soon as I caught up with Peter, the defending started, and I saw him just fly away. It was frustrating to not have the technical ability this day. But I kept the pace all the way in, and I felt so happy to run into Canfranc in 6th place in the most competitive trail races ever. So many people were on the course to cheer, and it gave me so much strength and motivation to continue pushing. It was proper trail ultra running, and the strongest athletes prevailed. Jim, Louison, and Benjamin did amazing performances, and it was mighty impressive to see them run through this course the way they did.

I am also very happy and proud with my 6th place. I aimed high and wanted to be fighting for the podium. I was up there but it didn’t work all the way, but I gave it all, came back, and never gave up, so I can’t be anything but content.

Thank you so much to Swedish Athletic for the support!