Written by Tobias Lindström - http://lindstroms.be
Full Moon Race 50M at Österlens shore in Skåne, from Haväng down to Ystad, an adventure at the beautiful shore with beaches, apple trees and nice small towns.
This summer have bin cold weather most of the time but this weekend it where a different story, the warm weather got to us big time. From almost no where we got smashed with a sledgehammer if I say my opinion. It become almost as last year at 24h nationals in Borås. How can I handle this as I like to run in colder weather and handle the heat pretty bad.
For the 100Miles runners at GAX they had a hard time under the day with 31 degrees of blasting sun without any wind to talk about. A lot of runners had to work hard to get half way mark at Haväng. For myself I had a good sitesingday in our car with aircondition and to our advantage at FMR we started the race 20.00. But me, Evelina and Liv where there in good time helping out at the aidstation for GAX, changing clothes, talking with friends and cheering runners.
We started out 20.00 for beatchrunning along the shores. I hade in mind to pace up 5:20/km at start to hold as long as I could, the shape where good and I hade a lot of running in my legs. My pack where around 5kg in the beginning of the race because all water. This race where a test for Tor des Geants with equipment as backpack, GPS, torch etc. Will the Raidlight Olmo12 work good? give blisters? How to use all small pockets? Questions like this are good to workout before the main event and 8-9hours running doesn’t happened everyday.
I tried to follow the leader but his tempo where high and I slowed down for some km to Kivik there I joined up with Martin from Malmö, we had around 100m between us, so I could wait and have a chat instead, easier to find the route that could be a bit tricky sometimes in the small villages. But still I followed my plan, to drink my bladder of 2l water before Simrishamn that where 27k into the race. The evening where perfect, I handled the heat good and my plan worked perfect. At stenenshuvud we run at one of the best beaches I have seen in Sweden, absolutely perfect. You can see this into my movie clip, golden sand, crystal water, trees are hanging over the sides, a true joy to see this place. We had some hours left before the night where falling, I like to run at night, with headlamp and all. The track where harder to find at night but still manageable with help of the GPS. After the official aidstation it where tricky and the GPS worked us thru the maze of trails. My battery both in the Petzl NAO2 and Garmin Oregon 650 started to get powerless. Guess I have to look in to it at home and play with the setups before TDG.
Most of the run it where on gravel and tarmac, I say around 60% of the race so my light xtailon didn’t work well as I thought before. With the facts I would taken my Tecnica Rush E-light instead for grip and comfort. We had a 3k section with hard work stone path we walked thru to get to one of the best parts at meadow running just before the pace up from my side to try go under 9 hours and tarmac running for 15k. I felt strong, the pack where light, gels where working good and it where slightly downhill. Paced up to 5:30 at first then closer to Ystad it become more likely 4:30 to the last 2km, where I got a small cramp and had to stop running for some time. Niels Holm a Danish runner kept going with Colette Coumans. I got almost up to them again just before the finish.
A 3rd place and 4th in total at 9h2m30s Im happy with the result and adventure. The track where stunning, good company all the time and nice arranged from the RD. I have to say thanks to Evelina as it where her Idée as a 35y present to run this race. To let my go at all adventures and supporting my running. Will also say thanks to FMR:s RD and Voluntaries without you it have bin hard to do this. For all warriors at GAX that where cheering and inspireing around the track and also there RD/voluntaries. Also a big thanks to Scantrade for Tecnica shoes and 32Gi for energy, and last to Neils Holm, Colette Coumans and Martin Carlsson for the company and long nice chats.