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Fancying something different I decided to go to Tromso in Northern Norway in the arctic circle for the Polar Half marathon.
This is a race during the afternoon, but which is in the dark due to the sun not coming up above the horizon for 2 months at this
time of year.
Attached are several pictures of Tromso. Plus one of myself at the start line.
The trip started off during the early hours of Friday 8th January when we drove down to Gatwick airport during the night.
The previous days flights had all been cancelled due to the snow, so we weren't very optimistic that we would even be departing.
Luckily the early morning flight was only a little delayed and we arrived in Oslo where it was about minus 18 degrees.
From Oslo we flew to Tromso arriving during the evening. It wasn't very cold for here, only about minus 4 and plenty of snow. However overnight and the following morning it had warmed up to about freezing and it started to rain.
During the lightest part of the day, although the sun doesn't come over the horizon, there is a dull light for about 2 to 3 hours.
By about 2pm it's dark and so when the race started at 3pm it was just as though it was in the middle of the night.
Starting off in the town, there was no rain and we were sheltered from any wind, so I discarded the hat and gloves, something I was later to regret.
The race was from the town along the coast to the airport and back. It was along pavements and roads that had been cleared. Unfortunately, due to the rain in the morning which had now frozen, it was just like trying to run on an ice rink. I tried to get grip on the soft snow at the side of the path, but this was difficult since as soon as you went off the path you went into snow that was often a foot deep.
I managed to last about one mile of slipping and sliding before I went head over heels and cracked my knee on the floor whilst performing a forward role.
After a brief limp I managed to get back into my stride and made it to the half way point without any further falls. More by luck than anything else. There I grabbed a drink and continued for about 10 paces before I tried to actually consume the drink. At this point I slipped, the drink going one way and I the other. By the time I got my balance back, the cup was well and truly empty.
However within a few minutes, any thoughts of not having any water was the last thing on my mind as the heavens opened and I got absolutely drenched. To make matters worse, there was now a very heavy wind coming straight off the sea. I was absolutely freezing, with no hat or gloves, no waterproof and as wet as if I'd just jumped into the sea itself.
I slipped and slid back into town and was extremely glad to be met at the finishing line with thick blankets and lead into a tent providing warm drinks and doughnuts.
My time was 1 hour 49 minutes, which I was extremely pleased with considering the conditions.
We stayed on for several days, hoping to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights and to see something of the area, but unfortunately the weather just didn't improve at all.
If anyone else is considering this in the future, my tips are to take a waterproof and some spikes.
Lance. |
