Today is the day of Birkebeiner race - a 54km long cross-country ski race (Nordic style) from Rena to Lillehammer. Start point is at altitude of 280m a then skiers must climb 630m before they cross the finish line at altitude of 480m. Most of the race leads through mountains and woods, but most participants probably don't enjoy so much the surrounding nature as they are "dying" struggling with the terrain, weather and snow conditions and they own weakness. Yeah, this race is for the tough guys.
.
(c) wikipedia
The run has been held since 1932, and commemorates a trip made by the Birkebeiner loyalists (birkebeiner can be translated to "birch-feet") to save the heir to the Norwegian throne, Håkon Håkonsson, in 1206. All participants carry a backpack weighing at least 3.5 kg, symbolizing the weight of the then one-year old heir.
This year over 16 000 tough men and women will test themselves in this ski marathon. Impressive, I must admit. But popularity of this race doesn't end here, because there is also a summer edition: a half-marathon of 21km mostly downhill with finish in Lillehammer and a 94km cross-country bike race with start in Rena and finish in Lillehammer.
(c) www.birkebeiner.no
No comments:
Post a Comment