1st Grand Prix race!

After leaving Skjolden, Norway two days earlier I have now arrived in Loen, Norway. The race director said it was ok for me to come a few days earlier so that was pretty nice. This area of Norway is unbelievably beautiful. When you look around the panorama looks almost as if the great Salvador Dali created a flawless portrait. The terrain is rocky, the weather is a bit soggy and the mountains are enormous and steep. Last year it was not certain if the race here known as the Skala opp would become part of the Mountain running International Grand Prix due to the terrain. The terrain is brutal, with sections so steep that the best runners are forced to walk. The last few kilometers are more of a scramble and most mountain runners suffer here due to the difference of form needed to excel on running up rocks. By the end of this race your back and quads are sure to give off a burning sensation unlike any other mountain race. Muscles that are not used in the normal mountain races will come out of hiding to aid in your crawl to the finish. The Grand Prix is made up of some of the top mountain races in the world. The prize money at these races tops the circuit of any other mountain running races and athletes compete for top positions on the overall circuit of the Grand Prix for a chance to win an additional cash purse for total points earned in the Grand Prix. The best mountain runners of the world compete each year to take a chance at grabbing the extra cash and challenging the best runners in the world.

Some of the courses involve uphill running solely, while others such as the Smarna Gora include a mixture of up and down mountain running. This year Norway gained notariety for earning the home of their first ever Grand Prix race here in Loen. It will be an honor to take part in this event and I look forward to the competition. So far, runners from Morroco, Kenya, America, the U.K., and all over Europe are scheduled to toe the line with me Saturday. I haven't been this nervous to compete since the World Championships last year so already I'm thinking I will run well in my first Grand Prix race!