13.06.20 at 05.00 Was the start of The lounch and test event GUT RANGER 2020 in the loop called Skogvokterruta in Norwegian meening Ranger trail in English. This loop has been made by a group of passionet trail and ultra runners from the area around the town of Skien Norway called:
The Grenland Ultra Runners https://www.facebook.com/groups/258417025349046
i am a part of and one of the founders of both the running community in town and the GUT Ranger Trail.
i have been spotting the trail all spring season and preparing to make a push for a solid time in the test event.
i was starting of with a group of 18 runners at 05.00 on a hot summer day (17c on start and 27c in Finish) i was fast making a leader group with my brother and two friends. We stayd together for the first 10k and set a good opening pace over the first peak Årdalsåsen. The two friends fell behind between 10k and 20k and i ran together with my brother over the two next peaks Galten and Vealøs to the first support point after 31k in Solvika. From SOlvika we run in to a tough trail over Middagskollane that is energy sucking due to swamp grund and elevation gain. My brother fell behind in the downhills between Middagskollane and Skrhelle and i ran by my own over Skrehelle just enjoying the magic trails and magnificent view from the top of Vestre Skrehelle. After decenting from Skrehelle there is a 7k stretch of tarmac and graval roads running up to the next support point after 51k by the Valebø road. I felt great staring the climb to the highest point of the track Gjeitebuvarden. this is a big climb and after more then 50k in the legs i had to start the mindgame with my self to be able to puch over the top and into the decent. Running in my daily training terrain and pushing hard was great but i was falling a bit behind on my planned time schedule and starting to feel the warm wether draining power. Into the third support point at Skotfoss at 70k i was fealing stabile but tired. From this point it was all about the inner dialog and finding the steady pace in the last climb to the Piggen. This clim long but not so steep. i used 1h20m on this part of the track and this is a point where i feel its possible to gain time in future attemts on this route. After Piggen its dowhill to finish and the last km is a nice piece of the waterfront promenade to the Town Hall and Finish.
Over all it was great to run around town on epic trails and i hope there will be many attemts to beat my time.
Link to an article about the test event: https://www.kondis.no/tobias-dahl-fenre-suverent-raskest-i-skogvokteren-88-km-testloep.6317925-127695.html