Pirkan Hiihto is a cross country skiing event held in south of Finland. It dates back to 1955 and it’s 90 km long, being the longest one day ski race in Finland. It’s possible to ski with classic style (start early morning 7 am) or skating style (start at 11 am). There are around 3000 participants, and it’s held the first weekend of March.

The start is in Niinisalo Garrison area, and you can reach it by coach from Tampere. There are 11 service points along the route, and you need to walk 700 m in Kyröskoski, after about 50 km. More information: http://www.pirkankierros.fi/pages/index.php/en_hi

Ursprungsland Biathlon Team was supposed to have two participants, but even the heavy refill eating before the race didn’t save Jukka, who ended up being the service man with a flu. Marja was a bit hoping the race would be cancelled as there wouldn’t be enough snow. But what happened, the snow came just two weeks before the start, and she needed to do it!

Sure Marja was about to miss the bus taking the skiers from Tampere to Niinisalo. Well, she made it, and in Niinisalo there were plenty of time and space to change the equipment and get prepared. Luckily there were Kaisa (Helsinki Triathlon) and Helena (Suomen Pankin urheiluseura) from Helsinki, with whom Marja got to ski together with.

Marja has done the 90 km skating once before, on 2013. The time was then 7:11:40. After the race she was destroyed, it was the most terrible physical action she has ever done. Two days in high fever and all the muscles in pain, stomach upside down, seeing nightmares of the asses of the skiers in front of her… It was really an experience you are not sure if you want to do again. The whole day on the skis, nothing else to do, and it feels never-ending… That’s why the not-really-thought-to-the-end-enrollment was turned into the hope they would cancel the whole thing. But as said, they didn’t.

In your mind, the race must be cut into stages, from the start to the first pit stop, from the first stop to the second… You cannot start thinking that it’s 90 km and takes the whole day… And you really need the friends there! The Finnish state of mind in skiing is that nobody talks anything! In the beginning some might reply to your talk, but the more you have skied, the more it’s only you and your lonely thoughts.

And the Finnish spectators (not too many) – nobody says anything. Once their own “Pena” comes, they start making some noise. But for the others, nothing. Luckily we got Jukka along the track. He had a bell and a horn to make some noise! He also was giving chocolate, nuts, magnesium and pain killers. So, besides the pit stops, we also were waiting where the “bell-man” would be. And bit by bit the way got shorter. At the pit stops you have always sport drink and water, but also some blueberry soup and bread. After 50 km there is a stop with meat soup, this is to recommend! As doing so long journey, your stomach really starts to be empty, no matter how much there has been refilling in the previous days. The organisers should add chocolate, fructose and Coke to their selection so that it would be perfect.

In about halfway there appeared quite heavy pain in Marja’s ankle. This is why the skating style is harder, you start to have some strange pain in the ankles, then the knees, and eventually even in the hip. Afterward it was discovered that her tibialis posterior (whatever muscle in the feet) was inflamed and was causing the pain.

The girls left Marja behind about 10 km before the finish line, it was agreed that if someone has powers to speed up, just go for it, as anyone can do the last 10 km on her own. With the support of the friends, and the bell-man Jukka, she made the whole thing with a new record time: 6:47:47. The position was 31st (out of 55) in female skating style series. If we put together the classic and skating style and all the females, she was 40th out of 153. Very happy! And not with such a trauma as the previous time. No fever, no such pain.

Again, it’s time to re-think next year’s participation. It’s not that much about how good condition you have, it’s more a mental challenge, and how well your feet can handle the ski boots for hours and hours… But if the other girls are again going… Hard to stay at home. 😉