Sorted by location:

[Back to Contents]

Friday 9 October 2009
Roc d'Azur, Fréjus (France), 35k

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 16 September 2007
Grand Raid Godefroy, Bouillon (Luxemburg province), 40-70-90-130k

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 26 August 2007
Houffamarathon, Houffalize (Luxemburg province), 40-60-90-120k

I want revenge. I came here a couple of years ago, registered for the 90k. Loosing a lot of energy on simply being nervous, I also lost my magnesium drink in one of the many fantastic downhills. With the rest stops being as far apart as 20k, I started suffering from extreme muscle cramps. As so many others, I noticed. At a split I took a snack break and seriously contemplated my options. I gave up, cut short and went for the 60k.

I want revenge.

(www.houffamarathon.be)

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 8 August 2007
Hoebelbike MTB Tocht, Vlezenbeek (Vlaams Brabant), 15-30-55-80-100k

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 17 June 2007
11e Gauloise, Lustin (Namur province), 20-36-48-60k

[Back to Contents]

Monday 28 May 2007
Les Boucles de Lasne, Lasne (Brabant Wallon province), 15-25-30-42-53k

[Back to Contents]

Tuesday 1 May 2007
14e Transfrontière, Tellin (Luxemburg province), 15-35-45-51-61-81k

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 26 November 2006
VTT pour tous, Boncelles (Liège province), 10-20-30-40k

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 29 October 2006
Adam Smol, Sprimont (Liège province), 10-25-35-45k

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 1 October 2006
VTT des Bikers de l'Alleu, Braine l'Alleud (Brabant Wallon province), 20-35-45-55k

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 24 September 2006
Boucles de Hollange, Hollange (Luxemburg province), 25-35-50-65-90k

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 24 September 2006
Rando des Chemins de Légendes, Aywaille (Liège province), 8-20-30-45k

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 24 September 2006
Marathon VTT Chenappan, Genappe (Wallon Brabant province), 10-25-35-45-60k

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 17 September 2006
Randonnée VTT des pompiers de Theux, Theux (Liège province), 25-35-45k

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 10 September 2006
Pietrebaise, Pietrebais (Wallon Brabant province), 15-30-52k (chrono option)

[Back to Contents]

Saturday 2 September 2006
9° acht van de Bremt, Bierbeek-Bremt (Flemish Brabant province), 15-25-44k

The one and only rest stop on the 40k loop (placed as late as some 30k into the ride) consisted of a glass of energy drink and home made (?) cake. Hm. Except for this, I had a great ride! Lots and lots of dry cobbles, yes, but nothing that a full-suspension bike cannot handle! Signage? Excellent I think, but then I rode with a stronger biker who took very well care of me. Lots of gravel road, nothing technical, nothing too hilly (310hm/40k=7.75 hill factor). We touched some sections of Oud-Heverlee's red trail, but thank God the organizers had not received permission to enter Meerdaalwoud and its Forêt-de-Soignes-like trails (that generally bore my wits out). Amazingly dry trails despite lots of rain recently (although it had rained less the past couple of days). Very relaxed ride in 19-degree weather, perfect for me who had not been out properly in a long time. I was just as nervous as Bambi on ice! We started out just before closing of registration (12.30-14.30), no boar factor, and we caught up with a couple of accompanied kids, which is super!

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 3 September 2006
Les Côteaux du Viroin, Olloy-sur-Viroin (Namur province), 15-25-35-45-55-65-85k

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 9 July 2006
Raid des Chantoires, Bolland (Liège province), 15-25-40-58-90k

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 2 July 2006
Opal VTT, St-Etienne-au-Mont (France), 17-25-33-40-55-70-85k, 8.30am--9.30am (group starts) ---

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 25 June 2006
Rando des chapelles, Wavre, 12-28-38-48-70k, 7.30am--11.30am

Quite a decent ride with some nice climbing, and also some beautiful singletrack sections with steps and roots (and this even for a short distance like 28k, thumbs up to the organizers!) ... with barbed wire next to you. Signage could have been better, I would certainly have been irritated had I been riding this on my own as I do not like to have to slow down on my pace only to find out which way to go next. And, I was quickly reminded why I so seldom do organized rides: When we got to the first technical, singletracky climb a bunch of us got stuck together, hence stopping a more technically skilled rider who went sour for having to unclip as well. As if this was a race, and as if he had no responsibility himself to keep his distance to the riders in front of him! Only one, slightly too early, feed stop for the 28k-loop, but three for the 75k-loop, and two for the others, so very good in overall! Very little tarmac and a few cobble sections that didn't kill Minna.

I got soaked in three downpours on my way home. Some 65km and 1,100 hm (hill factor 17). Migraine, but happy. Thrashed, but not completely dead. (www.randodeschapelles.be - EVENT DISCONTINUED AS OF 2007)

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 25 September 2005
Rando VTT Koninklijke Politieverbroedering, Halle (Flemish Brabant province), 30-50-70k

Here was also the first split of the loops, and yy rider left us to go on the 30k loop while me and nn continued together onto familiar trails taking us to Sept Fontaines, onto part of the permanent green trail of Braine l'Alleud (*awwww, really missed those!!) and back around the ponds, and into Dworp I think it was where we found the second rest stop. Very unusual to find toilet facilities! (Pee-in- the-forest-shy girls, this is the ride for us!)

nn was registered for the 50k, and so I continued onto the 70k on my own (which turned out to be only some 65k, by the way). Some 10k further up zz caught up with me, having started at **9** o'clock ... grrrr ... he patted my head and sped ahead .... ARGH! ;)

I kept bumping into old faces on this ride. Or, rather, they spotted me as I usually do not notice people when biking ... completely focussed on trying to stay up on my bike as I am! The last face from past riding days I met on the third rest stop (which was the same as the second), someone who knew me from a mountain bike trip to Morocco in 2003 ... and of course he remembered I spent the two last days of the trip on the toilet ... *sigh* .. (the impression I make on people ...).

I finally made it to the finish, legs slightly sore from a higher pace than usual. There was zz, urging me to get my bike washed ... but, hey ... I usually don't wash my bike so I kindly declined the opportunity.

Great organization! Signage was great, too ... although for me who is severely short-sighted I had to slow down and get pretty close to the sign to see which way it was actually pointing as both ends of it looked the same ... but the colour was nice and red! Some decent climbing. Foot paths had been opened up for the event. Low boar factor. Quite a lot of cobbles, but if you don't mind those, tarmac stretches helped to take you to some pretty decent singletrack. For me personally the mental note is: only if the weather has been dry- ish for at least a week. Wet cobbles scare me, and those Braine l'Alleud trails turn into a mud bath after lots of rain.

A ride to consider for next year. But then there is always Genappe, Overpelt and Aywaille as well ..... *greedy* (www.mtbhalle.be)

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 11 September 2005
La Bastognarde, Bastogne (Luxemburg province), 15-25-40-60-80-101kk

Extremely low boar factor, organizers as well as riders were very friendly, rest stops filled to abundance, signage almost perfect, and a free T-shirt and snacks!

Will definitely plan this for next year again! (www.labastognarde.com)

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 12 September 2004 (postponed from 1 August 2004)
La Bastognarde, Bastogne (Luxemburg province), 15-25-40-60-80-101kk

I had heard a little about the annual La Bastognarde, but got really interested when I received a nice review from bigM member Dennis, who participated in it last year. This year it offered various distances from 15 to 101 km. I contemplated the 101k distance, eager to work even more on my fitness level, but decided to instead try to maintain my current one and go for the 80k distance instead, with about 1,500 hm. I should be ok, compared with Finnmarksturen's 1,600 hm. In fact, maybe I could do this faster than usual?

Uhum.

We rode to the start, which gave us about a 100 hm. The first 20k of La Bastognarde turned out to be reasonably flat. This made me worry, because that meant that most of the 1,500 hm would be on the remaining 60k, a much more compressed hill-ride than I had calculated. And indeed, it turned out to be a tough cookie. One long, steep uphill after the other, and in particular between rest place number 2 and 3 I failed in keeping traction and had to push my bike up two or three hills. Singletrack in abundance, a couple of sections formed as a maze with fun steep dips and stuff, and it made me slightly dizzy to have riders less than half a meter away, but still fifteen meters away when you followed the path. There was hardly any tarmac at all, but I gratefully embraced every meter of recuperation opportunity. Plenty of gravel road, and I gratefully embraced that, too, struggling to recuperate just in time for the next long, steepy, rooty uphill. Excellent views, and in retrospect I wish I had stopped on a couple of more occasions as some of them looked like I imagine the Juras, but with the relatively chilly wind I was at risk of getting cold, and thus I kept going. There were some clouds and occasional rain drops especially at the end of the ride, but we were lucky and got back to the gîte without any downpours. The sun gazed through the trees most of the time.

During the ride I noticed that I have grown more technically confident, which is awesome! I suppose Finnmarksturen had *numbed* me with the amount of root/big stones combination, and although there were lots of roots here, it was only in combination with smaller stones. Piece of cake, yes? It had been dry for a week or two, but it had drizzled through Friday and Saturday night, so there were some muddy patches. The roots were very slippery, and I soon eased up on the usual 3-bar pressure of my back wheel, after which I enjoyed every bit of root, and bumpy singletrack with an occasional caught-off-guard "oops" and amazed "weeee..." and terrified "iiih" (as James would put it).

Rest places were excellent, although starting to run empty when we arrived to them, but then we suspected we were the very last riders. Salty biscuits, chocolate, waffles, various energy drinks and "sirop" mixes, and ... awww ... CANDY! Mmmmm ...

And back to struggling on the trail. After the fourth and last rest stop of the distance I was pretty beat, and I conquered the uphills with gradually slower pace. I stayed up on my bike, and kept telling myself "no matter how slow you go, it is *still* faster than walking, so don't you dare get off". Aaaaahhh. Butt started hurting, back started hurting, more than my legs. But I made it to the finish.

Big thanks to Adri. Just as much as Bart and the spectators helped me through Finnmarksturen, Adri helped me through this one. Some general chit chat along the trail, and also keeping me updated on the number of height metres (that beautiful Polar watch ... mine still being away and repaired), and his occasional stopping to take some pictures made me relax enough to last the full distance. Otherwise it would have been a lonely ride, having started two minutes before registration closed. We came to the finish so late that the time registration post was unattended. The guys were having a bite to eat, and came rushing from their tables when we arrived. Not that we minded about the extra few seconds.

I was exhausted enough to not fully comprehend that I had battled, and won, in Bastogne. (www.labastognarde.be)

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 29 August 2004
Finnmarksturen, Ludvika (Sweden), 112k

Now .. the ride ..

I look at the result list, and I am utterly disappointed. I thought that as long as I wasn't last, I would be happy. Then I look at the result list again. By God, I am such a lousy mountain biker! :(

Yet, I cannot deny that this was the ride of the times for me.

I have to stop comparing myself with others. At least when we are talking about hours (!) in difference to reach the finish. Speed is not characteristic for how passionate you can be about biking. Adrenaline and endorfine is, and you can feel those no matter how slow you are in comparison to other people. And if you like the sensation of being part of this kind of an event, it shouldn't matter how long it takes you to get to the finish, as long as you love what you do.

Being an extremely poor climber, registering for this 112k-ride with 1,600 metres of vertical climbing was maybe sort of an overkill. But then, how else to become a strong climber than to expose yourself to more hills?

And there was enough of hills on Finnmarksturen. Loooooooooooooong, twisting and turning uphills, some of them garnished with loose stones, gravel and bare rocks. The first part of the ride, before the 1,435 participants scattered naturally, people walked up many hills, leaving you to either to do the same, or test your slow technique, riding at pedestrian pace. Minna's speciality by the way, so this girl rode the majority of the uphills! :)

The scenery was stunning. Devoured by forest, you found yourself biking along small lakes hidden in the green. In the beginning, after the first long uphill, we came out on a looong ridge. You could see kilometres from up there ...

Along the trail you found all kinds of live bands and solo singers, and the most intriguing one must have been Näcken, which goes back to Swedish folklore. Depending on which story you read he appears in varying guise, but mostly he is depicted as a nude, attractive man-like creature. He is told to appear by rivers or waterfalls, and he tries to lure humans into the water, usually by playing enchanting music on his violin. Once he has lured you into the water, his mission is to drown you. I saw him while negotiating a long foot bridge through marsh land, but managed to keep my focus.

After each long uphill you had some very fast gravel road descents, interspersed with less steep forest paths. Most of the forest paths had plenty of stones and roots, making it all a not that muddy but highly slippery ride after the past week's rain. In fact, there were sections with so many stones and roots that you could not pick a proper line between them. You had to ride over them. After each section that I was still up on my bike, I smiled.

The amount of height metres scared me, and I aimed at being happy with an average speed of about 14 km/hour, to last the full distance. For various reasons I had not been able to keep up a satisfying training schedule prior to this event, and I was very close to cancelling the whole thing and staying in Brussels. But, I hadn't been home to Sweden for three years. My family was anxious to see me, and ... once ridden ... I can do a better ride next year. So I went.

All riders were divided into categories depending on biking experience that they could show proof of. Bart and I were in the fourth and last line, while those placed in the first line were racing for national gold in marathon mountain biking. Ten minutes before start, anxiously waiting, I suddenly felt a sharp pain on the inner side of my right thigh. Checking just under my bike shorts, there was a clear indication of a bee sting. Oh, no! Some codeine salve to ease the pain from the bite did not stop me from all of a sudden feeling sick and dizzy. Blood rushed to my face and then I got an instant, horrific headache. I opted to start the ride anyway thinking there had to be first aid staff along the trail, plus I had my sister's phone number written all over my arm, just in case I would have an accident and would not be able to communicate it on my own. Bart was riding with me, but I expected him to sooner or later leave slow-as-a-turtle Minna behind and do the ride at his own pace.

The first time I stopped for first aid it was only to double check that although I had a severe skin reaction, that it was fully normal. The second stop was due to my being worried. The smarting pain was so intense I had problems focussing on the riding, so I asked for "anything". They sprayed the bite with cold spray, and at that very moment my brain registers a "click,click,click" next to me. I look up and this woman says "Hi, I am from the local newspaper ... do you mind if I take some pictures?" Eh .......... I quickly swallowed some codeine tablets before they even had time to dissolve properly in water, grimaced from the bitter taste, and headed off.

The organization was excellent. Out on the trail it was never any doubt of where to turn next, and the rest stops were filled with things to stuff your face with (although you had to be careful with the huge number of testy bees also trying to grab a bite in the bun-gurkin-sausage party). Police stopped traffic on the few road crossings, it was a nice sensation to not have to slow down at all.

The best thing, however, was the high number of spectators and their active involvement. They stayed even after the true racers had passed by, kept cheering all the riders with Swedish "heja, heja" (approx. translation "Go, go"). Brochures had been sold/distributed with our racing numbers and names noted, and on several occasions I had people cheering me by my first name. It was an amazing feeling being out there and getting so much positive attention. Bart and I got separated a little bit in the beginning in the crowd, but later when we rode together he could tell that I got a lot more "heja, heja" than he did, which was also underlined by people shouting "heja, tjejen" ("Go, girl"). I was one of only 70 or so registered female riders to be out there, so it was not surprising that they noticed if a girl stayed up on the bike in an uphill while dozens of guys around her didn't, not to mention the one small water crossing we had, where I found it safer to go through the water than to follow the example of so many others and try to balance on slippery rocks to get to the other side.

The FMT staff at the rest stops and along the trail were in contact with each other over walkie talkies, and thus could follow participants through the whole ride if needed. General information about the ride was blasted out on speakers at the rest stops, and was also broadcast on local radio frequency 108.0 MHz. When Bart and I arrived at the first (out of four) check point, I had a first aid guy from where I received the painkillers checking that I was still up and going ... but I also had the guy in charge of the speakers approach me and ask if he could talk to meeeee ....... iiiiiihhhh ....... nooooo ....

Despite feeling so ridiculously sick from the insect bite, I still felt I had a good ride. It didn't rain, and except for a few spots the trail was pretty dry. The first aid staff wondered if it was so wise for me to continue riding, but then .. I didn't have anything better to do .. go home, and still feel sick? Nono, then I might just as well ride, and be a little distracted. So I continued.

The amount of climbing got my calves cramping, but the salty gurkins at the rest stops saved me. My back was cramping from a brand new rucksack (with about 3 kilogram of stuff in it!) and my face was burning from the straps of a brand new helmet. Why I brought new items to such a tough ride, I cannot explain, maybe I subconsciously wanted to look good? Long downhills made my hands cramp from working the brakes (I know, I know ... I am supposed to let go ...). I started to seriously doubt I would be able to finish. I had to stop again for some more first aid. This time they bandaged a lump of sugar directly on the bite. Apparantly it is a trick from the old days (so-called "husmorsknep" in Swedish, I can't find a good translation). I am not sure if slightly moisturing it and pressing it against the bite (preferably within 30 minutes after the bite) is supposed to extract the venom injected by the bee. The pressure from the bandage was nevertheless soothing in some way, and I shot off again.

About 15k from the finish, my co-rider finally let go and flew away. Soon after that I caught up with some other people, and we kept swearing ourselves and each other through the most -- technically -- challenging -- singletrack I have ever ridden. And that was the last 10k of the whole ride! There was NOWHERE to ride, but -- on -- top -- of -- all the big rocks, small rocks, roots, small dips, twists, turns. Whenever it was combined with a small uphill angle, we all just got off our bikes, too tired to even want to try to challenge that section. Those that tried fell off their bikes. I passed a guy on a rare tarmac section. He was going so slow his bike was balancing from left to right, and he said he was completely knackered and couldn't take it anymore. That was 9k from the finish. 297 people either gave up or didn't finish within the 10-hour limit.

When spectators shouted that the finish was only 400 metres away, I first did not believe them. But as we turned around the corner I saw the last 50 metres, and realised I didn't have to save on energy any longer. I spurted as if I was going for first prize! In a way, I was! The speakers were funny as I heard them yelling: "... And number 3060 is spurting, leaving her co-riders far behind!!! She has lots of energy left, it is beautifulllllll to seeeee!!! And THERE she goes into gooooal, with an estimated time of ...."

FMT staff took off the computer chip from around my left ankle, another one helped me put the medal around my neck, and I mumbled: "I earned this. I definitely earned this."

-----

An amazing, almost surreal experience. Not only was I zapped back into Swedish culture and history with Näcken, solo singers singing national Swedish hymns, or live bands playing the accordion, but MENTALLY this was the hardest ride I have ever done. Stunning scenery. Awesome spectator involvement.

I have no photos. I carried that digital camera with me, along with a lot of other stuff (I should get first prize for biggest backpack of the ride!). Somehow I felt that stopping would have broken the spell of this beautiful ride. I've searched the Net for free photos to give you a glimpse of what we saw, but couldn't find even that! So ... I suppose I will have to go back next year! :) (www.finnmarksturen.com)

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 4 July 2004
Raid des Sorcières, Les Hayons, 9-21-32-40-60k

Starting point is Dohan these days. (http://www.raiddessorcieres.be/edition.htm)

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 20 May 2004
La Wissantaise, Wissant (France), 25-35-50-70-80-90k , 8am--9am (groups starts)

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 2 May 2004
10de Brabantse Heuvelentocht, Winksele, (Flemish Brabant), 27-40-44-54-60k

[Back to Contents]

Sunday 13 July 2003
Raid des Chantoires, Bolland (Liège province), 15-25-40-66k