– I fell ill just before the start, and then I had a real round of vomiting and fever, says Jens Kvernmo over the phone from the trail. When news talks to the Trønder, he coughs a good deal and expresses that until now it has not been an easy journey on the plains. – The stuff here is quite demanding, even if you are healthy. And when you’re sick with a fever and everything you try to drink and eat comes back out, then it’s quite demanding. At the moment, the adventurer, who is also a rookie, is the furthest back in the track in the Finnnmarksløpet’s longest distance of 1,200 kilometers. Jens Kvernmo said at the checkpoint in Kautokeino that he had fallen ill. While the other competitors have made it to the third checkpoint Levajok and also further towards Tana, the Trønder must see himself as having to take it easy. – Now we have had a good rest in Kautokeino and are far behind in the field, but we are moving forward, he says. Will not retire Even though Kvernmo has had a few tough days behind him, he is determined that he will not retire. – I can’t quite give up there, but I’ve been pretty close, he admits. He thought the worst thing about being ill is that he can’t give the dogs the care and attention they need to make a good run. – But so far they seem happy. But we take it one stage at a time. Jens Kvernmo on the trail on the way to checkpoint Levajok right now. He is the last driver in his class who is expected at the checkpoint. Photo: Jens Kvernmo Kvernmo still has a few miles to go before he reaches the next checkpoint in Levajok. There, he plans to take care of his dogs in the best possible way. – I will try to do some dog care, get them some food, take care of their paws and make sure they have everything they need so that we are ready for another round to Tana tomorrow. Jens Kvernmo’s dogs on their way out from the start in Alta. Photo: Hanne Wilhelms / news Get your appetite back In familiar adventure style, Kvernmo decided to transport both dogs and himself to the starting line in Alta in the slightly more demanding way. The dog driver just as well chose to take the entire transport to Finnmark behind the dog sled and had covered 1,300 kilometers through Norway before the start on Friday. Jens Kvernmo from the trip north towards Finnmarksløpet. Photo: Privat When news spoke to him at a checkpoint in Kautokeino, he cast doubt on whether that strategy was the best. – I think that trip was a bit too tough. I was on my knees even before the start, he said then. Several hours later with vomiting, fever and coughing, there is still hope for the road ahead. – Actually, things have turned around a bit. It’s been two days since I last ate, so I hope it will turn around then. I’ve got an appetite again.
ttn-69
– I have vomited and am very ill – Finnmarksløpet – news
