– I cried on the way to Athens. It was so strong. It was absolutely fantastic when I arrived at the white marble stadium at half past four at night, says Simen Holvik. On Friday morning, he finished in Athens after running 660 kilometers in six days. He will be the first to complete this stage since Feidippides, 490 BC. According to the traditional story, Feidippides was an Athenian messenger who was sent to Sparta to tell about the Greek victory over the Persians and then died of exhaustion. Feidippides and Marathon The traditional story is that the Athenian messenger Feidippides (ca. 530-490 BC), was sent to Sparta to ask for help when the Persian army landed at Marathon. He ran around 240 km in two days. He then ran about 42 km from the battlefield near the Marathon and to Athens to tell about the Greek victory over the Persians at the Battle of Marathon (490 BC) with the words “We have won!” Then he collapsed and died. The messenger’s long run was the inspiration for the running distance marathon, which was held for the first time at the 1896 Summer Olympics. Source: Wikipedia But Holvik did not die. The goal was to reach the finish line before 6.00. He managed that by a good margin, and reached the finish line an hour and a half before. Extensive route The first stretch Holvik ran, went from Marathon to Athens. From there he ran to Sparta. From Sparta, the trip went back to Athens, on to the Marathon and finally back to Athens again. He ran the entire distance in six days. Was chased by dogs One thing Holvik had dreamed of was stray dogs along the stretch to Athens. He had bought spray in advance, but he only almost needed it. – There was a time when I heard that they came barking behind me. I knew I should not run or show fear, he says. He counts, there are three dogs. Therefore, he picks up three stones and fishes out the spray, but the dogs fortunately withdrew. – It is very strong when you have run a lot and are tired, you also have this on top. It’s tough, says the runner. Stress on the body There are many factors that affect how much stress a race like this is for the body. Physiotherapist Kristine Jahren mentions warmth and preparation as one of the most important factors. Kristine Jahren is Simen Holvik’s physiotherapist, and works for Stavanger Idrettsklinikk. Photo: Lars Kristian Aalgaard – It’s not for everyone. It requires enormous motivation, will and opportunity, she says. It is also more than the physical strain to take into account. The feet are marked after a long run, here you see Simen Holvik’s foot after the race. Photo: Private – Recovery becomes more challenging as well, because sleep is reduced and nutrition may not be as simple, so the strain can be greater based on that, says the physiotherapist. The heat also caused him to bleed a lot of nosebleeds. The physiotherapist believes this is partly due to dryness, which creates an irritation in the mucous membranes. Holvik was bothered by nosebleeds during the race, and struggled to stop it. Photo: Private – The challenge is that you do not get to take long enough breaks for the nose to recover, she says. The World’s Toughest Race Next summer, his plan is to run in Death Valley, located in California, USA. The 217-kilometer race is described as the world’s toughest race. It will be July 4, which is the hottest time in this area, where the world’s highest temperatures are measured. – You must run on the white stripes to not burn up the shoe. So I hope to get there next year, says Holvik. But first, take a well-deserved vacation, and get back to reality. – I have not been in this world in a week, was there a strike ?, he says and laughs. Ultra races Ultra races or ultramarathons are all races that are longer than the marathon distance 42,195 kilometers There are two main types of ultra races: – Distance races where the fastest at a certain distance wins- Time-limited races where the one who runs the longest within a certain time wins Typical distance races are 50 km , 50 miles (about 80 km), 100 km and 100 miles (about 160 km) Typical time-limited races are 24-hour races, 48-hour races and 6-day races In ultra races, women and men start together, and breaks are allowed and necessary. to drink, eat, go to the bathroom and sometimes sleep along the way Sources: Store Norske Leksikon, Wikipedia and Aktiv Trening
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Simen ran 660 kilometers in six days – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
