Stage 4  |  Sami

Yesterday was a long hard day out there on the ice.  Though a relatively short day on paper, the runners and race team found a layer of surface water on the lakes that was knee deep in places.  This strength sapping slush made for a very tough stage.

Concerned about what lay on the lakes ahead our team sent snowmobiles ahead to scout the area.  Last night, as the runners were reaching the comfort and warmth of the camp, the news came back that the lakes which made up the early sections of Stage 4 could not be passed.  No vehicles and certainly no runners were going to get across.

So, last night our exhausted runners and our race team sat down and reviewed their options.  Nobody wanted to give up but the logistics of re-routing the race overnight were going to be extremely difficult.

In the small hours the decision was made that runners would be ferried from the camp by snowmobile and road to CP3, avoiding the thawing lakes. From here they would complete the last 28-30km on foot whilst the Race Team shuttled all the kit onto tonight’s camp.

The runners left for the new starting line in 3 groups at 10am, 11am and Noon local time (9, 10 and 11am GMT).

Spirits were high this morning as they set out on Stage 4 and the runners enjoyed some well-deserved sunshine and settled weather which brought spectators out on snow bikes to cheer them on as they made their way towards tonight’s campsite.  It was a happily calm day after yesterday’s trials.

The clear skies have revealed the spectacularly scenery of this beautiful area of Sweden to our runners in all it’s splendour.  There’s been a lot of talk at the finish line about the stunning sunset over the mountains this evening.

Robbie Britton produced another commanding performance, setting off 2hrs behind the first set of runners only to be the first over the finish line again.  He is a dedicated and extremely talented athlete and it’s been great to watch his progress through the snow.