#58

Today it was time for my first run this year around Kullen (Kullaberg).

November 3rd I will run Kullamannen (Double Death, 44K) and decided earlier that it will be 3x40K runs and 2xKullaberg to get fully prepared for this race.

I could have done another thing today but I cannot be at two places at the same time and since the goal this year is to run through the finish line Kullaberg was more important.

So I took the train to Helsingborg and then the bus to Mölle. During the bus ride it rained, it was suppose to rain at 8 am but as we know weather is very unpredictable. But I hoped it would stop.

Here on Kullaberg I need to follow a route because I cannot find my way around, it is not my regular trail running area, I come up here 2-3 times before the race, the plan this year was to run in the spring as well but since I ran into pneumonia beginning of this year I needed to get in better shape before I could get up here. It is a tough lap even if it 21K instead of those 35-40K runs I do on Österlen.

When I started the run it was very windy down at the harbour but when I finally got into the woods it was more calm.

Last year it was a lot of walking up on most hills but now I could run up on most of them before the stone part.

I hadn’t run very far before the rain started, what a bummer, tried to hide under some trees but it did not help and I thought that if I have come all the way up here the rain is not going to destroy my day so start to run otherwise it will be a long day, started running again and the rain stopped, did not get so wet.

Got down to the stone part and followed the rule to stay closer to the land then more to the water, less wet stones and it was not so wet this day lucky me but there are still loose stones, they can seem to be steady but when u step on one it will move so I always walk on these stones and do not try to run, 700 m took 44 minutes and then Nimis shows up, an art work by a Swedish artists in wood, a steep hill up which I also walk/climb up on. It had rained earlier so it was a bit wet. It feels when u get up all the way to the top and then you have another steep shorter hill to get up on til it is time to run and walk til u get to Håkullen. I walk where there are more rocks, wet rocks are dangerous, I hurt myself last year when I stepped on a wet stone and fell, nothing broken but hurt my hand when I tried to dampen the fall.

Decided not follow the route 100% from the bottom to the beginning of Håkullen. I finally made it. Then the worst part is over.

This time I did not get lost, when I get closer to the light house and I get down a hill there is a gate to the left that I have missed in the past and has turned to the right but have realized that it was wrong.

Today I also tested these notorious Altra Timp. Saw these in a running paper, the grip looked good but when I read the reviews it was more cons then pros. If u haven’t listened to ”the ginger runner” on Youtube here is a video Review Timp The Ginger Runner but the ginger runner said that there are people who love the Timp so it would be interesting.

I can say this, the trail shoe was nothing wrong with except that it turned out it was too small for my feet even if I had ordered a bigger size so it was not nice after a while to run down the hills, that was the only negative thing I could say about this shoe. So the chance is high that I will order a new pair and sell the old pair.

The first 10K took 2.30h but then I also have the two toughest parts. Hoped that it would take less then 5h to get back. At the light house it was windy and I took it easy down the light house.

This day Kullaberg seemed to be occupied with Danes, I love Denmark but the people in front of me during my last 4 K’s did not know the rule about moving to the sides when runners or trekkers comes behind them and want to pass so I had to make a move when I had the chance so I could continue in my pace the rest of the way.

So finally I was on the beach and had 800 m left til Mölle harbour, had to run where the finish line normally is, this year it will be moved because they are renovating the harbour when the race is.

So what can I say about this first run compared to last year, 30 minutes faster, ran up on more hills, felt good. Last year one lap took 4.30h, it was very gooey and I had not prepared enough, was suppose to run some 40K runs but did not happen, was twice up on Kullen but that is not enough, ran into a knee problem closer to the light house and walking did not help so I threw in the towel.

So I hope for a fast first lap around 3.30 and then 5h on the second lap, then I will not make it before the max time of 8h but the goal for me is to run through the finish line and if I won’t be on the list, it is OK.

After the run it was time for the mandatory swim in the ocean, cold but refreshing.

Then Wille and I shared a shrimp sandwich for lunch after the swim