Two hundred twenty kilometers starting and finishing in Jokkmokk, Sweden, that’s what awaits the participants in this year’s Nordenskiöldsloppet. The seventh edition of the world’s longest ski race will occur on Saturday.

Frida Hallquist, Exsitec Ski Team, has competed in the race twice before, ending with victory on both occasions. But this year, she enters the competition with a different training background:

“I’m quite humble about the race. Since last autumn, I’ve been working full-time and haven’t trained in the same way. I’ve only had two sessions over 2.5 hours, which were Vasaloppet and Marcialonga,” she said to Langd.se.

What do you think is essential to consider before and during the race? 

“There’s usually a relaxed atmosphere and no stress at the start, much calmer than regular races; people know they’ll be out all day. During the race, I’ve tried to stay a bit cool. There’s no strategy because you don’t know how the body will react. I’ve tried not to think about how far I have left but rather have the attitude that this is what I will do today.”

How do you approach energy intake during the race? 

“My cousin has been on a snowmobile and handed me things. I usually prepare a sports drink and switch between two belts. Sometimes, I’ve had drinkable yogurt and small chocolate balls handed to me to have something different in my stomach. At the checkpoints, I grabbed cinnamon buns on the go. I’ve been cautious with gels to avoid consuming too much caffeine during the race.”

Tips for the world’s longest ski race 

At the time of writing, there are 584 registered participants. If you’re one of them, you can read Frida Hallquist’s best tips for a successful experience here:

• Keep calm. There’s no point in stressing out. 
• Start eating early before hunger and fatigue kick in. 
• Don’t take gels at every checkpoint if you’re not used to them; it might be better to have a cinnamon bun. If you’re not used to gels, they can be harsh on the stomach. 
• Try to bring something soft to eat. For example, chocolate can be hard to chew and swallow. It’s better to have something like drinkable yogurt instead.

Also Read – Persson ahead of his first Nordenskiöldsloppet: “My goal is to win”