From a Beautiful Lake to the Stark Reality of a Mountain-Top Finish. The Norseman Run

Photos: Kevin Mackinnon

Nothing illustrated the extremes athletes have to deal with at the Norseman Xtreme triathlon more than the run course. For the top athletes things began with perfect conditions … only to become brutal as they made the final ascent to the top of Mount Gaustatoppen. As the rain pelted down and they climbed up into the clouds the athletes were pushed to their limits.

“Perfect conditions for Norseman,” one of the organizers messaged us as we made our way to the finish line.

The extreme conditions would eventually force organizers to close the course after 122 athletes started their way to the top of the mountain, which meant the remaining finishers would cross the “white shirt” finish line. Even if they weren’t able to go to the top of the mountain, all those who made the cut off of 14:45 to the 37.5 km point would receive a “black shirt” for their efforts.

Here are some shots from the final leg of the Norseman.

Kristian Grue led the entire race, including the run.

Grue’s crew were struggling to keep him cool during the early part of the run.

Those warm conditions at the start were long gone as Grue neared the finish line.

After two runner-up finishes, Grue was thrilled to take the Norseman win.

Switzerland’s Christophe Martignier celebrates his runner-up finish with his crew.

Juuso Manninen was shattered after he came across the line in third.

Julia Skala would set a new course record and finish sixth overall.

After hitting a bear during a race just over a month ago, Matteo Agostino was able to bounce back and finish the Norseman.

Flora Colledge would finish third in the women’s race.

Canadian Elyse Latimer finished fifth.

At the 37 km check point and for the first few hundred meters of the climb things didn’t look so bad!

France Lemieux is still smiling as she gets ready for the final part of the marathon with her daughter.

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