Finspång Trail Loop Ultra

6 min read

The MRC Finspång Trail Loop Ultra is a 50 km race held in Finspång, Sweden, about 200 km southwest of Stockholm. The format is simple: a 10 km loop repeated five times, with roughly 400 m of elevation gain per lap. The trail itself follows animal paths through forest that haven't been worn down by regular foot traffic, so you're picking your way over roots and uneven rock, following flagged markers to stay on route. This was my second official race and my first ultra.

Distance	Elevation +/-
52 km (32.2 mi)	1,966 m (6,450 ft) D+ 1,966 m (6,450 ft) D-

Photo credit: Alex Zauner

You can download the GPX track made by the organizers for the course.

Arriving in Finspång

We flew from Berlin to Stockholm, then took a two-hour train through the Swedish countryside to Finspång. Our hotel was the Castle, a historic estate that's been converted into a guesthouse. We spent the afternoon exploring the grounds, grabbed a few things from the local grocery store, and went for a shakeout run around town. Toward the end we passed the start and finish area and got a preview of the final hill climb and descent that would close out each loop.

Loop 1: Charting the route

Race time	Split
1:05:41	1:05:41

114 runners lined up at 8 AM on a cool morning. Uppbrott by Matti Bye played over the speakers while we waited. The first 2 km followed a gravel road before the course ducked into the forest, where the real running began.

I found a rhythm on the early climbs and settled in with a small group of three. We ran most of the loop together, trading positions on the ups and downs. On the final climb I held my pace and pushed over the top, then let gravity carry me back down to the start. That opening lap gave me a good read on the course and helped me decide how to manage the rest of the day. I came through about six minutes behind the leader.

Loop 2: Feeling good until...

Race time	Split
2:24:38	1:18:57

At the aid station I wrapped Leuko tape around my toes where hot spots were starting to form. The shoes I was wearing weren't fully broken in, and I could feel them rubbing with each step.

Most of the second loop went smoothly. I found a comfortable rhythm and ran mostly alone with a few other runners spaced out nearby. Then around the 8 km mark, on a flat section that should have been easy, I lost focus and rolled my ankle. It was one of the worst sprains I've had while running. I slowed to a walk, tried to assess the damage, and eventually eased back into a jog. I should have been paying more attention on the easy ground.

Back at the aid station, my ankle was throbbing. I pulled off my shoe expecting to see swelling, but it looked okay. I didn't tape it. Instead I kept going, adjusting my stride to favor the good foot and trying not to bend the ankle more than I had to. The limp was obvious but I could still move.

Loop 3: Entering the pain cave

Race time	Split
3:53:33	1:28:55

I took a longer break at the aid station before heading out, eating what I could and resting the ankle. Another runner set off at the same time and we fell into pace together, which helped carry me through most of the loop.

Around the 5 km mark the fatigue built and the ankle pain got harder to push aside. I could still pick my way through the terrain, but each climb took longer than the last and I had to talk myself up most of them.

Loop 4: Running on fumes

Race time	Split
5:27:57	1:34:24

I stopped for a while again and went for pickles and salty chips, craving anything with sodium. After about five minutes I talked myself into heading back out.

This was the hardest loop. The temperature had climbed through the morning and by now it was warm. Between the heat, the swelling ankle, and the accumulating fatigue, everything hurt. I was probably low on electrolytes by then, though I didn't realize it. I stopped thinking about pace or position and worked from one flagged section to the next.

Loop 5: The final loop

When I finished Loop 4, my friend Henn was waiting at the aid station. He'd run two loops himself and offered to come out with me for one more. I was grateful for the company and eased into a slower pace to start.

We ran side by side for the first 4 km, talking and keeping each other steady. After I took my last energy gel I felt a surprising second wind and picked up the pace. Around km 7 I closed in on another runner ahead and we pushed each other hard for the next 2 km. Eventually I backed off, knowing I needed to save whatever I had left for the final climb.

Finish

Race time	Split
7:02:27	1:34:31

At the top of the last hill, both legs cramped so badly I couldn't stand up. All that remained was a 100-meter descent to the finish line. Two runners still on their fourth loop came past and helped me get down the hill. I crossed the line and collapsed. I wouldn't have made it down without them.

Reflections

The MRC Finspång Trail Loop Ultra is a small, down-to-earth race. The trophy is a Swedish beer mug, and after the finish we went for beers and dinner at the local pub.

The loop format turned out to be more psychological than I expected. You run the same trail five times, but your body is different each time through. Sections that felt easy on lap one became real problems by lap four. The ankle sprain on Loop 2 and the electrolyte shortfall on Loops 4 and 5 are what made the second half so slow.

I finished in 7:02:27. The main thing I'd do differently is deal with problems when they show up: tape the ankle at the aid station, and take salt earlier instead of waiting until I was craving it. Up next: the Transylvania 50k.

Thanks for reading. If you have questions or want to chat about the race, get in touch or find me on Instagram: @andrewtpham.

Happy trails!