The Event
The Hiidenhölkkä run is held every year in Nummela, Finland. The course runs almost entirely through the forests and has some very steep sections during the approximate 10 km (6 miles) that is run.
Further details of the event can be read here (if you understand Finnish)
This year's event was held on Sunday 31st October 2010
My Event
I decided to finish my running this year with a nice easy 10 km (6 miles)! What better place to do this than in Nummela, my "home town", near to where I live!
There were many friends of mine taking part in this too; Maikku, Tuukka, Atte and Lauri. Alfie was also going to take part but unfortunately had to pull out with an injury. This meant he was our support and official photographer!
My 8 year old son was also taking part in the 4 km (2,5 mile) race in which Minna had agreed to run alongside him. His race took place an hour before our 10 km race and he crossed the finish line after just over 20 minutes (with Minna nowhere in site as he had left her behind!!!)
As our start time approached I had some concerns after hearing the directions were not always clear along the route - the route was pretty much entirely run through forested area. This was a very small event with some 70 odd runners. I was a little concerned that I was going to get lost!
Anyway, the race started promptly at 12pm and we were all away! The runners thinned out very quickly and for much of the race, I had no runners around me. The route was very challenging because of most of it being in the forest. You would have to constantly check where you were putting your feet as the tree roots and rocks on the ground tried their best to trip you up! The route was also extremely hilly but it made a nice change from running on the roads!
Results
I stopped my watch at the finish line with a time of 42:59 although my official time was 43:02. My final position was 25th out of the 77 runners who completed the course. Full race results can be found here.
Finally....
This event was good fun and quite unique from all of the others that I had done. The route was very challenging but the signs were not always clear resulting in a couple of incidents of indecision from me, as to which direction I was supposed to be going in. However, overall it was a nice way to end the year and I would certainly consider doing it again!
So, what now? This was pretty much the last running event that I knew of for the year. Would I continue my running training through the winter and into next year or would I focus on the cycling again? Or maybe something completely different? I had the winter months to consider what I wanted to do.....