From Lynn Donohue…
On Saturday 28 September six intrepid Harriers ran the TCS Lidingoloppet – known as the world’s largest cross-country race held on the island of Lidingo just outside Stockholm. It caters for runners of all ages and with races from 1.7 km to 30 km held over the entire weekend. It is part of the Swedish “En Svensk Klassiker” series of prestigious endurance events. It was very well organised and professional with an expo and efficient public transport links from Stockholm to the island. The locals are very enthusiastic with lots of support and well stocked refreshment points including cinnamon buns and pickled gherkins!
On a cold but sunny morning Peter and Sheena ran the 15km race a challenging course through the beautiful scenery which is very reminiscent of a children’s fairy tale with a wonderful variety of trees, huge toadstools and amazing fungi, open meadows, coasts and wooden houses set in woodland glades. The organisers’ description was: “Here flat meadows and dirt roads alternate with sloping paths and steep hills.”
They both ran a very creditable time of 1hr 42 mins, particularly notable as they had only very recently finished the Camino trail in Portugal and are preparing for the Half Marathon des Sables in Jordan in just a few weeks.
In bright afternoon sunshine four Harriers – Nigel Tapper, Keith Wood, Alex Lewis and Lynn Donohue, tackled the 30km route described by the organisers as a tough and beautiful course…one of Sweden’s greatest running challenges since 1965. A true test of strength for all participants over a hilly 30km course! We were worried but needn’t have been as our training over the local moors paid off! Unfortunately we finished in pouring rain but we had the fantastic support crew of Helen Horton, who ran last year, and her family and fellow Harrier Scott Armitage.
We also did the home town of Ilkley proud with our rendition of ‘On Ilkla Moor Baht At’ at a traditional Swedish restaurant in Stockholm on Sunday night. The locals were a bit stunned!
We would highly recommend this event for the scenery and organisation and Stockholm is such a lovely city.
From Peter Tapper…
On a coolish but damp autumn morning, Peter and Sheena lined up at the starting point of one of Sweden’s most famous running events—the TCS Lidingöloppet.
Known as the world’s largest cross-country race, the Lidingöloppet challenges runners with a 30 or a 15km course that winds through the scenic and hilly terrain of Lidingö, an island just outside Stockholm.
If you’re looking for the longer and tougher version then you can opt for the 30km race, this is an extension of the 15 km and takes in the same breathtaking scenery.
This is no mean event and is enjoyed by up to 60,000 other fools, sorry runners, during the weekend, it’s interspersed with great entertainment and food including a very professional exhibition for runners. We both finished in a very satisfying 1hr 42mins, Sheena nursing an injury and both of us trying to save ourselves from injury for our imminent MDS desert ultra – coming up in November.
The TCS Lidingöloppet is a part of the Swedish “En Svensk Klassiker” series, a collection of prestigious endurance events. The 15 km category
attracts thousands of participants every year. The race is known for its demanding course, with a mix of rolling hills, forest trails, and stunning views of the Swedish archipelago. The 2024 edition did not disappoint, offering ideal running conditions with dull skies to start off the race but finishing in crisp temperatures and blue skies.
This is a race we can both highly recommend, the TCS organisation is second to none as were the locals who welcomed all of us with opened arms.
Ilkley Harriers were proudly represented by Nigel Tapper, (30k) Sheena Pickersgill (15k), Peter Tapper (15k), Lynn Donohue, (30k) Alex Lewis (30k), and last but not least Keith Wood (30k). Walking wounded were Scott Armitage who proved to be excellent with foil blankets and general encouragement and CBA was Helen Horton (did the 30 km last year, so we’ll let her off).
During the trip we visited The Abba Museum, toured part of the Archipelago islands by local boat and visited the amazing Vasa Museum (a real highlight for me).
The ‘away run’ was finished off at a fine traditional Swedish restaurant Pelikan in Stockholm on the Sunday night where we dined on such Swedish delicacies as herring, meat balls, and mashed potatoes (the creamy type) all washed down with Aquavit which is a grain or potato-
based spirit. As is the tradition, we surprised – some say shocked the other diners – with our own rendition of ‘On Ilkla Moor Baht At’ during the toast, in great gusto I might add.
A huge thanks to all those involved in the organisation of this event, in particular Nigel Tapper for press ganging etc – a bloooooomin brilliant weekend.
Results:
15km
1. Women Sara Kristensen 54:17
1. Men Jonas Glans 45:58
1129 women Sheena Pickersgill 1:42:19
1385 men Peter Tapper 1:42:19
2080 finishers
30km
1. Women Carolina Wikstrom 1:51:35
1. Men Ebba Tula Chala 1:38:18
Women 1856 Lynn Donohue 3:27:36
Women 1859 Alex Lewis 3:27:40
Men 5484 Nigel Tapper 3:14:37
Men 5488 Keith Wood 3:14:37
8338 Finishers