Looking for an epic trail running holiday destination? Norway should be on top of your list... So says ASICS FrontRunner Stefano Maiorana.
He talks us through a recent trip to the beautiful country:
Norway’s cities and Fjords (deep, narrow and elongated sea- or lake-drain, with steep land on its sides) are the ideal backdrop for trail running, making the country a top addition to your fitness travel bucket list.
I recently went on vacation with family to Norway. Our plan was simple: arrive in Oslo, rent a camper van, and then drive north and setup camp along the way. There is a camping culture in Norway, with hundreds of camping sites and camper vans across the country. If you’re brave enough to take on the wilderness, you are legally allowed to setup camp anywhere within reason, so long as you are 150m away from an inhabited house or cabin. Each night of the 10-day trip we slept in different locations, and ran different routes. I made sure to pack suitable kit for the journey and trails.
Trail Kit:
I wanted a pair of shoes that were rugged in terms of traction and build, that were also lightweight. The ASICS FujiLyte XTs, featuring a reasonably low stack height and forefoot rock plate were the perfect choice to provide protection as well as lightweight responsivity. Cleaning the shoes from mud and trail debris was easy, given the lightweight construction of the shoe. For longer runs I stored liquids, snacks and a warm jacket (ASICS Accelerate Jacket) in my ASICS Pro Hydration Vest.
On the first night, we slept over in Lillehamer, the host town of the 1994 winter Olympic games. We went out for our first run at 8pm with the sun to guide us all the way. It was the first time I experienced such a late sunset. It allows you to fit so much more into a day!
From Lillehammer we travelled further north, to my favourite region of the country, covering the towns of Andalsnes, Valldalen, Geiranger, and Stryn- regions known for their natural beauty and epic hiking terrain. Each place is filled with tons of trail routes and adventure activities (ie. canoeing, bouldering). With a huge network of trails in each area, you can be sure to find a trail suited to your level of fitness and skill.
Colossal mountains, thundering waterfalls, technical ridges, endless grass valleys, snowy mountaintops, tranquil forests, and remote villages. The most memorable experiences were the views of snowy, jagged mountains alongside cyan Fjords, and the powerful waterfalls and cascades around every corner. Norway is a unique destination for deep wilderness immersion. It’s no surprise that many of the world’s top ultra-trail runners live and train in Norway.
