Race report from Black Lake Race 2025

Black Lake Race is a quite new addition to the race calendar in Norway. I had planned to participate in its first edition last year, but I couldn’t go because of more pressing matters at home. The route, with its steep terrain and long off-trail sections, is a good match for me, and there are not many races in Norway with this kind of terrain. That’s why the race was on my priority list for 2025.

The race doesn't have much PR, but it's grounded in the local community with a commitment to true mountain running. The extreme terrain, compared to most trail and mountain races in Norway, doesn’t attract the big masses. Last year Kilian Jornet, who lives in the area, participated and won. I was hoping he would turn up again this year, giving the rest of us a chance to measure up. I raced against him in Isfjorden Skyrace last year, taking second place behind him, and I enjoyed the extra edge the race gets when a true elite runner is at the start line. Unfortunately, he didn’t join this time.

The weather forecast for the day was hot and sunny, which is not in my favour. Earlier this year I’ve done some heat workouts, which seems like the big trend of the year among endurance athletes. I could definitely benefit from heat adaptation, but my daily schedule and other responsibilities makes it hard to prioritise the extra hassle of putting on and off many layers of clothes. In my mind, I get more benefit from spending those minutes (which accumulates to hours) actually training.

My goal was to spend about 3:40 on the course, adding 20 minutes to the course record. I planned to consume three bottles of Maurten 320 during the race, giving me about 240 grams of carbohydrate, and drinking at least 3 liters of water. I know my strengths well enough to portion out my energy in a strategic manner, holding back a bit on the uphills and keeping a good momentum in the downhills.

I started out in a controlled tempo, and got a gap of a couple of minutes by the first checkpoint at 5 km. The next uphill was the main challenge of the race: An ascent of 850 meters of elevation gain in only 2 kilometers. The first part consists of a combination of marshes and bushes. The locals claim there is a trail there, but I couldn’t see it. This particular section is the most brutal part of the course; not only is the slope punishing, but you have to fight for every step because of the soft, squishy ground or bushes up to your thigh.

Further up, the real mountain terrain takes over. I got into a good rhythm, and reached the first summit with a comfortable lead. I could enjoy the scenery as the race course passes over three ridges in rocky terrain, all while having an excellent panorama to the surrounding mountains. The two main peaks of the route, Trollstolen (1141 masl) and Trolltind (1241 masl) are spectacular in themselves, but the view of the serrated ridge between Trolltind and Svartevasstind is the eye-catcher of the landscape. It was nice to be able to appreciate the views, but I got a bit too comfortable running alone, and didn't manage to stay fully in race mode and keep pushing.

The second checkpoint is located between ridge number two and three, and here we joined the 20 km course, which was a shorter option of the Black Lake Race. I got a small motivational boost to speed up by chasing the leader of the shorter race, Emelie Forsberg, up to Trolltind. Down from the last summit, Blåtinden, the markings got very sparse, and for a long time I couldn’t spot a single marker. I tried my best to just follow the GPS track on my watch, but I got into a particularly gnarly terrain on an unnecessary detour. I got frustrated and lost a bit of time. Finally I came onto a trail again, and for the last 6 kilometers I tried to speed up for a strong finish.

I ended up spending 3:51 on the course. Although I’m happy about finishing in first place, the performance was lacking. My original estimate of 3:40 should have been within reach with more motivation to push during the race. In terms of nutrition and hydration, I followed my plan and drank three bottles of Maurten 320 and in total 3.5 liters of water, which felt sufficient to keep a stable pace.

I told the organizers that Black Lake Race is my favourite race course in Norway, and I meant it. I don’t think you’ll be able to find a current Norwegian race that is more pure skyrunning than this. I’m planning to go back next year and improve my time!

Podium of Black Lake Race 2025.