shares his best tips:
If you’re thinking about lining up at the start of Lofoten Ultra-Trail, chances are your brain has already begun negotiating:
“Isn’t this actually unnecessarily far?”
That’s completely normal. And it’s also part of what makes ultrarunning fascinating. It’s less about “running far” and more about handling a big task through many small choices: shoes, clothing, nutrition, pace—and how you keep your head with you all the way.
Lofoten Ultra-Trail is part of The Arctic Triple, and it’s a race that rewards good judgment just as much as fitness. Coastal weather, rapid changes in conditions, and terrain that can shift character within minutes make preparation especially important.
This isn’t a complete guide, but rather experiences from my own preparations—and a few concrete things I personally focus on when running this type of race.
If you’ve run some trails before, you know how easy it is to choose shoes based on what feels good on dry ground. Lofoten is rarely just dry trail.
These are my priorities:
Predictable grip on varied surfaces. Trail, rock, asphalt, slippery grass, and mud in the same race require a shoe that behaves consistently no matter what.
Comfort as time passes. Shoes that feel fast in the first hour can become a problem once your feet swell after five or six hours.
Room for socks. In cool conditions, a slightly warmer sock can be decisive—but only if the shoe allows it.
Since La Sportiva is the main sponsor of The Arctic Triple, it’s natural to mention that I choose equipment I have many training hours in. Predictability is underrated in ultra. For me, Prodigio Pro is a safe choice for most distances in Lofoten.
Ultrarunning has a unique ability to reveal what matters—and what is merely “nice to have.”
This has the greatest impact for me:
A jacket you will actually put on. Not necessarily the lightest one, but one you can easily take off and on when the weather changes.
Gloves and a buff/neck gaiter. If your hands and neck get cold, you use unnecessary energy just to stay warm.
A packing system that sits quietly. If you constantly need to adjust vest, bottles, or straps, it drains mental energy.
The organizer is also clear that the course can change at short notice, and that snow at higher elevations is not unusual. That’s worth taking seriously—both in gear choices and in the expectations you bring to the start line.
You don’t need to train as much as possible to be ready for this race. You need to train correctly.
These are three elements I always prioritize:
Long runs focused on execution. Practice eating, drinking, and holding back—not just accumulating kilometers.
Uphills and technical terrain. Not to become as fast as possible, but so body and mind are used to uneven ground and lower speed.
Sessions with a slightly tired body. For example, an easy run when you’re already a bit fatigued. Ultra is often about functioning when surplus energy isn’t at its peak.
The numbers also provide useful context: the 24 km distance has more than 1,500 meters of elevation gain, while the 48 km offers more than 2,500. That says something about the kind of load you should prepare for.
Some lessons that took me a bit too long to absorb:
Eat even when you feel good. When you don’t need energy, that’s often when you should take it.
Pack for the mountains, not the start. Weather can completely change the race at higher elevation.
Expect small irritations. Blisters, sand in your shoe, a leaking bottle. Have a simple plan: stop, fix it, move on.
Pace is a feeling. Ultra rewards consistency, not “I’ll make it up later.”
For me, preparing for ultrarunning is mostly about becoming more robust—practically and mentally, not just physically. You learn to do fewer things, but do them better. And when you stand at the start in Lofoten, with what is good enough ready, there is a special calm in knowing you don’t need full control.
Just habits that work.
You solve the rest along the way.
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