Lofoten Relay // 100 Miles

Welcome

An amazing race as a team, in the never-ending light of the midnight sun. This manual covers the 100 Miles Relay (Lofotstafetten).

The organizers provide all support at the stations. There is one exception: the team transports its own members between the switches, which all take place at the service points.

Back to nature

The Arctic Triple has a strong environmental focus. We want to organize the most environmentally friendly races in the world. Hundreds of support cars on narrow island roads simply doesn't fit that picture, so the organizers provide all support. The roads stay less crowded and safer for athletes and crew.

The route is marked to make the experience safer and better, and we actively avoid producing items that would end up as trash or at the back of a closet.

We are lucky to race in the wild nature of the Lofoten Islands. For that to continue, we take care of it: throwing trash anywhere along the course is strictly forbidden. Use the bins at the service points, and nowhere else.

Leave nothing but a "thank you" behind.

Summary

• 10 stages · 166 km in total · about 7 000 m of positive ascent
• Age limit 16 years · teams of 4–10 athletes
• External support only at stations, plus the team's own transport between switches
• Mandatory equipment worn or carried by the running athlete at all times
• Boat ride from Reine to the starting line at Kirkefjorden included
• 10 service points · 9 transition points
• Two cut-offs: Kleppstad and Kongsmarka
• The route is marked from start to finish; finish on Svolvær town square
• Every completing team earns team finisher shirts

Event venue in Svolvær

Everything centres on the harbour in Svolvær: registration and start kits at RETUR, briefings at Thon Hotel Lofoten, and the start/finish on the town square.

Tap a location in the list to zoom to it. Start, finish, transition zone and the swim course are plotted from the official race GPX; the square outline, hotel and bus stop from OpenStreetMap.

What's included

• Start kit and The Arctic Triple buff
• Boat ride from Reine to the starting line
• Drink and food stations
• First aid and evacuation transport
• Timing and live GPS tracking
• Warm meal after the finish
• Early breakfast for athletes staying at the event hotel
• Team finisher shirts

Team rules

• 10 stages, and one athlete may run a maximum of two stages in a row
• All runners wear the correct start number for their stage, at all times
• The team organizes its own transport between the switches
• All switches take place at the service points, controlled by the organizer. Hand over the time chip and GPS tracker to the next runner
• Each team has a 1st captain (responsible contact; follows up stages 1–5) and a 2nd captain (stages 5–10)
• Both captains must attend the pre-race briefing on Thursday, and all team members are encouraged to join
• No support beyond assisting the switches, except in an emergency

Stages & elevation

166 km and more than 7 000 vertical metres, all told.

Service & transition points

Switches happen at the service points and are controlled by our crew. The captain on duty is responsible for every switch following the rules: make contact, identify the runners, hand over chip and tracker.

Drink: unlimited water and sports drink. Hot coffee and tea at the larger stations.
Food: The Arctic Triple bun, chips, nuts, fruit and pre-made sandwiches. Warm soup with vegetables/pasta at the larger stations.
Also: warm blankets and a basic medical kit at every point.

Cut-off times

Mandatory equipment

Worn or carried by the running athlete:

• Cup for drinks/soup at the service points (available at RETUR)
• Identification (driver's license or similar)
• Wind- and water-repellent jacket and pants
• Base layer (top and bottom)
• Hat and gloves
• Whistle
• Emergency blanket/shelter
• Credit card or cash
• GPS with the route loaded (watch or smartphone approved)
• Fully charged cell phone + power bank
• Basic first-aid kit (tape, bandage/compress, blister tape, safety pin)

Recommended

Trekking poles (if you start with them, you carry them the whole way), a change of clothing, compass, knife, string, sun cream, anti-chafing cream, needle and thread.

Course map & GPX

Explore the course on the live map. Drag, zoom, and slide along the elevation profile to see exactly where every climb hits. Numbers are measured from the official GPX track.

Course notes

The relay follows the individual 100 Miles course: mountains, beaches, villages and iconic bridges from Kirkefjorden to Svolvær. Stage character varies from flat road running to technical ridgelines; see the individual 100 Miles course description for the full leg-by-leg story.

Race language: English

English is the official race language. All briefings, course markings, manuals and safety instructions are given in English, and our crew must be able to communicate with you quickly and clearly, especially in an emergency in the mountains or on the water.

• Every athlete must fully understand and speak English to start the race
• By registering, you confirm that you meet this requirement

Rules

General

Rules are kept to a minimum. We trust you to use common sense, and to act if another athlete needs emergency assistance. The most important rule of all: read this entire manual. There is nothing in here you can afford to miss.

Classes

Two classes: women and men. Simple. We like simple.

License

All athletes need a national license to start; a day license can be purchased at registration. Foreign athletes use a license from their own country or sign a release-of-liability form at registration.

Mandatory equipment

Random gear checks will happen. Missing or substandard equipment may lead to disqualification.

Navigation & GPS route

The route is marked, but study it in advance. Download the navigation map and GPX files from this site and load the route on your device before the start. The route must be followed at all times. No shortcuts.

Time chip

Wear the time chip on your right ankle, pointing outwards, for the whole race. If you lose it, contact The Arctic Triple crew for a new one (EUR 50 fee).

GPS tracker

Wear the GPS tracker for the whole race. It is a key safety device, and it lets supporters follow you live. Tell the organizer as soon as possible if it is lost. A tracker not returned by Sunday incurs a EUR 400 fee.

Violations & liability

Rule violations, unsportsmanlike behavior or knowingly exposing yourself or others to unnecessary risk can result in time penalties or disqualification. All athletes sign a release from liability at registration.

Anti-doping

The Arctic Triple stands for clean sport. All our races are organized under the anti-doping regulations of Anti-Doping Norway (Antidoping Norge) and the WADA code.

• By registering, you consent to our anti-doping policy, and consent is gathered as part of the registration process
• The use of prohibited substances or methods is strictly forbidden, in and out of competition
• Random doping tests by Anti-Doping Norway may occur at any time: before, during or after the race

For supporters

Supporters can buy a seat on the boat from Reine out to the start at Kirkefjorden and back again. Seats are limited, and you get yourself to and from Reine. Follow the race on live.thearctictriple.no.

Do the whole Triple?

Many athletes aim to complete all three races. To get an official Triple result you must complete all three individually within 12 months:

Triple finishers are awarded a Gold, Silver or Bronze jacket by our main partner Klättermusen, plus a spot on the Lofoten Wall of Fame.

You can sign up for all three at once: at register.thearctictriple.no, tick The Triple and choose your distances, and you get 10% off the standard prices.

Cancellation & transfers

The entry fee is non-refundable, regardless of the reason for cancellation.

Relay team entries cannot be transferred to another team.

Weather & safety

Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Lofoten is far milder than Alaska or Greenland at the same latitude. Normal day temperatures in late May and June are 12–18 °C.

Safety

The Arctic Triple has a strong safety focus. Our safety crew is well prepared and works closely with the local rescue teams.

Withdrawal

If you withdraw at any point, informing the organizers is mandatory. Transport back to Svolvær may take a while, but we will keep you safe and warm while you wait.

Travel & stay

Flights, boats, buses and beds. Everything is gathered on our Travel & stay page: four airports, the express boat, the Hurtigruten coastal ferry, and where to sleep by the harbour.

Open Travel & stay →