The Norwegian runner commented on the journey he has gone through: "You can't consider this a normal race but have to respect the environment, know how to take care of yourself and maintain the will to move forward".
This is a memorable adventure for the 53-year-old athlete. Despite many difficulties, he still had experiences and happy moments, especially when running along the mountainside under the moonlight, where there was a aurora to light up the sky.
After Abrahamsen, athletes Joe Barrs and Ulf Nore both finished in second place with a time of 208 hours and 19 minutes. Then, Jon Shield and Keira Pavva also set foot in the final.
Montane Arctic Spine Race was first held in 2024 and no athlete has completed the race. Therefore, Abrahamsen became the first person to reach this milestone and set a running record.
According to experts, Montane Arctic Spine Race is one of the most difficult races in the world. The Swedish Kungsleden route from Abisko (Northernmost) to Hemavan town (Västerbotten) in the South has frosty terrain and harsh weather. Temperature may drop to -40 degrees Celsius, winds of up to 65 km/h.
Notably, Montane Arctic Spine Race does not have a drinking water and nutrition supply station. Participants must personally transport all necessary items on a 30-kg snowman.
