Now is the chance to measure the forces with the double Olympic champion Marcus Hellner at his home tracks up on Dundret in Gällivare!
On Wednesday, 8 September 18:00, it bangs in the mining metropole, when Marcus Hellner challenge run willing people, to the noble struggle in the World Cup track where he won the World Cup two years ago. The contest at Dundret ski stadium has been named World Cup Challenge and holds both a racing class and an exercise class and the distance is 5 km of the track World Cup.
Curiosity is high, and there are many strong runners who want to take a real brush with the double Olympic champion. "Certainly, there are many talented runners who both want and can beat me" laughs Hellner, who has been this week on a training camp with the Swedish squad in Östersund.
Do you think there is anyone who can beat you ..? "I 'm sure. I'm strong on the slopes, but I have not really a good maturity stage which all who watch the contest will see, "says Marcus Hellner before Wednesday's challenge at Dundret. Where will you escape your rivals? "It will be on "Dynamite-hill" I believe, in the middle of the 5 km loop, "says Marcus who has not competed in the race for many years, mostly because he previously have had problems with his legs.
Now, however, the double Olympic champion is free from injury and has trained well this summer before the World Cup season and the upcoming World Cup premiere in Gällivare, 20-21 November, which is not far away. "It has worked great. I have kept my health, stayed free from injuries and received the information I want in the tests and races, we have had in the national team, says the great Gällivare "skiingson".
Hellner will be home one week in Gällivare in connection to the World Cup Challenge before it's time for a new training camp with the squad in Ramsau and he likes the World Cup organizers attempt with a running challenge on World Cup trail.
"It's damn good, that such events happen at the stadium. It is important at this stage to liven up the atmosphere before the ski festival, which is now approaching in November, "said Marcus, who invites all to come up to Dundret ski stadium and run or just walk around the paths that elite of Ski Cross Country compete at the World Cup in November.
Exercise Class starts 5 minutes ahead of Marcus and other race runners, and will start at 18:00.
"Right now the stadium is a construction site. The ambition of this event is to get Gällivare residents to come to the ski stadium to walk or run around the tracks that most people only see on TV" says Tommy Niva, the World Cuporganization of Gällivare.
Of course it will also be prizes as a reward for the struggle around the World Cup track. The organization raffles exclusive World Cup t-shirts, among those who completed the race.
Facts
Challenge Marcus Hellner !
World Cup Challenge
Wednesday, 8 September at the ski stadium Dundret, distance: 5 km.
Start exercise class: 18:00 (no timing)
Start racing class: 18:05
Notification: www.worldcupgellivare.com
Registration fee: 50 SEK (Companies can be invoiced)
We raffle exclusive World Cup t-shirts to those who complete the course.
Contributed by Karin Niva, OC Gellivare
