Congrats! Now get started on the Vasaloppet blues .

Thank you all!

Ja, tack. Om alla skrev på svenska vore det utmärkt! :)

I believe there is a lower age limit to this race. I think you have to be 18 or 19 years old. So my children are not allowed for another couple of years.

Hmm.. Vasaloppet Blues.. good idea!

I did it! Vasaloppet. The longest cross-country ski race in the world.
 

Exactly! I hate running but this is exactly why I ran a half marathon and then a full marathon. I say running a full marathon changed my life. It sounds so dramatic but it's true. Because before the half marathon, I thought there was no way I could finish it. And I signed up for one 5 months after I had a c-section. Well, I completed that one and went on to finish a full marathon. If I could do something I hated and something I never thought I could do, EVER, it gave me a feeling of such accomplishment, like what you described. I felt if I could do this, I literally could overcome any obstacle that came my way. Perseverance was the key. The people you meet doing these things are amazing. Very determined and charismatic individuals. I imagine you are too, Markus. From running, I have tried other sports and activities I never thought I would attempt. All of this kind of spills over to your personal life.

My friend ran a marathon ten years before I did and tried to convince me to do it. I said he was crazy and I had no desire. I did not understand why he wanted to do it so badly. People who have never experienced the "high" as Markus has described so well, will never understand. Unless, you try it and get addicted as well. It isn't about the running, the skiing, the swimming, the cycling. It is about the feelings and the memories that keep you coming back. I call it my "legal drug" and "healthy habit". And I can proudly say I have gotten other people addicted as well.

Congrats, Markus. You will hold onto that memory forever. I suggest you elaborate on what you described to us for your own personal use. Pull it up and read it when you are stressed or overwhelmed with a situation. The feelings and strategies you mentally used during this race will help you with any personal struggle you are going through. Congrats! This is such a great accomplishment. And that is so awesome that it was something that you procrastinated and have finally completed. Good for you!!!!! :)

Hahahaha! Jag ska komma igång direkt! SmileWavy

Kul med fler svensktalande medlemmar här!
Grattis Markus!

For people under 17 there is a youth-Vasalopp (Ungdomsvasan)
Ungdomsvasan - Wikipedia
9-10 years: 3 kilometers
11-12 years: 5 kilometers
13-14 years: 7 kilometers
15-16 years: 9 kilometers

Hälsningar från Växjö

Thanks, Tweeze!

I see you know what I am trying to put in words. To me, a very central aspect of the whole experience is that the degree of the impact of the psychological effect came as a complete surprise. I mean, I would have guessed that a successful race would leave me with a positive feeling, but not like this. The overwhelming feeling of happiness and joy was almost shockingly strong. At the risk of sounding really corny, I can almost only compare it with the moment of birth of my children. An unstoppable, uncontrollable gigantic tidal wave. A rush, a high. Like a drug effect. Which of course it is. Endogenous hormones, endorphins etc.
I can see how you can get almost addicted to that feeling.

Toppen, Jim! :)

Congratulations Markus, that is Awesome!

Thanks!