[Author’s Note: This article is the ninth in an 11-part series in AJW’s Taproom celebrating under-the-radar races.]
For the final 28 years, the Laugavegur Ultramarathon has been held in mid-July within the southern highlands of Iceland. Protecting 55 kilometers and connecting the character reserves of Landmannalaugar and Thorsmork, Laugavegur is a point-to-point course held in one of the distant and scenic areas of Iceland. Restricted to 300 individuals, Laugavegur has a bit of little bit of every thing — sand, gravel, mud, snow, ice, and frigid river crossings. The race can also be considerably distinctive for the game in that every one individuals, in an effort to be eligible to run, should have an ITRA efficiency index of at the least 370.
Sebastian Storgaard is a key member of the race group and has been concerned with the race for years. He cites the distinctive location within the southern highlands of Iceland as one thing that makes the race so particular.
Runners on the course of the 2024 Laugavegur Ultramarathon. All images: Ólafur Þórisson
“Laugavegur is particular attributable to how geographically remoted the occasion is. It’s primarily within the highlands of Iceland, far-off from any cities or companies. We have now to ship a lot of the issues wanted for the race — meals, medical merchandise, tents, and employees over troublesome terrain — each to the beginning line in Landmannalaugar in addition to the end in Þórsmörk. It’s no simple job and couldn’t be carried out with out the mixed efforts of the hard-working and devoted folks that do their utmost to placed on an impressive operating occasion.”
The Laugavegur path was voted by Nationwide Geographic as one of the lovely mountaineering trails on the earth, and attracts guests from world wide.
Dealing with most of the identical obstacles as different point-to-point path ultras, Laugavegur’s challenges are amplified by its distant location, difficult climate circumstances, and distinctive calls for on each individuals and volunteers.
Storgaard notes that the race maintains its low-key really feel due largely to the place it’s positioned.
The attractive and distant setting of the Laugavegur Ultramarathon.
“Iceland has a comparatively small inhabitants, and the operating neighborhood mirrors that. Many Icelanders know one another from taking part within the races which might be accessible in Iceland, in addition to many being collectively in operating teams. This creates a really close-knit neighborhood that helps each other. Social media additionally performs a giant half in permitting runners to attach with one another and supply recommendation and steerage in regards to the path and the race. Lastly, all of us assume that it’s necessary to have a close-knit neighborhood as we take into account this — at the start — a neighborhood occasion, and we would like individuals to be concerned within the course of.”
The 2025 version of the race, the twenty ninth annual, will happen in mid-July, with registration opening in November. Whereas the organizers take pleasure of their off-the-radar standing, additionally they derive nice pleasure in welcoming runners from across the globe to their particular nook of the world. For these in search of an journey means off the overwhelmed monitor, Laugavegur could also be for you!
Bottoms up!
AJW’s Beer of the Week
Iceland is a beer lover’s paradise and on the high of most individuals’s better of Iceland checklist is Lava Beer, a Russian Imperial Stout produced by Ölvisholt Brugghús, a brewery in Selfoss, Iceland. Weighing in at 9.4% ABV, Lava is a pitch-black beer flavored with darkish chocolate, roasted malt, and smoke, with a darkish brown head, good on a chilly windswept night in Iceland’s Southern Highlands.
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