The original plan for the weekend was to go sailing with Vera. However, with gale-force winds predicted in the Stockholm archipelago, I had to rethink things. Instead, I strapped a bed to the roof of the car and headed up to Åre to build a loft bed in the cabin. The weather forecast here didn’t look much better, with rain on the way, but the forecast was wrong—there was actually a fair amount of sunshine too! After a morning of carpentry, I found myself with a few free hours and decided to lace up my running shoes.

Since some of my old friends no longer live in Stockholm, I thought it would be fun to run a race in Västervik, as we all come from there. Apparently, my friends thought it sounded like a great idea too, because in the end, all four of us signed up for the Gränsö Trail Run.

When I woke up this morning, I wasn’t feeling too excited about running a race. I’ve had a slight cold this week and haven’t been able to fit in any long runs lately. But I pushed myself to get ready and made my way to Haninge anyway. The weather was fantastic, with a temperature of nine degrees, and once I got there, I started to feel pretty good after all.

My week in Åre continues, and today I decided to take on the challenge of running up Renfjället. This stunning mountain is a real favorite of mine, with its beautiful small lakes at the top. And as the cherry on top, you can enjoy a waffle at Vita Renen once you're there.

Last night, I woke up with a wave of anxiety about the upcoming race. I started running for the health, the adventure, and the love of nature, but now I was suddenly expected to deliver a performance and see my name on a results list.

Today, I went on my first run up a mountain! On my first day of vacation, I chose to run the Välliste loop. I hiked this same trail last summer, but the summit was covered in thick fog, so I couldn’t enjoy the view at the time. But today, I seized the opportunity and tackled the steepest part first, running the trail in reverse.