Mari Wetterhus (26) is best known as a biathlete who claims to be reasonably good in Norway, which again means that then you are also usefully up in the world ranking.
The Sven girl wanted to do something more and together with her boyfriend Aasmund K. Steien, who has won Blefjell’s Beste, among other things, she took part in ultra running.
On Saturday, she surprised everyone and herself by running to NM bronze in the 90 kilometer Skogvokteren ultra race, which took place in Porsgrunn, Siljan and Skien.
– It was surprising, admits the fit Numedal girl, who ran the 90 kilometers in 11.02.26 hours.
This gives a good average speed on a course that was by no means flat, because a total of 3,700 meters of altitude was climbed.
Beat the girlfriend
– My goal was to run ultra races that were 20 and 40 kilometers long, but I thought this race was a bit exciting and besides it was the NM, so we decided to try.
– It went much easier than I had thought. I felt like a millionaire, waiting for the bang to come, but it never came, says Mari, who was extra proud of one thing in addition to the NM bronze, and that was that she ran the course straighter than her boyfriend Aasmund K .The path had done earlier.
He should also have participated, but had to sit out and instead became a support device for his girlfriend together with Mari’s parents.
– Did you have periods during the race where it was extra tough?
– No, it went very well. I surprised myself by being able to keep a steady pace. Of course I feel it in my body, but my legs and thighs are surprisingly good. I was good at holding back a bit on the downhills and the last eight kilometers went very well.
– What about food and drink?
– I had some “gels” with me and then there were several checkpoints along the way where I got new drinking bottles etc., and that was good, because it was really hot. Around 22–23 degrees, so it was a bit demanding.
There was a joint start in the race and there were many male competitors, who both looked and commented a little when Mari passed them.
She was number 26 overall out of nearly 200 starters.
Mari K. Fenre from Siljan took the gold in the women’s class with 9,35,23 and the silver went to Anna L. Sætre, Heming, with 10,31,36 and Kongsberg’s uncrowned long-distance queen Sidsel S. Mohn was tenth with 13,15,43 .
Tobias Dahl Fenre, Siljan IL, won the men’s class in 8.01.49 ahead of Simon Wästerlund from Notodden and the Bækkelaget who ran in 8.41.05.
Both of these have won Blefjell’s Beste.
Charged in Austria
It has been several weeks since Mari last went to a biathlon race and the last preparations for the National Championships took place in Innsbruck in Austria, where she and her boyfriend visited the Austrian biathlete Anna Gandler.
– I got to know her through Juni Arnekleiv, with whom I am a good friend, explains Mari.
– The conditions were great in Austria, but after we got home from there I have relaxed and recharged for this race.
Her next race will also be in Austria, more precisely in Salzburg in a few weeks and of course Blefjells Beste, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, on Saturday 20 July.
– Are you putting away the biathlon bag?
– No, I will still invest in biathlon, says a happy bronze winner.
