Now I am totally exhausted

A tired out Petter Jahnsen was the first Musher to reach Kirkenes. After an extremely tough stage he arrived at 12:29 at the checkpoint. Petter received a warm welcome from the director of the borderland museum Silja Arvola. She handed Jahnsen a present from the museum and a coupon for dog food from Royal Canin worth 15000 Norwegian Kroner. But the tour from Neiden was tough and the pain in his arm did not get better from being 135 km on the sled. -I can almost not use my arm he told us.

Straight after his arrival Petter explained that the most difficult aspect of the stage was that I am started to get really tired. I am lacking power.

- We went around in circles and that is frustrating. To keep going one has to try not to think and take as good care of oneself as possible, he said.

Additionally to the stage being one of the toughest and longest of the race, Petter worried about his arm.

- It is badly hurt. The swelling is growing and growing and it is a big handicap for me, I can almost not use my arm.

Before he considers how to continue in this race he wants to have his arm checked by a doctor, rest for a while and then begin with making plans of how to continue the race. He does not want to answer any further about whether he might have to scratch the race. The most important thing is to talk the doctor now, he says.

He was however a little surprised that nobody was able to overtake him during the last legg.

- I thought it was very hard and difficult at times and the others had just come from their 12 hours rest in Neiden. They should have been faster than me, he explains, and he cannot promise to be able to continue. At least he will not give that promise.

Petter Jahnsen is greeted by Kindergarden children
while coming into Kirkenes