Finally in Karasjok!

Finally, after 17 hours on the trail Inger Marie Haaland and her dogs arrived, followed by Harald Tunheim and his team of dogs. When Haaland's dogs did not want to run anymore on the Tana River she simply had to let them rest. - They need more sleep, she says. Thet's the way it is. - I put one of the lead dogs on the sleigh when we were on the river, and shortly after I herad it snore liudly in there. So I sat down on the mat behind the sleig and rested my back on the sleigh, and suddenly I was asleep myself, she laughs.

When she got a phone-call with the message that Tunheim was approaching, she got ready to try to get re-started as he passed. Dogs operate in packs so the chance of making them follow another team in such a sitiation is good. When asked whether he was afraid that his dogs would stop when passing Haaland's parked team, he replies: - Yes, they did stop, but then continued.

Haaland admits that it most likely was too far racing the twp legs in one go. - A bit too ambitious, the happy lady says. The race is extremely exciting and people are eagerly following it. Haaland is impressed by the audience and how they show up and cheer and applaud. There were people everywhere along the trail, she laughs.

Haaland and Tunheim will leave Karasjok at the same time after the 8 hour rest. - The race is still on, Haaland says.

Photo: Mina Sveen