Skrevet av: Karoline Leistad-Jonas og Hanne Rosenberg
Dato: 09.03.2015 10:09
Eveline Koch arrived at Skoganvarre with eight dogs at 06:22, almost two hours ahead of her fiercest competitor Cathrine Fontaine. Eveline praises her dogs:
-They have really done the job. I am not so good at kicking, so I have needed all the power my dogs have. In the hilly sections I have been running a lot.
- Actually, it has been more hills and inclines than I had anticipated. Karstein said there are many hills in the Femund Race, which is why I have chosen not to participate there, but there are quite a few inclines and hills in the Finnmark Race as well, says a delighted Koch.
Koch’s dogs are resting in the straw before the next leg. Is it a victory howl we are seeing? Photo: Steinar Vik
Iden - the lead dog
- Iden, one of my lead dogs, is 4-years old, and has really worked hard. I have used her in the front through the last stretches, and this keeps the speed up. From here onwards to Skoganvarre I had planned to use seven hours, and I have only used two minutes more! I am very pleased with this. There has been quite a bit of wind, but we have gotten used to it during the race, says Eveline.
The weather forecast predicts strong head wind going back to Alta, so this experience is good to have as we are moving towards the finish line.
Dark in Levajok and sunny in Skoganvarre
Koch’s handlers explain that last night was hard for Eveline. She was not very optimistic before the start; would the dogs continue running in the wind, how were the trails, and in general thinking about everything that could go wrong.
She rested half an hour longer before leaving. Then she left into the wind and darkness.
- It was necessary for me to rest a bit longer, and after we arrived at Skoganvarre I can see that it was a good thing for the dogs as well and that is a great feeling, says Koch. She plans on celebrating with a piece of cake in the sun, some sleep, and taking care of the dogs before leaving for Alta, hoping to mush across the finish line the World Champion in FL-500 RNB.
The question is if Cathrine Fontaine can crush this dream.
Koch and her dogs. Photo: Mads S. Pettersen