1/4 Tjejklassikern

*I dedicate this blog post to Toby Suhm*  

I am officially 1/4 of a tjejklassikern.  What this means? Yes let me explain.  In Sweden there are four traditional/original competitions: Vasaloppet (90km cross country skiing), Vätternrundan (300km biking), Vansbrosimningen (3km swimming in an ice cold river with 1km up steam), and Lindingöloppet (30km hilly running).  You become a "classicer" after you have competed and finished all four races in one year.  And then there are the "lady classicers" who compete in the womens events of all of the above.  So those are: 30km cross country ski, 100km bike, 1km swimming, and 10km running.

Yesterday I became a fourth of a "womens classicer" by biking the Womens bike race (100km).

 For my first host mom and her English friend this was their third year biking the race so another exchange student and I got to tag along and compete as well!

The race started in Motala and headed out into the farm land.  For the first 20km we biked in torrential down pour but after that it was beautiful weather and there were some really great views out over the lake or over the flattness of farmland.

 After five hours of sitting on a very uncomfortable bike seat and a little too big of a bike, I reached the finish line!

 Then came Marie (my host mom) and her friend.

 And then came Beth! Last but not least!

A wonderful and yet exhausting day!