Solo running the Lidingöloppet Course - Stockholm, Sweden
Even though I’ve been going to Stockholm, Sweden to work for over 5 years I never made it to the nearby island of Lidingö to run the Lidingöloppet course. The Lidingöloppet is the largest, and longest, cross-country event in the world. It is also part of the Swedish Classic Circuit.
Swedes who know I run frequently ask me if I planned to do the Swedish Classic Circuit that is comprised of four events:
However, despite all my time in Sweden my schedule never aligned with any of the events. I hate missing out on a good run course though, so I decided to take a half day off and head over to Lidingö. Public transit is available, but it’s also just a 15-minute taxi ride to the start from the Stockholm city center.
The weather was typical for a November day in Stockholm, just above freezing, overcast and a light mist in the air. In a few parts of the course the wind was strong, but since much of the run is through the forest, the wind was not much of a problem, and the weather was good for running. In November the days are short, but the course is well lit, so you can even run it into the night.
The course is very runnable and made up of smooth forest trail with a few short portions of road and paved pathway. There are only a couple steep climbs, but the course has over 2000 feet (600m) of elevation gain. There are many spots with beautiful views of water since the course dips in and out of the coastline. This course is yet another example of excellent trail running that is just minutes away from a dense city center.
If you are visiting Stockholm, I highly recommend you stay at the Miss Clara Hotel. This boutique hotel is located in Central Stockholm and has some of the best staff in the business. Their restaurant stands on its own, and the bartenders appreciate the fine details necessary for a good cocktail. The rooms are comfortable and there is even a sauna to warm you back up after a long run on the trail. While on Lidingö, I’d also recommend 450 Gradi for pizza, it might be the best pizza in Stockholm.
If you are in Stockholm, there is no excuse to not check out this fantastic cross-country course. If you don’t have a few hours, then you can also go for one of the shorter distances and experience what one of my friends said is "pure Scandinavian bliss". For more ultrarunning destinations in Sweden, check out my other articles!
