A Force of Nature

Three years after initially planning to race it, Sean McFarlane finally makes it to Swedeman. Cue a long, gruelling day and some of Europe's finest scenery...

- By Sean McFarlane

I may well be swimming backwards now. With the country's biggest waterfall up ahead, the outflow is seriously challenging my forward momentum. The flags on the shore and gathered supporters clearly show my target but I'm making little headway. Trying to make myself as streamlined as possible, I pull myself through the fast-flowing water as best I can. To my right I spot another competitor taking a more direct line, but the current gets him and in a matter of seconds he's far behind me. After a good deal of almost stationary swimming, the water shallows and I see the smooth rocks below. As I clamber onto them, I hear my supporter Johan and he quickly grabs me. I apologise for his wait. That was one heck of a swim exit and is a decent reflection of the race itself, with both awesomeness and difficulty stitched all over it. I'm in Sweden for an XTRI race, the aptly named Swedeman.

A LONG TIME COMING

I'd had plans to do this race since 2020. Covid twice put paid to that, with last year a knee injury doing the same. So, I was very grateful to finally be getting the chance to pick up the yellow T-shirt.

In theory, the course should suit me. A fairly mild swim and then a bike course that, in my opinion, favours a time trial bike. I've always found running after a road-bike ride far more difficult. Also, on a timetrial bike I do feel the focus on riding fast and the ability to do just that is altogether better. With an almost entirely off-road run ending with an ascent and descent of Åreskutan at over 1,400m, there was a lot for me to like about the course.I've raced in both Norway and Sweden before and the landscape does feel familiar to me as a Scotsman, just with slightly better looking inhabitants!