The athletes of the running group Saturday Running Strauman are no strangers to lashing rain showers or biting sub-zero temperatures that tear and claw in the northerly wind. But for a welcome change, the meteorological gift packages of recent weeks have offered rarely stable and inviting training conditions for our local running gazelles. This autumn, the local population has been able to witness a sparkling bunch who have taken full advantage of the weather window.
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"You shall not sleep away the summer night," sang Alf Cranner in his prime. But in truth, you should not squander away the beauty and magic of autumn either! November was exceptionally dry and warm this year, something the runners exploited with strategic cunning. Mountain peaks such as Håtinden, Hellostinden, Dalstuva and Anderstinden on Vestvågøya bathed in orange during the fine-weather weeks bestowed upon us here in the north throughout November. Curiosity, as we know, leads to new paths, and Saturday Running's founder Anna has scaled these peaks at a furious pace this autumn, gathering valuable intelligence that she has shared with her running colleagues.
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On 19 November, Saturday Run no. 58 took place. The trip up to the heights of Anderstinden (and Varden, Anderstinden) became a triumphant journey. The hunt for the last remnants of the season's sunbeams inspired Strauman's running-loving Saturday participants to point their noses toward this mountain gem located about 3.5 km south of the Sund-klakk bridge. According to sources such as Fjelltoppjakten, Anderstinden is 552 m high. The route ascends from Moland. This Saturday, Rune led the charge in pursuit of new Strava honour and glory, and was first to reach the peaks where countless eagles and crows circled and observed the commotion in the hope that someone would collapse. There turned out to be little carrion for these flying hunters to feast on, however. The participants were invincible on the mountain slopes and danced lightly over the summits, returning to everyday life with yet another brilliant victory in their luggage!
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Local and well-known mountain areas are still frequented regularly, and new records are constantly being set along the asphalt, where there is often a smell of burning after the runners have left both rubber and studs at the roadside. At times these well-trained machines run so fast that the local population barely has time to fish their binoculars out of the case to catch a glimpse of the sporting joy unfolding in the neighbourhood. On Saturday you can once again witness great sport when the Saturday run takes place in its standard version. Saturday Running Strauman welcomes everyone to run, crawl, or walk the standard route that starts at the Strauman shop on Saturdays at 10 a.m.!