After a very long and demanding 150 km stretch through northern Setesdalheiene, I had injured my hamstring in my left leg. So I took one extra day off for healing and editing videos. I hoped that by giving my body this time, I might be able to cross all of Hardangervidda in just one long day. It was a big risk. But it paid off.

At first, I felt really great for the first 12 km. Then the hamstring pain came back — and I was really, really worried. I thought this could ruin the entire project. Normally, something like that needs rest and time off to fully recover. But I didn’t have that luxury.

So I set my mind on healing while moving. I consciously adjusted my walking and running technique to minimize strain on the hamstring — especially on the climbs. Don’t ask me how, but after kilometer 25 the leg loosened up. The pain didn’t disappear completely, but it didn’t get worse either. I was incredibly relieved.

It was a beautiful, intense, unforgettable day. The scenery changed constantly across the Hardangervidda plateau — from alpine tundra to rocky hills, to glacier rivers and mossy plains. And the highlight of the day? I reached the summit of Hårteigen (1690m), the first of the 12 iconic mountains I plan to climb during this journey across Norway. I managed 91km in one go, over 19 hours and 3033 meters of elevation gain. I ended the day tired, but happy and still in one piece.

Stina:

The day started in Haukeliseter where, after two rest days, Petr was finally ready again to head out on the long and famous Hardangervidda. It’s a serious stretch of trail, so he wasn’t entirely sure if he’d make it — but I believed he would.

We managed to start early, around 7:30 in the morning. A bit late for a run like this, sure, but still way better than the last few days. So we packed the backpack, fixed the food, made some eggs, and Petr got going. I stayed back for a couple of hours at Haukeliseter Fjellstue, waiting for the bakery to open and trying to get a bit of rest after a night with barely a few hours of sleep.

Once the bakery opened, I grabbed my laptop and sat down to update the website and fix a few issues. Waffle in one hand, keyboard in the other — Haukeliseter delivers. Then I drove back to a campsite I had visited a few days earlier and managed to shower, clean things up, do the dishes, charge devices… the usual chaos.

Later, Petr called to let me know he was well underway and had already summited Hårteigen. He gave me an estimate for when he’d reach the meeting point, so I hit the road. I had more than two hours of driving to do.

I arrived at Vøringsfossen around 23:00, already almost dark. I started cooking a big dinner for Petr. Around 2 in the night, he arrived — absolutely exhausted, but still smiling. What an accomplishment.

He ate, we parked nearby, and we both passed out. He truly earned that rest.