Kipkorir defended his victory from last year

When Lidingoloppet China was held on Saturday, it was a very warm in Changchun and many runners greatly tormented by the heat. The temperature was in the race between 35-38 ° C and the organizers had arranged for extra tankers to give runners an opportunity for a bit chilling. Total more than 10 000 participants included in this year's event.

Last year's winner Japhet Kipkorir, Kenya managed to defend his victory from last year and said he was very pleased about that. The victory time over 30 km on the tough terrain track ended at around 1 h 38 min. Kipkorir says, "It was oppressively hot during the whole course and I chose to run in a fairly hard, steady speed. I was not quite sure where I had the Swede Lars Johansson, so I chose to be on hard even during the last, tough 10K. I really love this track in Jingyuetan Park, it suits us who specialize in running cross country while pure marathon runners may see it as to tough '.

In the near future for Kipkorir is now some races during the summer in Sweden and then he returns home to Kenya to make his final preparations for his big goal for the season; Defending his victory in the Swedish Lidingoloppet in September.

Swedish top runner Lars Johansson greatly tormented by the heat, but was quite happy to be able to take second place behind Kenyan Kipkorir. Even Lars thought the track was good. He tried to finish in 1:40, but missed it with just some hundred meters.

NORWEGIAN CROSS COUNTRY LADIES IMPRESSED

Event organizer Nordic Ways had, besides the two above-mentioned elite runners, also invited 10 skiers from the just concluded China Summer Ski Tour and here it was a couple of Norwegian ladies who impressed greatly. Liv Inger Bjerkreim Nilsen became winner in ladies 30 K, while Mari Riseth Guin took third place. Between the two Norwegians was the best ranked Chinese. Nilsen had a tough battle with his sweetheart, Kjetil Hagtvedt Dammen and in the finish she was beaten with only some 10 seconds.

Men’s cross country skiers had it very tough in the warm weather. Anders Hogberg, SWE felt bad already passing at 6K, but reduce the momentum and finished the whole track. Bjorn Lind, Olympic champion, early sprained his foot ankle and have to give up the race. The group of skiers, who are used to train year round and in all possible weather circumstances, said after the finish they never experienced anything like it referring to the heat. But, once back at five-star Shangri-La hotel all had recovered and were satisfied with their participation.

The intense event period in China with Nordic Ways as an organizer, is now moving ahead with cycle and running. Genghis Khan MTB Adventure and Grassland Extreme Marathon, will be organized between July 1-4 in Wu Xi Qi, in Inner Mongolia province.



More than 10 000 people participated in different categories in Lidingoloppet China 2010





A Chinese male participant in Lidingoloppet China 2010, getting interwied by one of the local TV cahnnel




Winner once again in Lidingoloppet China! Japhet Kipkorir, Kenya defended his victory from last year