The Lidingoloppet, an annual cross-country foot race, will draw as many as 20,000 competitors to Lidingo, a rocky island suburb of Stockholm, Sweden’s capital, from Friday. Launched in 1965, the Lidingoloppet is part of the so-called Swedish Classic, a set of four challenges—including running, swimming, cross-country skiing and cycling—that must be completed within a 12-month period. The main event is a 30km (18.6 mile) race across difficult terrain that includes steep climbs and descents. The unpredictability of Swedish weather adds to the difficulty. Isaac Chemobo of Kenya set the men’s record for this dash, 1:33.33, in 1998. It has stood for longer than most sports records. Yet the reward for winning may mainly be satisfaction. The prize of just $3,000 is relatively mere.
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