Doctor’s advice ends 800-kilometre bet walk

IF Minken vice-chair Tomas Wikblom has abandoned his planned 800-kilometre walk from Inari to Uusikaarlepyy after 128 kilometres on a doctor’s advice, Yle reports. Continuing could have caused permanent injuries, the doctor said.

Wikblom stopped on Tuesday in Vuotso, Sodankylä. The walk began last Friday and followed a bet made with Kari Kyrö of Inarin Yritys after IF Minken lost a cross-country skiing relay at the Finnish championships in Inari.

“This is a terrible setback because I am competitive. Although the decision was difficult, it was easy to make. According to the doctor, continuing the walk could have left me with permanent injuries,” Wikblom said.

The 57-year-old said he had underestimated the preparation required, including the number of running shoes he would need. He had believed he could complete the journey without special training.

“This is hindsight, because many people warned me and I told them that I could walk it,” Wikblom said.

Wikblom previously ran 90 kilometres in one day in Sweden during the Vaasa skiing event 12 years ago. He had assumed he could now walk 50 kilometres a day, but the challenge proved too demanding.

Despite stopping, Wikblom said he was encouraged by the support he received from the skiing community. He said he had made friends around Finland and met people in Lapland who supported him along the way.

The rest of his journey home to Uusikaarlepyy will now be made by motorhome, without a timetable or pressure. His thoughts have already turned to the coming ski competition season.

“What matters is not winning, but the excitement of seeing how the upcoming competitions turn out,” Wikblom said.