Looking back, 2015 stands as my definitive breakthrough season as an ultrarunner. I set personal bests across every single race and distance I tackled, establishing an underlying confidence and durability that propelled me to the next level. Here is a breakdown of the season's key races and how they stacked up against my previous benchmarks.
Winter Grind and Ursvik Ultra 75 km
Throughout the winter, all eyes were on Ursvik Ultra. I had registered five years in a row, only to be sidelined by illness or untimely injuries every single time except in 2011, when I ground through the 75 kilometers in 7 hours and 55 minutes. I spent endless dark winter nights logging long runs on Ursvik’s hilly loops to prepare for genuine race conditions. Come race day, the crosshairs were firmly set on going sub-7 hours.
Temperatures hovered around −8°C (18°F) in the dead of night, making hydration and fueling an absolute battle as bottles froze solid. Compounding that, I went out too hot. The final lap turned into pure survival. My vision deteriorated to the point where I couldn’t even read the digits on my watch, and my form disintegrated from running into a slow, grinding shuffle. I crossed the line in 6 hours, 59 minutes, and 10 seconds—beating the goal with 50 seconds to spare!
Ursvik Extreme and Kvarnloppet 10 km
Next up was the punchy and technical Ursvik Extreme (15 km). My previous benchmark was 66:19, a mark I was genuinely proud of. So early in the spring, I didn't expect miracles, yet I managed to slice 3.5 minutes off that record on brutal terrain! A follow-up attempt a few weeks later ended in a DNF after just 4 km due to a cranky calf that nagged me through the spring.
Four days after the Ursvik PR, I lined up for Kvarnloppet—my first road 10k in five years (dating back to Hässelbyloppet 2010 where I clocked 39:32). I set an ambitious target of sub-38 minutes. I locked right onto my lactate threshold from the gun and was amazed when the clock stopped at 36:53. That came on the heels of winter training composed almost entirely of steady volume with almost zero dedicated speedwork. For me, that proved beyond doubt that aerobic volume alone builds genuine top-end speed.
Stockholm Marathon – Finally Sub-3 Hours
My fourth race of the year was the Stockholm Marathon, where I finally had my shot at redemption. Ever since 2010, cracking the elusive 3-hour barrier had been the annual obsession. My previous best had been 3 hours and 4 minutes the year before.
Running a calculated, disciplined race—holding back just enough to ensure the wheels wouldn’t come off—I punched across the finish line in 2 hours and 58 minutes. Naturally, the marathon itch isn't scratched forever; sub-2:50 is already calling my name down the road!
Summer Redemption: Swedish Alpine Ultra (107 km)
Then came the ultimate highlight of the summer: returning to Kungsleden from Nikkaluokta to Abisko, where my previous crossing in 2006 had taken 29 grueling hours. Battling 107 kilometers across snowfields, scree, and freezing glacial torrents through the Tjäktja Pass, I broke the tape in 11:54:00 to take 1st place overall. My fell redemption was complete. The full adventure is chronicled in Swedish Alpine Ultra.
Season Finale: TDS in the Alps (119 km // +7,250 m D+)
The closing test of 2015 was TDS (Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie) around Mont Blanc, where the goal was executing a smart race rather than chasing split times. Despite waking up at 1 AM with a raging fever and head cold, I gritted my teeth and battled through to 59th place overall in Chamonix—a result I’m deeply proud of given the circumstances.
Training Philosophy and Key Takeaways
I feel I struck the right balance between short, punchy races and massive mountain days. The shorter events sharpened my top-end speed, while high weekly volume at easy conversational efforts optimized fat oxidation. In total, I logged 4,400 kilometers (2,734 miles) across the year. In the autumn, I also re-introduced heavy strength work after nearly a decade away. Focusing on heavy compound lifts twice a week has built a noticeably more resilient chassis, allowing me to absorb heavier training loads without breaking down.
That was 2015—the year that solidified my foundation as an ultrarunner. Here's to making 2016 even bigger!