The following article is written by Dirk & Joeri from PlayX.

“As true sports enthusiasts, a physical challenge is no punishment for us. On the contrary, we have dedicated our lives to sport and simply can’t live without it. Nice to meet you, we are Dirk & Joeri from PlayX. Our passion is to help people perform better, push their limits, and become stronger both physically and mentally.”

Let’s Get Started!

For some time now, we’ve been participating in sports events where we constantly push ourselves to the limit. After all, your only opponent is yourself! Of course, this needs to be done responsibly so that your body—the ‘machine’ over which only YOU have control—can handle it.

We’ve successfully completed many kilometers on the Strong Viking courses. The journey to the finish line of the Iron Viking wasn’t always smooth, but that’s what makes it fun!

Each distance is different and requires its own preparation. But the moment you get the tickets and say to each other, “We’re doing this!” you immediately get that first motivational boost to start with a solid battle plan.

Our Preparation

To be a true Iron Viking, you need to approach the challenge with the right battle plan. A good preparation for a long-distance obstacle run involves several phases, depending on the preparation time. We started our training for the Iron Viking 24 weeks before the event.

During these weeks, we focused on interval training combined with distance running. We reduced our running speed and increased the distance, running up to 27.5 km during preparation. Given our sports background, this distance was sufficient for us to complete the Iron Viking. It’s important that the training plan is tailored to yourself and that you listen to your own body. If you need more kilometers to avoid shocking your body during the run, do it!

In addition to covering distance, we trained 4 times a week at outdoor locations using our own body weight. It was also crucial to regularly relax to give our bodies adequate rest. Getting at least 7 hours of sleep per night and regularly walking in nature helped with this.

The Last Week Before the Start

Just one week to go. Unlike the other weeks, this final week was not focused on intense training. The key points for this week were:

• Minimize stress and focus on relaxation.
• Avoid intensive workouts. Focus on full recovery with adequate movement.
• Get plenty of sleep the night before the event. This can be challenging due to pre-event nerves, but a good night’s rest is essential for your body and mental state on the challenge day.

From Start to Finish

“I LEAVE NO BROTHER BEHIND!”

There you are… standing before the official Strong Viking oath with goosebumps, ready for the Valhalla Steps. The most important thing during the run is to maintain your own trained pace. If you stick to your battle plan and have the willpower to push yourself, adrenaline will give you the final push to cross the finish line.

One of our runners experienced cramps after 19 km. By listening to each other, helping each other, and motivating each other, we managed to keep moving towards the finish. To make our challenge even more thrilling, the weather gods unleashed Heaven and Earth upon us. After hailstorms, rain, icy winds, sore feet, and occasional sunshine, we fought our way to the finish line.

Exhausted to the core, with tears of happiness and fatigue, having given everything you’ve got, and feeling that your body is strong enough to endure the effort. Completing the Iron Viking within 7.5 hours was MAGICAL! PURE PRIDE AND A RAW SENSE OF STRENGTH! ON TO THE NEXT CHALLENGE, OORAH!