Daniel Rowland: Rockman - Norway - 2024

It all began on a Tuesday week when Markus called me with an unexpected invitation. I initially thought he wanted to race together in Gothenburg a few weeks later. Instead, he asked if I would join him for one of the hardest swimrun races in the world: Rockman! “I don’t know anyone else who is crazy enough to make this happen,” he said. Challenge accepted! I booked my flights to Norway and prepared for an adventure.

Rockman is renowned for its stunning scenery in the fjords, but also for its grueling challenges. The race features a notorious climb during the final section of the race and tough, technical terrain that tests even the most seasoned athletes. This year marked the 10th anniversary of the event, and they had secured permission to return to the original course, making it longer and tougher than in recent years.

Upon arriving at the visitor center near the start, I was completely blown away by the breathtaking beauty surrounding me. It looked just like the stunning pictures I had seen of the fjords. The atmosphere was great and the competitors buzzed with excitement and nerves. My limited time to research the race and area left me feeling a bit naive, but in a good way, adding to my anticipation.

As we began the first run, Markus and I positioned ourselves near the front of the pack, ready to enter the swim alongside some of the faster teams. We were moving well together and found ourselves swimming in second place, maintaining a solid pace. The water temperature was surprisingly comfortable — much warmer than I had expected - and our teamwork was seamless. However, during the second run, we missed a crucial marking and veered off course. This setback ignited a fire within me, and from that moment on, we were determined to chase down our competitors.

As we made our way up to Preikestolen, we steadily passed team after team. Markus and I established a strong rhythm, navigating through the challenging rocky terrain with confidence. I felt fantastic during the swims, overtaking nearly everyone ahead of us and reaching the bottom of the Flørli stairs in the top three.

However, as we continued, Markus began to struggle with low energy and occasional dizziness. Despite his discomfort, he pressed on. The final run stretched nearly 21 kilometers making it the longest run of the day. We managed our pace carefully through this long run and ended up hiking a lot, but ultimately we crossed the finish line together. I was proud of Markus for pushing through despite his challenges. In this team sport, he has guided me so much on my journey as a swimrun athlete and I was happy to support him in return when he needed it.

Once I returned home and reviewed all the photos from our adventure, I realized just how fortunate we were with the weather and how much of the fjord’s beauty we had experienced. Rockman is not just a race; it’s an incredible adventure. I can’t wait for another opportunity to return!