The crunch, crunch of my footsteps in the snow broke the silent night. Mist from my breath hung in the icy air as my lungs pushed to their limit. Above me, the green silhouettes of the Northern lights dance across the sky before fading behind the vast white mountains. It was -15°C, and ironically this was the hottest I had felt outside on the entire trip. I said to myself final push now as the crowds grew in size and the Arctic city of Tromso came to life.
The journey started with a random weekday call from my brother. “It’s just a race,” he said casually, one he’d done before. “Not too challenging, though it might be a bit cold.” Naively, I agreed—I struggle to resist an excuse to explore somewhere new. Only later did I learn the truth: the race he’d done was the summer version, but we were booked for the Arctic Circle—in the dead of winter!
We landed in Tromso, Norway, a beautiful city surrounded by towering white mountains cascading into the dark sea. The country is notoriously expensive, so we opted for the budget friendly and much more exciting accommodation option in my opinion. Staying onboard a northern lights tour boat we found through airbnb. Our home for the trip therefore would go to sea every evening chasing the northern lights, a truly magical experience to witness multiple displays of different strengths! The boat did come with its quirks. Lose track of time during the day, and you’d return to find your gear (and your bed) gone for the next five hours. Our Zenscape backpacks came into a league of their own onboard with the cramped quarters they were a lifesaver. The built-in wardrobe system hung neatly out the way, while keeping our items organised and easily accessible.
The week flew by with personal highlights including learning to Nordic ski and witnessing the breathtaking Northern Lights. Race day arrived, a lot of layers later, even wearing ski gloves we were ready at the start line. We joined a crowd of a few hundred people from all around the world as a DJ led a dance-style warm-up. The horn sounded and we were off into the icy starlit horizon. Half a marathon later and we crossed the line exhausted but high on adrenaline. A truly unforgettable experience, one I’ll forever be grateful to have had. My legs disagreed.
Travel is an amazing excuse to push yourself and embrace new experiences. The race was more than just a physical challenge, it brought people together from all over the globe, bound by a shared passion for adventure. Immersing ourselves in such a unique environment opened the door to new stories, perspectives, and connections. I believe if more people travelled, we’d create a better, more connected world.
So here’s to saying yes, to exploring boldly, and to embracing the unknown.
Happy exploring,
Jack
Founder, Zenscape