Meet the athletes - Ingvill Merete Stedøy-Johansen

Tell us about yourself. Where are you from and what do you do.

I am Ingvill. Birthday is November 12th, 1957, so I will be 53 three months after 2010 Norseman. I am married for the second time with my bicycle prince. He will be my support during the challenge. My four sons, my husbands four children, my cats and my dog are all very proud that I participate in Norseman for the third time (2004, 2007 and 2010).
I live in Fetsund, 25 minutes by train from Oslo. We moved here from Trondheim one year ago. Fetsund is great for training all kinds of outdoor sports. Right now it´s perfect for cross country skiing.
I teach maths and physics in upper secondary school, Lillestrøm videregående skole. Of course I use my bike to school every day, even if it is winter and 30 degrees below zero (Celsius :-) ).

What is your background in sports, and what are your goals for 2010 aside from Norseman?

As a child I did gymnastics. But I was also school champion in cross country skiing and speed skating. In those days we played all kinds of sports, but I did not compete until I was older. I ran my first half marathon in 1990, and my first full marathon in 1991. I have run marathons in Oslo, Trondheim, Stockholm, Tromsø, New York and Boston. In 1995 I did my first bike race from Trondheim to Oslo. I was twice “Hardhaus” and “Superhardhaus”, and once “Årets Birkebeiner”. I have done “Birkebeineren” cross country skiing five times, the run four times, and the bike race twice. I biked Trondheim – Oslo eight times (best time 16 hours 25 minutes), and Mountain bike Trondheim – Oslo, six days, once. My husband and I participated in Viking Tour (which I won my age group, and no two over all) for our honey moon in 2006, and will participate in 2010 as well. We met during my thirs “Jotunheimen rundt”, which I won twice, and now have done five times (my husband three). The same year we also biked Gaustadtråkket, where I took over the women´s record with more than one hour. In 2009 we did a lot of bike races together, also mountain bike races (Raumerrittet, Grenserittet, Sølvstufossrittet, Kongerittet, Birken, Lillehammer – Oslo, Randsfjorden rundt, Øyeren rundt, Romerike rundt, Enebakk rundt). I have also finished Lillehammer troll skimaraton (95 km cross country skiing) three times, and will participate also in 2010.

Why did you choose to race Norseman and what is your race goal?

I did my first Norseman in 2004 because I always dreamed of doing an Iron man. I had a goal to do it before I turned 50. I did it twice. In 2007 I almost “froze to death” during the swim leg, and promised Hårek to be back with a new wet suit (It turned out that I had been swimming in a surfing suit!). So now I am back! My goal is to finish in less than 16 hours. I think I will make it!
The reason why it was Norseman, is that It takes the participants through some of the most beautiful parts of Norway, and (also something that trigger me) that it is the hardest Iron man you can find!

Do you do any special training for Norseman? Riding a lot of hills? Swimming in cold water etc? Or is it basic but intense and hard Iron man training?

I train “something” twice a day. The day always starts with 45 minutes running in the forest (yes, also when it is snow!) with my husky, Zeta. After that I bike to work (30 minutes in winter time, and 20 minutes in summer time). I train with weights in the gym after work three times a week (50 – 60 minutes), and take a spinning class twice a week. On Saturdays and Sundays I either go cross country skiing or bike. Once a week I swim. That day I do all the triathlon disciplines, but not right after each other. I run and bike in the morning, as always, and after work I bike from Lillestrøm to the swimming pool in Oslo, and then I swim. Right now I get help from a very good friend and former Norseman participant to improve my technique. I think I have a lot to gain from being a better swimmer.
But apart from that I don´t train in particular for triathlon. I think it is the best principle to have fun, and do what you like to do!

What other races would you like to compete in the future?

I want to do a second Giro Dolomiti with my husband in 2011. I also want to do another mountain bike Trondheim – Oslo. The triathlon in Trollstigen is also something I have in mind for another year.

What are your favorite places to train?

My favorite place to train is in Romeriksåsen for mountain bike and cross country skiing, and from my house and west, towards Sweden. I enjoy running in the forest in Fetsund, and I hope to swim in Øyeren from May.
If I have the chance, I really enjoy biking in Mallorca in April!

And your favourite workout?

Everything that is challenging, without using a ball!!