Ultramarathon runner Tommy Chen returns from conquering Swedish Arctic

2024-04-16

Have you wondered what it would be like to trek for 500 kilometers in the snow near the Arctic circle? That’s precisely what ultramarathon runner Tommy Chen did last month at the Montane Lapland Arctic Ultra in northern Sweden. The runner gave a talk in Taiwan about his experience, sharing images of the grueling journey. Chen says that thinking of his family is what pushed him past the finish line.

Last month, ultramarathon runner Tommy Chen came second in the Montane Lapland Arctic Ultra, a 500-kilometer foot race in northern Sweden. He was the first Asian participant to complete the challenge. Now in Taiwan, he held an event to share images of his experience.

Chen recounted the severe conditions he overcame, and the loneliness of the challenge. Thinking of his family back in Taiwan gave him strength to make it to the end.

Tommy Chen
Ultramarathon runner
Far away, 8,300 kilometers away, my mother must have been praying to Buddha for me. It gave me a sense of strength and stability. I missed my family.

Before competing in Sweden, Chen took part in the Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra, a 700-kilometer race in Canada, where he also won a medal. Chen presented his father with the two medals, inviting him to run a race together in the future.

Tommy Chen
Ultramarathon runner
I’m not spending as much time with my parents, so I hope we get the opportunity to take part in a marathon in a polar region some day, be it 10 kilometers, or 20 kilometers. I think it would be an amazing memory. Of course, I don’t know if doing that would create a rift in our relationship.

Chen faced off against 54-year-old ultramarathon legend Thierry Corbarieu from France. Chen says the experience was inspiring and enriching. But he says he still plans to retire from racing at the age of 43. Next up for Chen is the For Rangers Ultra in Kenya this September.

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完成瑞典極地橫越賽陳彥博返台分享過程

2024-04-16

剛完成「瑞典拉普蘭500公里不休息極地橫越賽」的台灣超馬好手陳彥博，返國後特別透過影像和大家分享這趟旅程，現場也邀請到爸爸幫他掛上獎牌，陳彥博還當場回敬另一面獎牌，邀請爸爸在他退休之前，一起來一趟極地馬拉松冒險。

陳彥博剛完成「瑞典拉普蘭500公里不休息極地橫越賽」，他不但獲得亞軍，更是首位完賽的亞洲選手，他也把過程透過影像，跟大家分享。

陳彥博回憶比賽過程，除了要克服嚴苛環境，更要熬過一個人的孤獨，這時支撐他的是「想家的力量」。

[[台灣超馬好手陳彥博]]
“8300公里以外的，離我這麼遠台灣的媽媽，應該是在唸佛保佑我中，所以也給自己心裡比較安定的力量，就是想家。”

在前往瑞典前，陳彥博也參加了「加拿大育空極地700公里橫越賽」，這次帶回兩面獎牌，由爸爸替他戴上，陳彥博更當場邀約爸爸有朝一日，跟他一起去跑一場。

[[台灣超馬好手陳彥博]]
“跟爸爸媽媽相處的時間其實比較少，所以我希望有機會帶著爸爸媽媽，有機會一起去挑戰極地的馬拉松賽，10公里也好，或者是20公里也好，我覺得那是一個對我來說一定是個很棒的回憶，當然不知道之後會不會關係決裂而已哈哈。”

這次在瑞典與年過半百的法國選手Thierry較量，也讓陳彥博收穫滿滿，雖然受到激勵，但跑到43歲的目標還是沒變，接下來9月又要前往非洲肯亞參加沙漠賽，持續挑戰自我。

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