The Jukola organizers have a goal this year of breaking the all-time attendance record. They hope for 1200 mens teams (of 7) and 650 womens teams (of 4). Do the math and you'll see that's almost as many people as come to the post-Possum Trot pizza party--very impressive numbers indeed!

This year's Jukola will be very fast, going in a flattish terrain with lots of marshes which the organizers say are ideal for fast Swampfox running. Though--as is usual with Finnish course setting--some tricky controls should be expected!

And, to make it easier for the outside world to listen in and follow what's happening, the Finnish announcing at the race will be translated into Swahili and broadcast live over the internet. "Anjii jukalahailla maisassapai ouhto", they say. Roughly translated: "We will only be satisfied with the God Standard, and nothing less."

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlinbk.net), May 06, 2001

Answers

This link should take you to the Alternativet news story about Jukola. The text is Swedish, but looking at the photos is interesting.

http://www.alternativet.nu/alternativet.asp?id=1250

-- Michael (meglin@juno.com), May 15, 2001.

There is new Jukola info on Alternativet.nu today, in Swedish of course, along with several pictures of the terrain. It looks like "vit-mossa" (white moss) terrain, and the arrangers are saying as much, estimating that the winning male team will average under 5min/km. This year's Jukola is being organized in a more compact form, in a part of the country that is rather isolated with no major cities nearby. Probably it's the rough equivalent of Joe-Bob's Landing and Restaurant on the SW side of Lake Clinton.

Note to any OKers who are planning on running in the WOC this summer: the WOC terrain looks nothing like this year's Jukola terrain, guaranteed!

-- Swampfox (wmikell@earthlink.net), May 15, 2001.