Tough Viking Stockholm (Stockholms Stadion)

The course

The race starts and finishes inside Stockholms Stadion. After a group warm-up (10 minutes before each start) you leave the stadium onto a route that mixes urban running with technical elements, strength obstacles and water crossings, and the course is marked with Tough Viking tape. The organiser puts the distance at about 8 km and about 27 obstacles. The course and the obstacles can change from year to year.

The water is cold. The organiser gives about 7 to 8 °C for the water crossings and about 0 °C for the ice tanks, and a trained rescue swimmer is present at water obstacles. Obstacles that need grip and arm strength, such as climbing, are where most time and energy are lost. There are three water stations, two on the course and one at the finish.

If you fail an obstacle, the event page says the penalty is five laps around red cones, designed to take longer than the obstacle itself; the FAQ says you may retry once and then take a penalty run. In the competition classes a wristband system applies: you start with three wristbands, give one up for each failed obstacle and must run a penalty loop for each. Help from other participants is allowed in all classes. The finish is in the stadium, where there are showers and changing rooms.

How to enter

Entry is online through raceid.com, linked from toughviking.se. You choose a start time at registration, subject to availability, and the final start time and bib number are sent by SMS a few days before the race. Classes are Open Female and Open Male (individual), Duo (mix, female or male), Trio and Team of four or more, where the team result uses the average of the four fastest. Team members must use the same team name and start group. Companies with 10 or more participants can pay by invoice.

In the open class the price for 2027 was 750 kr from 1 September to 31 October 2026, then 775 kr, 799 kr from January, 899 kr in March and 999 kr from 1 April 2027 (roughly EUR 65 to 90). Tickets are not refunded. A transfer to another person costs 195 kr, paid by the receiver, and changes are due by the Wednesday before the race. The minimum age in the open class is 12, and under 18s need a signed guardian waiver at check-in; the competition class requires you to turn 16 in the year of the race and to represent a club that belongs to Svenska Friidrottsförbundet.

OCR-SM on 15 May 2027 is a separate entry for club members: about 12 km and about 30 obstacles, with SM, junior (born 2008 to 2010) and veteran (born 1987 or earlier) classes, and an international class. Fees run from 899 kr (June to August 2026) to 1,199 kr, entries close on 8 May 2027, are personal and binding, and there are no late entries. Foreign athletes need a competition permit from the federation under strict conditions, so read the OCR-SM page before you plan on it.

How to train for it

Train grip, not just legs

Rope climbs, rings and hanging obstacles decide how long you wait and how tired you are. The organiser recommends Roman rings and rope climbing. Work on dead hangs and pull-ups for months before May.

Practise running wet and cold

The water crossings are around 7 to 8 °C and the ice tanks near 0 °C. Put cold-water dips into your training from March and learn how your hands and feet behave when you have to climb straight after.

Start easy

The organiser advises not rushing the first kilometres. The stadium start tempts everybody to go out hard before queues at the first obstacles.

Choose your obstacles in advance

Obstacle captains in vests at each obstacle can advise. Decide before race day which obstacles you will skip, and practise the penalty option, so that tired decisions do not cost you an injury.

Run stairs and hills in a city setting

The route leaves the stadium onto streets and park paths and the stadium itself has stairs. Hill repeats and stairs sessions in the weeks before the race are better preparation than flat road mileage.

What you need

• Running or training shoes with grip for mud, water and slippery ramps. Barefoot is banned, and shoes with metal spikes or cleats lead to disqualification without refund.
• Long-legged tights and a long-sleeved tight top to protect against scrapes; no cotton, because you are wet most of the race.
• Gloves for grip (the organiser sells them at the start). An optional light helmet.
• Warm, dry clothes to change into afterwards.
• Valid ID (digital ID is accepted) and your start-time SMS to collect your start envelope, which has a number headband, a timing chip for your right ankle and a bag check tag.

Getting there and staying

The venue is Stockholms Stadion. The organiser says parking is very limited and tells you to use public transport and look up Stockholm Stadium in your journey planner. Bib pick-up is in black Tough Viking tents inside the stadium, Friday afternoon (the event page says 15:00 to 18:00, the FAQ says from 11:00) and Saturday from 09:00; collect it at least one hour before your start, with ID.

A staffed bag check is on site, but the organiser accepts no responsibility for valuables. There are changing rooms and showers in the stadium, toilets in the start and finish area, a shop, and medical staff, an ambulance and ATV-mounted medics on the course. Tough Viking Kids runs the next day, Sunday 16 May 2027.

Where to find out more

• Tough Viking Stockholms Stadion (opens in a new tab): The organiser's page for the race: classes, bib pick-up, rules and facilities.
• Tough Viking FAQ (opens in a new tab): Start kit, transfers, water temperatures and penalties.
• OCR-SM 2027 (opens in a new tab): Swedish championship rules, classes and entry for club members.
• Race rules (competition classes) (opens in a new tab): Wristband system, disqualification and shoe rules.
• Results 9 May 2026 (EQ Timing) (opens in a new tab): Official timing and results for the 2026 race.