the gax ultramarathons

if you can't run fast, run far

The idea of the gax formed during a race in the Czech Republic in 2005. It was on the second night and I wanted more running, more trail and more nature. Once home I started to develop the idea of organizing the first 100 mile trail run in Northern Europe. I wanted it grand. For the first race six participants showed up for a ride of a lifetime ... the gax ultramarathons are based on adventure and trail, nature and self support. And it is a race for charity - the proceeds of the races are given to the people of Afghanistan, especially to the education of girls. When I was looking for a name for the race I took the coolest word I knew and at the same time I can honour my brother. It was his nic during the eighties Arcade Games craze.

"Good fortune with your pioneering event." - Gordon Ainsleigh, 2007

the gax the movie.mov

A pioneer in Swedish ultrarunning.
100 mile finisher, Sweden, 2014

This is ultra marathon at its best - adventure in wonderful nature.
100 mile finisher, Sweden, 2009

This is the most adventurous thing in my whole life.
153 mile finisher, Germany, 2007

A lot of heart and NO commercialism!
100 mile finisher, Sweden, 2014

Thank you for the super nice urasunti epiphany and a very nice company.
100 mile finisher, Sweden, 2013

Sweden's best organizer strikes again.
100 mile finisher, Sweden, 2017

You are a genius!
100 mile finisher, Sweden, 2014

I hereby register for the next race you direct, whatever it will be.
50 km finisher, Sweden, 2010

Thank you for a super race, as always when you direct races!!
153 mile pacer, Sverige, 2010

Thanks very much for a great and seriously tough event.
153 mile participant, Ireland, 2010

You have created a fantastic race!
100 mile finisher, Sweden, 2015

Truly magnificent.
50 mile finisher, USA, 2007

I have just experienced one of the most amazing moments of my life since like I became a mother.
50 mile finisher, Sweden, 2009

Good luck with the gax 100.
Western States 100-mile Endurance Run Race Director, USA, 2007

To reach the finish line was one of the best moments in my life!
153 mile finisher, Germany, 2010

Cred to all friendly staff!
100 mile finisher, Sweden, 2008

Thank you for a wonderful race, it has made me want to continue with this wonderful sport, ultra marathon.
153 mile participant, Sweden, 2010

Thank you very much Stefan and the people of the organization!
153 mile finisher, Finland, 2010

My expectations were sky high and I wasn't let down.
50 mile finisher, Sweden, 2009

I want to thank you once again for all that you did to make my first participation in trail so success.
100 mile participant, Russia, 2008

I felt it was just what I was looking for, something I wasn't prepared for at all and full of surprises.
153 mile finisher, Finland, 2010

Thank you for a very special experience, the most adventurous running experience I have had so far.
100 mile participant, Sweden, 2006

I will look back with happiness on the event and meeting so many fantastic people.
153 mile participant, Scotland, 2010

I would absolutely say, that you have created a race as difficult as Spartathlon.
153 mile participant, Denmark, 2010

Cursed the whole race, regretted bitterly that I ever got an crazy idea that I could survive in these scary conditions.
153 mile finisher, Finland, 2010

I would like to thank Stefan and crew who made this an unforgettable weekend, will remember it as long as I live.
153 mile participant, Sweden, 2010

Magical!
50 mile finisher, Sweden, 2008

They say Scania is flat as a pancake. Those who have run gax knows better.
100 mile finisher, Norway, 2007

Thank you for what you have started.
Ultralegend, Sweden, 2006

Amazingly impressive.
Race crew, Sweden, 2007

Thanks a lot for organize such a crazy foot race!
153 mile finisher, Germany, 2010

Very far.
Race Director, Sweden, 2010

Events
year event distance finish % winner
2006 the gax 100 miles I 160,9 km 4/6 67 % Sharon Broadwell
2007 the gax 100 miles II 160,9 km 10/16 63 % Otto Elmgart
2007 the gax 50 miles I 80,5 km 9/9 100 % Paul Westesson
2007 the gax extra marathon I 42,195 km 1/1 100 % Jan Astermark
2008 the gax 100 miles III 160,9 km 6/14 43 % Mikko Luusalo
2008 the gax 50 miles II 80,5 km 7/7 100 % Niels Holm
2009 the gax 100 miles IV 160,9 km 21/32 66 % Jan Vajhøj
2009 the gax 50 miles III 80,5 km 9/9 100 % Jan Hansson
2010 the gax training pass I 52,1 km 11/14 79 % everybody
2010 the gax trans scania I 246,0 km 12/31 39 % Jari Tomppo
2011 the gax training pass II 50,6 km 16/19 84 % everybody
2012 the gax training pass III 50,6 km 20/21 95 % everybody
2013 the gax training pass IV 50,0 km 18/22 82 % everybody
2013 the gax urasunti epiphany I 160,9 km 5/9 56 % Zingo Andersen
2014 the gax training pass V 50 km 24/25 96 % everybody
2014 the gax urasunti epiphany II 160,9 km 5/10 50 % Jonas Davidsson
2014 the gax urasunti epiphany III 160,9 km 6/9 67 % Christian Malmström
2015 the gax training pass VI 51,2 km 21/30 70 % everybody
2015 the gax urasunti epiphany IV 160,9 km 4/6 67 % Mikkel Birch Gormsen
2015 the gax urasunti epiphany V 160,9 km 5/7 86 % Mikkel Birch Gormsen
2016 the gax training pass VII 51.2 km 15/17 88 % everybody
2016 the gax urasunti epiphany VI 160,9 km 3/4 75 % Ross Nugent
2016 the gax urasunti epiphany VII 160,9 km 3/4 75 % Ross Nugent/David Mårtensson
2017 the gax training pass VIII 52,3 km 23/34 68 % everybody
2017 the gax urasunti epiphany VIII 160,9 km 1/1 100 % Mats Olson
2017 the gax urasunti epiphany IX 160,9 km 2/4 50 % Richard Andersson
2018 the gax urasunti epiphany X 160,9 km 4/4 100 % Ross Nugent
2018 the gax training pass IX 50,3 km 15/15 100 % everybody
2018 the gax urasunti epiphany XI 160,9 km 2/3 67 % Peter Bengtsson
2019 the gax urasunti epiphany XII 160,9 km 3/9 33 % Jonas Häggkvist/Magnus Johansson
2019 the gax training pass X 58,4 km 10/16 63 % everybody
2019 the gax monte yaḥyā I 42,195 km 8/10 80 % Mikkel Gormsen
2019 the gax monte yaḥyā II 50 km 2/2 100 % Niels Holm
2020 the gax urasunti epiphany XIII 160,9 km 4/6 67 % Peter Bengtsson
2020 the gax monte yaḥyā III 160,9 km 1/3 33 % Stefan Samuelsson
2021 the gax urasunti epiphany XIV 160,9 km 2/5 40 % Roger Löfström
2021 the gax revolutions marathons I 42,195 km 7/8 88 % Ross Nugent
2021 the gax revolutions marathons II 42,195 km 4/5 80 % Ross Nugent
2021 the gax revolutions marathons III 42,195 km 6/6 100 % Stefan Samuelsson
2021 the gax revolutions marathons IV 42,195 km 5/5 100 % Stefan Samuelsson
2021 the gax revolutions marathons V 42,195 km 2/2 100 % Henrik Kockum
2021 the gax urasunti epiphany XV 160,9 km 4/9 44 % Peter Bengtsson
2021 the gax revolutions marathons VI 42,195 km 6/7 86 % Ross Nugent
2021 the gax revolutions marathons VII 42,195 km 6/6 100 % Fredrik Lähnn

2021 the gax revolutions marathons VIII 42,195 km 3/3 100 % Stefan Samuelsson
2021 the gax revolutions marathons IX 42,195 km 6/6 100 % Tony Gren/Susanne Gren
2021 the gax revolutions marathons X 42,195 km 6/6 100 % Ross Nugent (seventh win!)
2021 the gax revolutions marathons XI 50 km 2/2 100 % Stefan Samuelsson
2022 the gax revolutions marathons XII 42,195 km 3/3 100 % Johan Melin

2022 the gax revolutions marathons XIII 42,195 km 6/6 100 % Stefan Samuelsson

2022 the gax revolutions marathons XIV 42,195 km 7/7 100 % Fredrik Lähnn

2023 the gax revolutions marathons XV 50 km 3/4 75 % Johan Melin

2023 the gax revolutions marathons XVI 42,195 km 5/6 83 % Niklas Hermansson

2023 the gax revolutions marathons XVII 42,195 km 5/6 83 % Niklas Hermansson

2023 the gax urasunti epiphany XVI 160,9 km 2/8 25 % Fredrik Lähnn

2023 the gax revolutions marathons XVIII 42,195 km 8/9 89 % Pavel Modilaynen

2023 the gax revolutions marathons XIV 42,195 km 6/6 100 % Niklas Hermansson

2023 the gax revolutions marathons XX 42,195 km 6/6 100 % Fredrik Lähnn

2023 the gax revolutions marathons XXI 42,195 km 3/3 100 % Andreas Malmberg

2024 the gax revolutions marathons XXII 42,195 km 3/3 100 % Pavel Modilaynen

2024 the gax revolutions marathons XXIII 42,195 km 5/6 83 % Fredrik Lähnn

2024 the gax revolutions marathons XXIV 50 km 3/3 100 % Malou Björnslätt

2024 the gax revolutions marathons XXV 42,195 km 4/4 100 % Johan Melin

2024 the gax walkærle noctum I 80,5 km 4/4 100 % Peter Bengtsson

2024 the gax walkærle noctum II 80,5 km 3/3 100 % Fredrik Lähnn

19 64 events 5698,98 km 460/566 81 % everybody


Hall of (gax)fame
events name years
45 Stefan Samuelsson 2006-24

36 Zingo Andersen 2009-24

20 Ross Nugent 2007-23

15 Fredrik Lähnn 2014-24

14 Malou Björnslätt 2019-24

13 Johanna Gren 2020-24

13 Peter Bengtsson 2009-24

12 Tony Gren 2021-24

11 Mats Olson 2014-19

11 Roger Löfström 2016-23

10 Björn Svensson 2010-20

8 Pavel Modilaynen 2021-24

8 Susanne Gren 2021

9 Johan Melin 2022-24

7 Stefan Olsson 2006-16
7 Niels Holm 2011-19
7 Uve Reichenauer 2010-16

6 Per Rudqvist 2010-15
6 Åsa Broberg 2011-17
6 Charlotta Sjöberg 2011-18
6 Jan Söderkvist 2006-15

the gax • TEC Swedish Trail Challenge
A Cup (2009-2011) which consisted of the longest distance of the gax 100 miles and Täby Extreme Challenge. The runners were included in a List of honour with a distinguished diploma: "These runners have proven both a strong mental and physical endurance. They are among the very few that have the ability to endure distance and solitude in unknown terrain, in cold and hot conditions, in daylight and at night and with sparsely located support points."

# name country date
1 Gunnar Faehn NO 2009-03-22
2 Boel de Geer SE 2009-08-16
3 Barbro Nilsson SE 2010-04-11
4 Jan-Erik Ramström SE 2010-04-11
5 Staffan Ring SE 2010-04-11
6 Maria Thomsen SE 2010-04-11
7 Christian Hottas DE 2010-04-11
8 Andreas Falk SE 2010-08-08
9 Jonas Davidsson SE 2010-08-08
10 Bernt Hedlund SE 2010-08-08
11 Emelie Andersson SE 2011-04-10
12 Boel de Geer SE 2011-04-10
13 Stefan Samuelsson SE 2011-04-10
14 Björn Svensson SE 2011-04-10
15 Stefan Olsson SE 2011-04-10
16 Esa Rotinen SE 2011-04-10
17 Jan Söderkvist SE 2011-04-10

Many individuals and companies have kindly sponsored the gax ultramarathons: Stefan Olsson, Mattias Bramstång, Power Heat, Mobile Books AB, Inga Samuelsson, Lennart Samuelsson, Tomas Olsson, Lars Andén, Helen Andersson, Gerd Roos, Greger Samuelsson, David Sandberg, Joni Samuelsson, Roger Olsson, Ivan Bretan, Staffan Åkerblom, Anne-Katrine Christiansen, Jan Andersson, Sara Wennerholm, Kerstin Andersson, Alexander Astermark, Nim Samuelsson, Simon Liao, Anders Jelander, Charlotte Brundin, Zingo Andersen, Julieta Zubillaga, Anders Löfgren, Alf Ek, Eva Ek, Charlotta Sjöberg, Anne Katrine Christiansen and Jim Sjöberg.