Stockholm is a fantastic city; I've been twice before to run the city marathon there, in 2004 and 2005. I really enjoyed myself on both occasions, and was keen to run another race there.

My mate Pete and I had talked about doing some 10k races around europe, running a marathon is such a big deal in terms of training, and it usually involves a longer and more expensive stay. So we setup a weekend trip to run the Midnattsloppet race, which is one of those big event style races sponsored by Nike.

Pete, Zoe Tame and I flew out on a Friday morning, with the race being on Saturday night. We stayed right in the centre of the city, in a hotel which holds the Absolut ice bar. After standing around in the minus 10c bar drinking from icecube glasses, we headed into town to one of my favorite fish restaurants in the world, Sturehof. Nick, Pete and I had been there for a celebratory dinner after the 2005 marathon, and it was amazing then, and still is. After that we hit the rather average city night club, blue moon bar, where one of the world's worst DJ's subjected us to drivel.

The following day, after oversleeping in our hotel rooms without windows, I dragged the three of us around the fantastic Vasa Museum; which houses the worlds only 17th century warship. Then later around the royal armoury, under the palace.

After wondering around the city all day, we finally had to get ourselves ready for a 10k race.