Youngest female Norseman finisher Mia Walsøe Lehn battled extreme cold to complete grueling triathlon

Mia Walsøe Lehn, a 23-year-old training influencer, has completed the grueling Norseman triathlon, renowned as one of the world's most demanding races, becoming the youngest woman to do so.

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I had no feeling in my fingers or toes, I was shaking and my whole body was stiff. All my muscles were stiff when I started cycling, so it was a strange feeling.

Her debut in the event, which involves a 3.8 km swim, 180 km cycle, and a marathon finishing atop Gaustatoppen, began with a difficult start. Lehn plunged into the frigid waters of Eidfjorden at 5 a.m., missing the ferry start and experiencing immediate panic. The swim itself took over two hours, leaving her body severely chilled and her fingers and toes numb.

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It was no monster start. I missed the start line and wasn't in place when the ferry blew its horn. So I started with a feeling of panic, and it wasn't fun at all. It was mentally tough, scary, cold, and everything, really.

Mounting her bicycle, Lehn felt stiff and cold, admitting she was on the verge of quitting. "It was awful, really. It was cold, and I felt like I had to give up because it was so cold," she recounted. The initial kilometers were a struggle as she fought to regain warmth, a process that took about two to two and a half hours.

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It was awful, really. It was cold, and I felt like I had to give up because it was so cold. [...] But the warmth came back after about two to two and a half hours.

Despite the overwhelming cold and a significant deficit, Lehn shifted her mindset from aiming for the coveted "black t-shirt" (awarded to the top 160 runners) to simply finishing the race. This mental adjustment allowed her to regain composure and focus. By the end of the cycling portion, she had climbed approximately 50 places, and during the marathon, she felt strong and continued to gain positions, ultimately reaching the finish line.

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I was just wondering how this was going to go. I didn't care that I was so far behind, but I was afraid I wouldn't get warm again. [...] Then it was just a matter of adjusting my mindset to finishing, and being satisfied with finishing. Then I calmed down a bit.