Norrbom canceled the women's marathon: "Never again"

Already after 15 kilometers, runners were seen stepping off the track a little bit along the Corniche boardwalk in Doha. Some were put in a wheelchair, others were taken to an ambulance and some just sat down next to the track with an empty eye.

This was what had been feared in advance: that a marathon under extreme conditions - temperature around 30 degrees and high humidity - would have consequences.

Towards the end of the race, the scenes became even worse. The golf cars that served as ambulances went in shuttle traffic and many of the runners who broke were so weak that they lay on stretcher in the transport.

One of those who came in a golf cart, but when conscious and seated, was Swedish Cecilia Norrbom.

She never caved, but it looked nasty when she was led from the golf car to the wheelchair and into the medical tent.

- It just sacked. I felt that the steps were getting shorter and shorter and could not be lifted. The speed dropped all the time and then I felt more and more that it was not going and that I could not keep up the body. I became like a banana, ”she says, kissing her back to show.

She came out of the medical tent after about half an hour, and never needed intensive care. But during her time there, she saw unpleasant scenes:

- They were pretty much there on treadmills and then it was actually scary, someone from Canada came and I think she was faint. They pulled out drip and she was lying on stretcher and ... it wasn't fun.

-I don't think anyone who didn't run can understand what this race was like.

Cecilia Norrbom's answer to whether it was appropriate to have a marathon in Qatar, now with a hand in hand, comes quickly:

- No, I would never do it again. I will not run a mara in this climate again.

- Damn it. I've been here for ten days, trained at this time, done everything according to plan. My physical form was great, but it was so much tougher than I thought.

And there were more who were critical. Monika Bytautiené from Lithuania broke after 17 kilometers.

"I felt really bad, my head was overheated, my legs were really heavy ... It was very dangerous for me," she says.

- Having a marathon in this part of the world was a really bad idea, this is extreme. I think they should have canceled the competition.

The exchange coach could still stand on her feet shortly after she had broken, but still did not feel well. And she says she was scared when she felt worst during the race.

- I have a little daughter ... I wanted to come home to her. This is dangerous.

In the end, 40 out of 68 ended up in goal. Of them two Swedes where Charlotta Fougberg finished in a nice 18 place in her second marathon.

- This was probably the toughest thing to do. They have exposed us to something that many of us did not think we would be able to do, says Fougberg who still managed to smile immediately after the finish.

She discovered early on that she couldn't keep up with the momentum she had planned.

- Then I felt that this race was just about going to goal. And everyone who goes to the finish is absolutely amazing, I saw a very good Italian who collapsed after only twelve kilometers.

The other Swede who came in the finish was Johanna Bäcklund who finished 37th. Kenyan won Rose Chepngetich in the time of 2.32.43 - the slowest victory ever in the World Cup. Reigning champion Rose Chelimo of Bahrain came in just over a minute later and was content with the silver, while the bronze went to Namibia's Helalia Johannes.