Then why weren't you in Finland for the races? The 11th annual wife carrying races, that is. It seems the Finns, who have entirely too much time on their hands by all indications, have been staging this event to commemorate a legendary robber. The mind boggles.
SONKAJARVI, Finland (Reuters) – Finishing upside down clinging to a man's back may not be the most graceful way of winning gold, but it sure helped Sandra Kullas and Margo Uusorg to the world wife-carrying crown on Saturday.
The Estonians were among 40 pairs from eight countries who competed in the annual event in Sonkajarvi, in central Finland.
They raced along a 250-meter track, complete with pools and hurdles, with the men running or walking and carrying the women on their backs.
The championship, being held for the 11th time, evokes the legend of robber Rosvo-Ronkainen who made people trying to join his gang run through a forest carrying heavy sacks.
Uusorg, 26, finished in 56.9 seconds, a world record, while Kullas, 19, clung to his back upside down with her legs around his neck. They beat Uusorg's bother Madis by 3 seconds.
Besides the bragging rights to a world championship, the lucky couple also won laptop computers and the real prize: the woman's weight in beer. Once word gets around about that prize, there should be even more contestants! Unless that is what your wife is on your back about in the first place, of course.
