This is probably the last and final blog post of this project. It's long overdue - eighteen months has passed since the previous post. I checked the stats today, and people are apparently still reading this blog. It's all online and I guess the topic is relevant for those who read it. So let me give you a final update.
I have abandoned the goal of running marathons and ultras.
Running, as in marathon training, is rewarding in many ways, no doubt. Physically and mentally (better fitness, better self-esteem), socially (sense of community and belonging with other runners: mass events, running with a friend or friends, sharing goals and strategies). Wow, I want that! But what about the flip side? Running, as in marathon training, sucks! It's exhausting, it takes tons of time, it causes wear and tear on joints and ligaments, it makes you look like a starving person, it's unhealthy. It's f***ing self destructive! I know, I've injured myself a few times, I've had running related fights with my spouse when allocating too much time to running. I DON'T want that shit. But you have to take the good with the bad, or the bad with the good, right? No you don't. Just cut down running to two or three times a week, or substitute it with other, less taxing, exercise. Socialize in other ways. Try to find an optimal personal mix. There are quite a few needs that are not met by running (or rather marathon training), that might be more important than the needs that are met. Running marathons is just one solution to fulfilling needs, or even one tiny part in a much larger mix of actions toward fulfilling needs. There are needs that might be seriously neglected if running marathons becomes an addiction or a compulsion (or even to much of a priority).
I think I already mentioned, years ago, that the real goal for me was to abandon the couch and get active again. Running marathons and ultras sounded daunting and challenging enough to actually get me engaged, it sounded so much more significant than simply: get healthier. The good thing with goals is that they make you move towards them. The moving is the thing of importance, actually, the goal in and as of itself is much less significant. The moving is your time, your life, hence "the journey is more important than the destination". So goals should be set, or abandoned, mindfully. If they help you get your needs met and live a fulfilling life. Great! If they obstruct you from finding better ways to get your needs met. Think again! If you don't know what your needs are, find out more about them. To put it simply:
I have realized there are more pleasurable ways to get my needs met.
Thank you for reading. And do note I'm not at all abandoning an active lifestyle, nor should anyone else abandon aspirations towards greater health and fitness - on the contrary this journey has made me realize more than ever that I, mind and body, need exercise - but in moderation.
Run for your life! At a comfortable pace, and not too far
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Thursday, June 27, 2013
The future of this blog
The future of this blog is uncertain. As it is for the blogger. No posts since April. This blog is slowly dying. (As is the blogger) No exercise updates for a very long time. It doesn't mean I'm back on the couch. It just means that running isn't a high priority right now. Trying to figure out the future is more so.
I have logged some miles, but not enough to finish a marathon this summer. Sorry about that. Life came in the way.
I'm lowering my expectations for this project, for running and maybe for a lot of other things as well. Maybe you should too. The blog gets some 100 page views per month. I wonder if those are all google robots? So when to expect updates? I don't know. I'll go on summer holiday soon. We'll get a puppy (again). I'll try to figure it out, but everything is uncertain at this point. So thats it for now. See you.
I have logged some miles, but not enough to finish a marathon this summer. Sorry about that. Life came in the way.
I'm lowering my expectations for this project, for running and maybe for a lot of other things as well. Maybe you should too. The blog gets some 100 page views per month. I wonder if those are all google robots? So when to expect updates? I don't know. I'll go on summer holiday soon. We'll get a puppy (again). I'll try to figure it out, but everything is uncertain at this point. So thats it for now. See you.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Race Report: Helsinki City Run 2013
In short: DNF
Why? Pre race?
I spend enough time away from home as it is. We've recently moved to another town, but my job hasn't. So I don't want to spend more time away from home than necessary by spending the weekend in Helsinki just to jog in a mass event (fun as it is though).
What about the bet?
The bet is off. Mr. Gothoni DNF:ed long ago by over stretching his capabilities in a football game (he is injured, or claims to be). Too bad. Even though I haven't trained very well - Actually it isn't even appropriate to talk about training, as total milage of 2013 amounts to less than 100km - I believe I could have made a new PR on the half marathon stretch. I did a time trial run of 10k last week and to my astonishment set a new personal best, which sadly still is pretty slow. Mr. Gothoni, with his well known appetite for pizza, sweet beverages and other unhealthy fattening foodstuffs, would probably have been even slower. Well, now we will never know. On the bright side: I can spend my 400 € earmarked for loss and defeat on something else. Something my wife picks from Ikea. Jippijaiyeaey!
The main event this year will be Helsinki City Marathon in August. A long way to run, and a long way to the state of a strong finisher. I'd better start to ramp up milage regardless of bets!
Why? Pre race?
I spend enough time away from home as it is. We've recently moved to another town, but my job hasn't. So I don't want to spend more time away from home than necessary by spending the weekend in Helsinki just to jog in a mass event (fun as it is though).
What about the bet?
The bet is off. Mr. Gothoni DNF:ed long ago by over stretching his capabilities in a football game (he is injured, or claims to be). Too bad. Even though I haven't trained very well - Actually it isn't even appropriate to talk about training, as total milage of 2013 amounts to less than 100km - I believe I could have made a new PR on the half marathon stretch. I did a time trial run of 10k last week and to my astonishment set a new personal best, which sadly still is pretty slow. Mr. Gothoni, with his well known appetite for pizza, sweet beverages and other unhealthy fattening foodstuffs, would probably have been even slower. Well, now we will never know. On the bright side: I can spend my 400 € earmarked for loss and defeat on something else. Something my wife picks from Ikea. Jippijaiyeaey!
The main event this year will be Helsinki City Marathon in August. A long way to run, and a long way to the state of a strong finisher. I'd better start to ramp up milage regardless of bets!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Cross country skiing
A bright starlit sky above a crisp and silent winter evening. Freshly pressed tracks in the soft newly fallen snow.
Fancy a run in the dark on an icy, rock hard, slippery pathway instead?
No? Neither do I.
I couldn't care less about running right now. So I'm swinging those poles and kicking those skis. Doing a rhythmic pendelum movement from side to side. Listening to the swishing sound of my skis on the soft surface. All thoughts fade away. Pure transcendence.
Cross country skiing is an irresistible activity during winter. Get a pair of skis and get out on the tracks.
Fancy a run in the dark on an icy, rock hard, slippery pathway instead?
No? Neither do I.
I couldn't care less about running right now. So I'm swinging those poles and kicking those skis. Doing a rhythmic pendelum movement from side to side. Listening to the swishing sound of my skis on the soft surface. All thoughts fade away. Pure transcendence.
Cross country skiing is an irresistible activity during winter. Get a pair of skis and get out on the tracks.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Bet: Helsinki City Run 2013
I made a bet with a friend. The looser buys the winner a dinner at Chez Dominique. Perhaps the best fine dining place in the country. Two Michelin Stars. Ranked as the 56th best restaurant in the world by The World's 50 Best Restaurants.
Basically I'll have to finish with a faster time than him, or I'll have to cough out 400 € at the end of the dinner. Let's see how this motivates us.
I've been busy writing a novel, which has taken away some spare time from running. It's not finished yet, and it's a priority. This is going to be fun. I'm receiving bull shit messages from him all the time, telling me how hard he is training. I believe I can beat him though. I don't think he'll have the stamina to keep going through all winter. (Unfortunately I don't have it either)
Basically I'll have to finish with a faster time than him, or I'll have to cough out 400 € at the end of the dinner. Let's see how this motivates us.
I've been busy writing a novel, which has taken away some spare time from running. It's not finished yet, and it's a priority. This is going to be fun. I'm receiving bull shit messages from him all the time, telling me how hard he is training. I believe I can beat him though. I don't think he'll have the stamina to keep going through all winter. (Unfortunately I don't have it either)
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Race Report - Espoon Rantamaraton (half marathon)
Rain, rain, rain.
Race day was a really wet story this year. Rain pouring down all day. We had a chilly +9 degrees celicus with rain, rain and more rain. Some two thousand runners met up to run along the coast line of Espoo. I was among them. Not very well trained. Only 30 km of running in the past two months. I was expecting something around 2:10 to 2:15. My muscles were still hurting from previous trainings run, too hard paced previous training runs. I ran an 8k training run at sub 2h pace and realized I wouldn't stand a chance at breaking the 2h threshold. So what about race strategy and pacing for this one?
Well, I felt I really had nothing to loose. My previous personal record of 2:06 seemed too tough to break on a day like this. But as I had seen the trouble to get there, despite the weather. Why not have some fun with it? I decided to do a totally stupid thing, and go for a sub 2h finish, no matter what. If I'd fail, so what. Then I'd actually learn something, instead of just jogging along with a more reasonable goal and learn nothing. So I beeped the virtual racer on my Garmin to 5:47 min/km pace and went to get my bib and goodies.
People were waiting indoors for the start. So did I. One hour of boredom, observing fellow runners. All equally stupid. Who in their right mind would go out and torture themselves on a day like this? I had some time to think about "why the hell I'm doing this" along the course.
I went out in the rain way too early as it had slipped my mind that there would be two starting groups - and that I would be in the second one, starting fifteen minutes after the first group. It was a bit confusing when they closed the starting grid just as I were to approach and run off. Instead I did gymnastics, or something remotely like it, to keep warm. It was pouring down and I was soaked well before the pistol went off for the second time.
Off we go. I tried to line up pretty much in front, with the 2h rabbit. The rabbit took a faster pace, so I let go of the 2h crowd and instead held a steady 5:47 pace. Better not be in the crowd, as it's a pain at water stations to fight for the drinks, wasting precious energy.
The run was tedious and boring. The pace was too fast for me, in my current condition. At ten kilometers the run started to become a psychological fight with myself. Legs hurting, lungs burning, heart racing. I had to convince myself over and over again, that this is reasonable, I'm totally sane, it's about challenging oneself, and stand up to the challenge, to grow and develop. At sixteen kilometer the pace was killing me. I oscillated between hope and despair. Digging deep to find more fighting spirit. I held on to the 5:47 pace for surprisingly long. Actually starting to believe I could finish sub 2h.
Then we hit some uphills at around nineteen kilometers. I was f***ed. I just couldn't press on at the same pace anymore. My steps slowed down. God, everything felt so heavy. But I dragged along with sheer willpower. I had a minute to spare, as I had actually made sure earlier to speed ahead of the virtual racer going at precisely 5:47. Would it be enough. We hit the last water station close to the Nokia headquarters. I slowed down, and downed two cups of sports drink. I sped up, or rather tried to speed up. Impossible! It just didn't work. No matter how hard I was pressing myself the virtual racer overtook me. I kept going though, hoping for a downhill or some kind of impossible surge of power. Didn't happen. Instead we hit the last uphill. I glanced at my Garmin. The virtual racer was almost a full minute ahead. So I let go. I switched to walking.
I walked up the hill, happy with myself, happy with the run. I wouldn't brake 2h today, but I'd get a new PR. So why keep pushing to the limit, when I'm doing this for health. I took the last bit easy, and finished in 2:03. Surpassing my own expectations. A new Personal Record. Job well done.
The post race coffee, tasted better than any coffee in a very long time - maybe the best coffee ever. A hot cup between cold, almost immobilized, hands - sipping that hot black gold. Loved it. I stuttered into the public shower. Ripped of my soaking wet, dripping, clothes and tugged them all into a plastic bag. The total weight of the bag was probably around 6-8 kg. Shit! Without all that extra weight I would probably have managed the last push and finish under two hours. I'll do that next time, if providence agrees.
Race day was a really wet story this year. Rain pouring down all day. We had a chilly +9 degrees celicus with rain, rain and more rain. Some two thousand runners met up to run along the coast line of Espoo. I was among them. Not very well trained. Only 30 km of running in the past two months. I was expecting something around 2:10 to 2:15. My muscles were still hurting from previous trainings run, too hard paced previous training runs. I ran an 8k training run at sub 2h pace and realized I wouldn't stand a chance at breaking the 2h threshold. So what about race strategy and pacing for this one?
Well, I felt I really had nothing to loose. My previous personal record of 2:06 seemed too tough to break on a day like this. But as I had seen the trouble to get there, despite the weather. Why not have some fun with it? I decided to do a totally stupid thing, and go for a sub 2h finish, no matter what. If I'd fail, so what. Then I'd actually learn something, instead of just jogging along with a more reasonable goal and learn nothing. So I beeped the virtual racer on my Garmin to 5:47 min/km pace and went to get my bib and goodies.
People were waiting indoors for the start. So did I. One hour of boredom, observing fellow runners. All equally stupid. Who in their right mind would go out and torture themselves on a day like this? I had some time to think about "why the hell I'm doing this" along the course.
I went out in the rain way too early as it had slipped my mind that there would be two starting groups - and that I would be in the second one, starting fifteen minutes after the first group. It was a bit confusing when they closed the starting grid just as I were to approach and run off. Instead I did gymnastics, or something remotely like it, to keep warm. It was pouring down and I was soaked well before the pistol went off for the second time.
Off we go. I tried to line up pretty much in front, with the 2h rabbit. The rabbit took a faster pace, so I let go of the 2h crowd and instead held a steady 5:47 pace. Better not be in the crowd, as it's a pain at water stations to fight for the drinks, wasting precious energy.
The run was tedious and boring. The pace was too fast for me, in my current condition. At ten kilometers the run started to become a psychological fight with myself. Legs hurting, lungs burning, heart racing. I had to convince myself over and over again, that this is reasonable, I'm totally sane, it's about challenging oneself, and stand up to the challenge, to grow and develop. At sixteen kilometer the pace was killing me. I oscillated between hope and despair. Digging deep to find more fighting spirit. I held on to the 5:47 pace for surprisingly long. Actually starting to believe I could finish sub 2h.
Then we hit some uphills at around nineteen kilometers. I was f***ed. I just couldn't press on at the same pace anymore. My steps slowed down. God, everything felt so heavy. But I dragged along with sheer willpower. I had a minute to spare, as I had actually made sure earlier to speed ahead of the virtual racer going at precisely 5:47. Would it be enough. We hit the last water station close to the Nokia headquarters. I slowed down, and downed two cups of sports drink. I sped up, or rather tried to speed up. Impossible! It just didn't work. No matter how hard I was pressing myself the virtual racer overtook me. I kept going though, hoping for a downhill or some kind of impossible surge of power. Didn't happen. Instead we hit the last uphill. I glanced at my Garmin. The virtual racer was almost a full minute ahead. So I let go. I switched to walking.
I walked up the hill, happy with myself, happy with the run. I wouldn't brake 2h today, but I'd get a new PR. So why keep pushing to the limit, when I'm doing this for health. I took the last bit easy, and finished in 2:03. Surpassing my own expectations. A new Personal Record. Job well done.
The post race coffee, tasted better than any coffee in a very long time - maybe the best coffee ever. A hot cup between cold, almost immobilized, hands - sipping that hot black gold. Loved it. I stuttered into the public shower. Ripped of my soaking wet, dripping, clothes and tugged them all into a plastic bag. The total weight of the bag was probably around 6-8 kg. Shit! Without all that extra weight I would probably have managed the last push and finish under two hours. I'll do that next time, if providence agrees.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Helsinki City Marathon - Race Report
Never got to the starting grid. Life got in the way. Or the flu killed my participation. I think I could have managed a sub 4:30h finish. Maybe..
Instead I missed a month of running. Lost a lot of fitness during that stubborn flu. Espoon Rantamaraton coming up in a week. It's a half. I don't think I have a chance to beat my PR from May. There simply isn't enough time to regain the lost improvements. I've been out on my feet twice since I got healthy again.
Lesson learned?
Don't run your longest and hardest training run of the season the day before you go on a two day bachelor party / booze party. That just doesn't provide you the necessary recovery. And if you do, don't go on a five day kayaking trip the week after. Especially not one where you are paddling from dawn to dusk. And if you do, don't guide foreign visitors through all the local sights during three full consecutive days. And if you do, don't train kayak rolls in a cold baltic sea without a wet- or drysuit. And if you do, make sure you are in better shape than I was. If you totally wear yourself out, you will get sick if there are viruses around.
Hopefully I'll be able to publish a full race report from the Espoo Rantamaraton half marathon instead.
Instead I missed a month of running. Lost a lot of fitness during that stubborn flu. Espoon Rantamaraton coming up in a week. It's a half. I don't think I have a chance to beat my PR from May. There simply isn't enough time to regain the lost improvements. I've been out on my feet twice since I got healthy again.
Lesson learned?
Don't run your longest and hardest training run of the season the day before you go on a two day bachelor party / booze party. That just doesn't provide you the necessary recovery. And if you do, don't go on a five day kayaking trip the week after. Especially not one where you are paddling from dawn to dusk. And if you do, don't guide foreign visitors through all the local sights during three full consecutive days. And if you do, don't train kayak rolls in a cold baltic sea without a wet- or drysuit. And if you do, make sure you are in better shape than I was. If you totally wear yourself out, you will get sick if there are viruses around.
Hopefully I'll be able to publish a full race report from the Espoo Rantamaraton half marathon instead.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Trail running: Montrail (part of Reitti 2000)
(This posting was written two weeks ago, but due to laziness with photo editing / uploading the publishing has been delayed)
Last weekend I headed to Noux National Park for some Trail Running. Something I’ve wanted to do for at least a year already.
Last weekend I headed to Noux National Park for some Trail Running. Something I’ve wanted to do for at least a year already.
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| WTF am I doing? – Oh Yeah! I’m going to run 35km on the trails just for fun! |
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| Natan, the Go Green Hippie Hedgehog, didn't reach mature age |
Bus number 345 from Helsinki City will take you to the trails. I rode all the way to Skogby, to run on route 2000 (reitti 2000) from there on. The route spans a total of +100 km from the central park in Helsinki, including the loop in Espoo and Vihti. My plan for this day was to run/walk some 30-40 kilometers, a shortened part of the loop. The full loop, also called Montrail, measures approximately 55 km.
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| After 30 minutes I started doubting the whole thing. I was sweating like a pig. You can see the sweat dripping from my face. |
Sometimes the trail wasn’t marked very well, I ran past a turning point - thrice. So I would recommend bringing a map, and a compass. I did. It’s not optimal to get lost with a dizzy head, out of energy with very limited equipment, at +30km out in the woods.
After finishing, a slightly shortened run, I could finally kick off my shoes and rip of my sweaty, bloody clothes (stained from mosquito kills), to skinny dip in a lake. Refreshing! I grilled two sausages on open fire, to fill up my empty stomach. After some relaxing silence and stillness I headed towards the bus stop.
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| The full specs are available at Garmin Connect |
All in all I’m pleased with run/walking 34,6 km in 5:03. The nature along Route 2000 isn’t really that spectacular (there are much better scenery out there in Noux). There were hoards of mosquitos biting me as well. I was a bit surprised by the constant up- and down hills. The total elevation gain for this part of the route was 760 meters. The Montrail, indeed, makes for ideal training ground for Vaarojen Maraton, or similar trail running events (even for mad ones like the Goretex Trans Alpine Run). It was tough at times. But, it was well worth a little pain. You get your head straight and your soul rests, out there in the woods. I’m heading back next weekend, with wife and dog.
Some day, maybe next spring/summer, if providence agrees, I might do my Ultra debut here - finishing the entire 55km loop.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Major improvement
This morning I ran to work. Like so many days before. Except today was different. I was running below my MAF (Maximum Aerobic Funciton) heart rate of 148 bpm. Nothing exceptional there. I run mostly at or below MAF. But today was different. The pace reading on my Garmin oscillated around six minutes per kilometer, sometimes dropping well below six minutes. I've gotten used to seeing it oscillate at around seven minutes per kilometer. So I realized today was different.
I was running faster than ever.
I ran trough the calm summer morning with a silent joy in my heart. A conviction that there is some justice in this world spread trough me. You can't bluff yourself in running. You can't evade work and reap the benefits of others labors. You can't rely solely on your talent. You have to go the extra mile yourself. And when you do, you don't get instant results. You have to do it over, and over, again. Patiently. With persistence. There is something beautiful, and just, in it. You reap what you saw. It's an ancient truth, blurred by our complex urban environments. In running it's clarified. And when you see those inches of success. It strengthens you. You have been strengthening your body. And you find out your mind is strengthened along with it.
Keep doing those good things. And good things will follow. Stop doing them, try to take shortcuts, violate yourself, your environment, or fellow human beings - and bad things will follow. This truth is clarified in running. For life in general, it's the same - although blurred.
I was running faster than ever.
I ran trough the calm summer morning with a silent joy in my heart. A conviction that there is some justice in this world spread trough me. You can't bluff yourself in running. You can't evade work and reap the benefits of others labors. You can't rely solely on your talent. You have to go the extra mile yourself. And when you do, you don't get instant results. You have to do it over, and over, again. Patiently. With persistence. There is something beautiful, and just, in it. You reap what you saw. It's an ancient truth, blurred by our complex urban environments. In running it's clarified. And when you see those inches of success. It strengthens you. You have been strengthening your body. And you find out your mind is strengthened along with it.
Keep doing those good things. And good things will follow. Stop doing them, try to take shortcuts, violate yourself, your environment, or fellow human beings - and bad things will follow. This truth is clarified in running. For life in general, it's the same - although blurred.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Barefoot (at last)
Yes. I have done some running barefoot. Inspired by Paljasjalkamatti. I was passed by this Finnish Barefooting Pioneer at the local half marathon mass event Helsinki City Run. It put the wheels in my mind turning. Then a few days later it happened. I kicked of my shoes while walking the dog. It felt good. The nasty sharp gravel from last winter hurt, of course, but other than that it felt truly liberating. Some days later I kicked off my shoes while walking in the woods. It felt really good. Except for those nasty ants that decided to chew on my feet. Ouch!
A few weeks later, while at our summer cottage in Ostrobothnia I went out for a random run and ended up at the local horse track. No horses were out running. The surface seemed so smooth, yet hard enough. I made sure nobody was there observing me. Off went the shoes. I ran two laps. Damn. It felt good. I tried to run all the way back to our cottage barefoot, but had to give up as the sharp gravel was painfully piercing my soft untrained feet.
The following day I went back for more. I did five laps (that's five kilometers). Putting the shoes back on felt like putting on a condom half way trough a moment of sweet love. I don't like shoes anymore. It seems that I'm slowly turning into a barefoot junkie. When I came back to Helsinki I just couldn't help myself. I called the Finnish importer of Vivo Barefoot shoes. He has run out of stock twice already this spring / summer. Anyway, he told me where I had the best chances of finding a pair. So I went shopping. Now I'm logging miles in a pair of Vivo Barefoot Ultras. And it feels good.
I don't like my "normal" cushioned Asics anymore. The heel drop feels awkward. It gives me a forward tilt I've never noticed before. My shins feel a lot better already, after I've substituted some miles in traditional shoes to minimalist barefoot shoes.
Thank you Paljasjalkamatti for the inspirational example. And thanks to Christopher McDougall. Born to Run was no small influence in preparing my mind for this pleasant switch towards a more natural gait.
Peace over Caballo Blanco. I hope the world will remember him for all that he was, and wasn't.
Thanks to Dr Phil Maffetone as well. Who has propagated for more minimalist shoes for decades already. Sowing those mental seeds into my mind trough his excellent Big Book of Endurance Training.
Barefoot running. Who could have imagined that happening at the outset of this adventure?
A few weeks later, while at our summer cottage in Ostrobothnia I went out for a random run and ended up at the local horse track. No horses were out running. The surface seemed so smooth, yet hard enough. I made sure nobody was there observing me. Off went the shoes. I ran two laps. Damn. It felt good. I tried to run all the way back to our cottage barefoot, but had to give up as the sharp gravel was painfully piercing my soft untrained feet.
The following day I went back for more. I did five laps (that's five kilometers). Putting the shoes back on felt like putting on a condom half way trough a moment of sweet love. I don't like shoes anymore. It seems that I'm slowly turning into a barefoot junkie. When I came back to Helsinki I just couldn't help myself. I called the Finnish importer of Vivo Barefoot shoes. He has run out of stock twice already this spring / summer. Anyway, he told me where I had the best chances of finding a pair. So I went shopping. Now I'm logging miles in a pair of Vivo Barefoot Ultras. And it feels good.
I don't like my "normal" cushioned Asics anymore. The heel drop feels awkward. It gives me a forward tilt I've never noticed before. My shins feel a lot better already, after I've substituted some miles in traditional shoes to minimalist barefoot shoes.
Thank you Paljasjalkamatti for the inspirational example. And thanks to Christopher McDougall. Born to Run was no small influence in preparing my mind for this pleasant switch towards a more natural gait.
Peace over Caballo Blanco. I hope the world will remember him for all that he was, and wasn't.
Thanks to Dr Phil Maffetone as well. Who has propagated for more minimalist shoes for decades already. Sowing those mental seeds into my mind trough his excellent Big Book of Endurance Training.
Barefoot running. Who could have imagined that happening at the outset of this adventure?
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Race Report: Helsinki City Run 2012
The first running event of the year. Helsinki City Run is a Half Marathon race run trough the parks of central Helsinki. 17.000 participants of which some 12.000 finished. It's a mass event, and very well organized in my opinion.
I decided to take a warm-up bike ride to the starting area. Some thirty minutes and 7 km's later on the bike I arrived at the olympic swimming stadium, where I stored my excess clothes. You need a 50 cent coin for the locker by the way. I didn't have one. I took the risk of falling pray to an easy steal. I couldn't imagine anyone would actually steal my sweaty jacket and pants. I had plenty of time so I decided to take a leak in the stadium toilet. There was almost no que, so I could afford to let by a guy from the first starting group. I was in the second starting group with the gun going off at 15:10, the fastest group would start at 15:00. There are five groups by the way.
Lining up in the grid. I had an event specific playing list prepared for my iPod as I would be running solo this time. There goes the gun. With a few minutes left to the start of the second group I fired up the music. Eye of the Tiger? Nope. Quite the opposite. I Shot the Sheriff, Bob Marley - followed by Flowers on the Wall by the Statler Brothers. The music was meant to mellow me out, make for a relax and easy start. That was the strategy for this race, to take it easy the first half, and then possibly push for a negative split towards the end.
Off we go. Jogging the first kilometer in a tight crowd with Faith No More's Easy ringing in my head. Followed by Bob Marley's Redemption Song. There the sun comes out from behind the clouds. It's getting warm. I have to trip the arms from jacket. The first five kilometers are really nice and easy. After that I start to feel the uphills, slowing down a bit not to get too much lactic acid moving at this point. At nine kilometers the going is still fairly easy - although my heart beat is up at around 170-175 bpm. I pass the ten kilometer mark at roughly one hour, or to be more specific 1:04:23.
At this point my playing list is geared toward more rhythmic and upbeat music like Yeas Sir, I Can Boogie and Get On. I realize at this point that I can easily keep up this pace for the remainder of the run. So I decide to increase the pace and let my heart rate drift up towards 180 bpm. At around 12 km I'm very well zoned out in a bliss flow mode of eating kilometers. I startled by some guy running past me shouting something. It takes me a second or two to realize he is commenting my shoes. I look down at them, has my lace ran open? Ok, he's wearing the same pair. I get it. He was complementing me of my choice of shoes. I grin back at him and blurt out something. I don't remember what but it takes me out of the effortless zone.
At 15 kms I start to expect support from my family. I can't spot them anywhere where I supposed them to be. I feel a bit demoralized, they didn't bother showing up. I keep going though. And then, out of the blue, there they are. My wife and our Dachshund puppy. The dog is super excited and starts to run along. I try to bow down and pet it while still jogging. That doesn't go well. My wife jogs along looking at the dog. That doesn't go well. She runs into a tree. And they disappear behind me. I feel a bit reinforced by the support anyway. She manages to tell me Gothoni (a friend, and running buddy) isn't very far ahead of me, and that he looked a bit tired. So I push on a bit harder. Eating that distance with my feet.
Somehow I find the zone again, and carry on with Man On The Edge, Run to You and Heaven is on Fire fueling my spirit. Baby don't stop, take it to the top is blasting from the headphones as I push on past some beaten runners on an uphill stretch. My heartbeat is at or beyond 180 bpm by now. I can feel the lactic acid in my legs. But there's nothing to worry about, I know I just have to endure the pain and push forward.
At 17 kms, after the last water station, I think that I should try to push faster. So I do. Infinite Dreams, We Are the Champions and The Show Must Go On pushes me forward along the paths. Oh God, I really start to feel the pain now. I some people walking, and it is tempting.. But I made myself the promise not to walk in this race. It's ok to slow down, but not to walk. I'm closing in on a big uphill right now. Honestly I don't know if I have the strength to run it.
Iron Maiden comes to my aid with Flight Of Icarus.
His eyes are ablaze.
See the mad man in his gaze.
Fly, on your wing.
Like an Eagle.
Fly as high, as the sun.
On your wing, like an eagle.
Fly.
Touch the sun.
Having this piece of art kick in at that point of the race, it actually gave me the chills, and a ton of fighting spirit. And I flew up that hill. No problem. After the hill, I kicked in another gear again. Uphills or not. I keep increasing speed towards the end. Run To The Hills kicks in before the last uphill. That's a misfire. Thanks iTunes, for counting the total time wrong. And then I'm out of music. I'm past the breaking point already - so there is no risk of giving in anymore. I just chew trough that last uphill and curve in trough the gate to the Olympic Stadium.
There's a big screen displaying the names and times of finishing runners. And there are quite a few spectators inside the stadium cheering on the runners. That's a nice touch to a race. A stadium finish. I don't do any full out sprint at the end. Didn't consider it beneficial to put my heart under the additional stress just to shave off a few seconds.
I grab my goodies. And zip back the arms on my jacket. Down a few sports drinks. Shovel in a small bag of potato chips and some kind of yoghurt and half a banana. Then I'm off to check out if somebody has stolen my clothes. They are still there, so I grab them and head for my bicycle. On the 7 km bike ride home I start to feel really tired. I check my heart rate it's around 140 bpm. That last bike ride felt tough, but I guess it was good for my recovery. Today I feel fresh again, but am not going out for a run - just yet.
I'm pleased with the 2:06:24 and a negative split. But can't help wonder. Could I have breached 2 hours? I believe I could have kept going for 2-3 kilometers more, at the same pace I finished the race. I'll never know. But until next time, I'll put in more miles and then, at the next race, I'll dig a bit deeper to see if I can find more mental resources.
I decided to take a warm-up bike ride to the starting area. Some thirty minutes and 7 km's later on the bike I arrived at the olympic swimming stadium, where I stored my excess clothes. You need a 50 cent coin for the locker by the way. I didn't have one. I took the risk of falling pray to an easy steal. I couldn't imagine anyone would actually steal my sweaty jacket and pants. I had plenty of time so I decided to take a leak in the stadium toilet. There was almost no que, so I could afford to let by a guy from the first starting group. I was in the second starting group with the gun going off at 15:10, the fastest group would start at 15:00. There are five groups by the way.
Lining up in the grid. I had an event specific playing list prepared for my iPod as I would be running solo this time. There goes the gun. With a few minutes left to the start of the second group I fired up the music. Eye of the Tiger? Nope. Quite the opposite. I Shot the Sheriff, Bob Marley - followed by Flowers on the Wall by the Statler Brothers. The music was meant to mellow me out, make for a relax and easy start. That was the strategy for this race, to take it easy the first half, and then possibly push for a negative split towards the end.
Off we go. Jogging the first kilometer in a tight crowd with Faith No More's Easy ringing in my head. Followed by Bob Marley's Redemption Song. There the sun comes out from behind the clouds. It's getting warm. I have to trip the arms from jacket. The first five kilometers are really nice and easy. After that I start to feel the uphills, slowing down a bit not to get too much lactic acid moving at this point. At nine kilometers the going is still fairly easy - although my heart beat is up at around 170-175 bpm. I pass the ten kilometer mark at roughly one hour, or to be more specific 1:04:23.
At this point my playing list is geared toward more rhythmic and upbeat music like Yeas Sir, I Can Boogie and Get On. I realize at this point that I can easily keep up this pace for the remainder of the run. So I decide to increase the pace and let my heart rate drift up towards 180 bpm. At around 12 km I'm very well zoned out in a bliss flow mode of eating kilometers. I startled by some guy running past me shouting something. It takes me a second or two to realize he is commenting my shoes. I look down at them, has my lace ran open? Ok, he's wearing the same pair. I get it. He was complementing me of my choice of shoes. I grin back at him and blurt out something. I don't remember what but it takes me out of the effortless zone.
At 15 kms I start to expect support from my family. I can't spot them anywhere where I supposed them to be. I feel a bit demoralized, they didn't bother showing up. I keep going though. And then, out of the blue, there they are. My wife and our Dachshund puppy. The dog is super excited and starts to run along. I try to bow down and pet it while still jogging. That doesn't go well. My wife jogs along looking at the dog. That doesn't go well. She runs into a tree. And they disappear behind me. I feel a bit reinforced by the support anyway. She manages to tell me Gothoni (a friend, and running buddy) isn't very far ahead of me, and that he looked a bit tired. So I push on a bit harder. Eating that distance with my feet.
Somehow I find the zone again, and carry on with Man On The Edge, Run to You and Heaven is on Fire fueling my spirit. Baby don't stop, take it to the top is blasting from the headphones as I push on past some beaten runners on an uphill stretch. My heartbeat is at or beyond 180 bpm by now. I can feel the lactic acid in my legs. But there's nothing to worry about, I know I just have to endure the pain and push forward.
At 17 kms, after the last water station, I think that I should try to push faster. So I do. Infinite Dreams, We Are the Champions and The Show Must Go On pushes me forward along the paths. Oh God, I really start to feel the pain now. I some people walking, and it is tempting.. But I made myself the promise not to walk in this race. It's ok to slow down, but not to walk. I'm closing in on a big uphill right now. Honestly I don't know if I have the strength to run it.
Iron Maiden comes to my aid with Flight Of Icarus.
His eyes are ablaze.
See the mad man in his gaze.
Fly, on your wing.
Like an Eagle.
Fly as high, as the sun.
On your wing, like an eagle.
Fly.
Touch the sun.
Having this piece of art kick in at that point of the race, it actually gave me the chills, and a ton of fighting spirit. And I flew up that hill. No problem. After the hill, I kicked in another gear again. Uphills or not. I keep increasing speed towards the end. Run To The Hills kicks in before the last uphill. That's a misfire. Thanks iTunes, for counting the total time wrong. And then I'm out of music. I'm past the breaking point already - so there is no risk of giving in anymore. I just chew trough that last uphill and curve in trough the gate to the Olympic Stadium.
There's a big screen displaying the names and times of finishing runners. And there are quite a few spectators inside the stadium cheering on the runners. That's a nice touch to a race. A stadium finish. I don't do any full out sprint at the end. Didn't consider it beneficial to put my heart under the additional stress just to shave off a few seconds.
I grab my goodies. And zip back the arms on my jacket. Down a few sports drinks. Shovel in a small bag of potato chips and some kind of yoghurt and half a banana. Then I'm off to check out if somebody has stolen my clothes. They are still there, so I grab them and head for my bicycle. On the 7 km bike ride home I start to feel really tired. I check my heart rate it's around 140 bpm. That last bike ride felt tough, but I guess it was good for my recovery. Today I feel fresh again, but am not going out for a run - just yet.
I'm pleased with the 2:06:24 and a negative split. But can't help wonder. Could I have breached 2 hours? I believe I could have kept going for 2-3 kilometers more, at the same pace I finished the race. I'll never know. But until next time, I'll put in more miles and then, at the next race, I'll dig a bit deeper to see if I can find more mental resources.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
One year into the challenge.
One year ago I went out running, for the first time in a long time. It was about time to get active, to get fit, healthy and slim down a bit.
That wasn't the main reason to get up from the couch though.
No, the real reason was, that I had an idea planted in my mind. I was challenged by a friend to do something quite daunting. I was challenged to train myself fit for an eight day trans Alpine run. And I had eighteen months to accomplish it. I decided to "just do it".
One year into the project I have some perspective. I was hit by reality in the head a few times during the past year. First I broke my arm. Then I over trained. I did a death march on the trails and killed my left knee. It recovered though. Then I cracked my shin bones, running on hard surface in a pair of running shoes way past their retirement date. Time and rest healed them.
To put it short. Nothing went as planned.
I've learned a lot about running during the last year. And something about patience and perseverance as well. I've put in a lot of effort. I've ran 1.352 kilometers. I've skied 175 kilometers. I've biked 260 kilometers. I've swam 12 kilometers. I've rowed 26 kilometers. I've burned some 150.000 kilo calories. And I've seen all the progress made wiped out over and over again. That is a humbling experience.
So what are the lessons learned so far?
1. Stay injury free. You need consistence in training for consistent results.
2. Be sensible, don't over do it. It's important to be able to enjoy the training, after all that's 99 % of the experience. And if you over do it, you will have setbacks of some kind - be it injury or loss of motivation.
3. When you get slapped in the face by destiny, don't take it personally, don't make it an excuse to give up.
4. Never give up. Give it more time if needed. Be more graceful towards yourself if needed. But never give up. You'll never get there if you give up.
I'll keep it up. My second half marathon coming up in a month, Helsinki City Run 5th of May. This time I have no time goals, no fixed training schedules. My only ambition for this one is to enjoy the training and the experience. I'll get to the trans Alpine starting grid too, if providence agrees. Not in 2012. Maybe in 2014.
That wasn't the main reason to get up from the couch though.
No, the real reason was, that I had an idea planted in my mind. I was challenged by a friend to do something quite daunting. I was challenged to train myself fit for an eight day trans Alpine run. And I had eighteen months to accomplish it. I decided to "just do it".
One year into the project I have some perspective. I was hit by reality in the head a few times during the past year. First I broke my arm. Then I over trained. I did a death march on the trails and killed my left knee. It recovered though. Then I cracked my shin bones, running on hard surface in a pair of running shoes way past their retirement date. Time and rest healed them.
To put it short. Nothing went as planned.
I've learned a lot about running during the last year. And something about patience and perseverance as well. I've put in a lot of effort. I've ran 1.352 kilometers. I've skied 175 kilometers. I've biked 260 kilometers. I've swam 12 kilometers. I've rowed 26 kilometers. I've burned some 150.000 kilo calories. And I've seen all the progress made wiped out over and over again. That is a humbling experience.
So what are the lessons learned so far?
1. Stay injury free. You need consistence in training for consistent results.
2. Be sensible, don't over do it. It's important to be able to enjoy the training, after all that's 99 % of the experience. And if you over do it, you will have setbacks of some kind - be it injury or loss of motivation.
3. When you get slapped in the face by destiny, don't take it personally, don't make it an excuse to give up.
4. Never give up. Give it more time if needed. Be more graceful towards yourself if needed. But never give up. You'll never get there if you give up.
I'll keep it up. My second half marathon coming up in a month, Helsinki City Run 5th of May. This time I have no time goals, no fixed training schedules. My only ambition for this one is to enjoy the training and the experience. I'll get to the trans Alpine starting grid too, if providence agrees. Not in 2012. Maybe in 2014.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Injured and Sidelined: Double Stress Fractures
The combination of using running shoes with more than 900 kilometers on them and a hardened surface (due to freezing) trashed my legs. I got stress fractures in both of my tibia (shin) bones. The fractures gradually worsened in November and December. I did my last run on December 7th, back and forth to work totaling 20 km. I could feel the pain while running and started to feel really sore even walking. The state of my legs finally dawned on me when our dog stepped right on the fractured spot. Auch! Intense pain!
I had to take some time off from running.
I’ve been swimming a couple of times and snowboarding and skiing on a vacation in Lapland. I even had a one hour session on a stationary bike last week. Not enough to keep my fitness level though. The Polar OwnIndex has declined from a good 58 to a measly 50. I’m not getting the consistency in training that I should get. To get back on track I bought a pair of new running shoes and enrolled for the Helsinki City Marathon. First street marathon coming up in August 2012! I’m also enlisted for Helsinki City Run (Half Marathon) on May 5th. So it’s about time to start logging mileage again! On Sunday I’ll try out my legs and new running shoes in the Esport Ratiopharm Arena in Espoo.
Hopefully we’ll get a serious snow cover in Helsinki someday soon! I’d really like to cross train cross country skiing as it’s a lot of fun. And it’s easy on the limbs and bones. I saw some skiers in action already on the nearby golf course this week. Back then I suffered from a stomach flu and really couldn’t do anything more than short walks with the dog. Unfortunately we had rain and the tracks melted away since then.
A few steps backwards and none forward.
The good thing is my motivation is peaking again. I can’t wait to get aerobic action! I feel the recent low activity level and it doesn’t make me feel good. The addiction is real. Mind and body craves momentum.
Friday, November 25, 2011
November Rain Motivation
It's wet, cold and dark outside. November rain can really drain your motivation. It feels like I'm stuck under a heavy blanket when I think about getting out running. But that's not all. I've had a setback in fitness as well. After overstretching myself twice. First I cranked up distance volume way too quickly during summer. Then I participated in a trail marathon way too early considering my fitness level. The result? I got myself back to square one. So what should I do? Cry and give up?
Nope. Well, maybe cry a little bit over the lost fitness - but then it's time to get back on track. After the trail marathon I cut myself some slack. I really needed it to recover. My knees were painful for more than a week afterwards. So I actually couldn't have been training although I did want to. Slowly I got myself together and started cautious jogging only to find out I had lost a lot of fitness. It felt devastating - but what can you do? All that work had been wasted. Or that's what I thought back then.
Now I've logged 30-40 km/week consistently for the last three weeks. Most of the "lost" fitness came back very quickly. The windy, cold, dark November rain is still an issue though. How do I deal with it? I try to plan my running as a way to commute to work. I decide on which days I will run there, and on which days I will run home. Then I set up the logistics so that I have to follow my plan or suffer. If I don't stick with it I'm either without proper shoes at work, or I have to borrow money for the bus home or I have to wear wrinkly shirts, sometimes all at the same day. It gets me over the psychological barrier of demotivation. When I do get out, I actually don't care about the icy rain stabbing my face and the slippery mud sucking at my feet. I actually feel proud of myself for sticking with it. I feel strong for following through even if it costs me some.
When it comes to the bottom line it's all about some basic facts of life. The days pass and never come back. If I want to make my dreams reality I can't afford to waste my time coming up with excuses. But whats even more important is to try to really enjoy the moment and keep an open heart, because destiny can change even the most well thought out plans. That's all I have to say for November. Take care people, of yourselves and of each other.
Nope. Well, maybe cry a little bit over the lost fitness - but then it's time to get back on track. After the trail marathon I cut myself some slack. I really needed it to recover. My knees were painful for more than a week afterwards. So I actually couldn't have been training although I did want to. Slowly I got myself together and started cautious jogging only to find out I had lost a lot of fitness. It felt devastating - but what can you do? All that work had been wasted. Or that's what I thought back then.
Now I've logged 30-40 km/week consistently for the last three weeks. Most of the "lost" fitness came back very quickly. The windy, cold, dark November rain is still an issue though. How do I deal with it? I try to plan my running as a way to commute to work. I decide on which days I will run there, and on which days I will run home. Then I set up the logistics so that I have to follow my plan or suffer. If I don't stick with it I'm either without proper shoes at work, or I have to borrow money for the bus home or I have to wear wrinkly shirts, sometimes all at the same day. It gets me over the psychological barrier of demotivation. When I do get out, I actually don't care about the icy rain stabbing my face and the slippery mud sucking at my feet. I actually feel proud of myself for sticking with it. I feel strong for following through even if it costs me some.
When it comes to the bottom line it's all about some basic facts of life. The days pass and never come back. If I want to make my dreams reality I can't afford to waste my time coming up with excuses. But whats even more important is to try to really enjoy the moment and keep an open heart, because destiny can change even the most well thought out plans. That's all I have to say for November. Take care people, of yourselves and of each other.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Race report: Vaarojen Maraton (Marathon of Dangers)
43 kilometers of tough technical trails. 1160 meters of total elevation gain. 500 runners. Seven hours and seven minutes of pain, pleasure and perseverance.
Last weekend I participated in the marathon of dangers. It's a 43 km long trail run through the national park Koli, in Finland. Alltogether some 30:ish kilometers are made up of technical trails. Roots, rocks, slippery cliffs, mud, marsh, steep ascents and steep descents combined with 1160 meters of total elevation gain makes the course a challenge for any runner. This was the scene for my marathon debute. Intended to give me a better understanding of what the Transalpine would demand.
The previous month, September, didn't go well training wise. I overtrained in late August, had some regression in running times, cought a flu once, and cought a flu twice. At least I got to taper a lot! Lying at home battling the flu only a few days before the event wasn't fun though. Getting out of bed straight to the woods felt a bit scary. I was nervous at the start - would I hold together and finish - or would I break and bust out. Time to find out!
Off we go. Jogging slowly into the forest. I'm monitoring my heart rate with some anxiety. It's way above where I think it ought to be. So we are holding back. It's probably mostly adrenaline, but I don't want to risk it at this point. The field passes by during the first kilometers and I'm sure I'll be dead last. After roughly three kilometers we hit a gravel road. Smooth surface for two kilometers. Then we head back into the woods for the next ten kilometers. I take my first sips of sport drink at around 40 minutes. We are passed by more people on the next uphill. I prefer to walk the uphills. But foolishly I run the downhills. Running the downhills will get me into trouble later. But at the moment it feels just great to get up to some speed in between the slow uphills.
The hills are puny compared to the Alps, yet they feel quite high and quite tough. The Jauholanvaara hill is the first longer climb, some 200 meters of altitude gain. Power walking up the hill. I pop the first energy pills. Our tail is growing, so we let some runners pass by. Soon after the 10 km mark the trail starts to slope downwards. After the descent we encounter a mudmarsh. It's wet and it's slippery like hell. We slow down even more, not to face plant in the gray grease. More than two hours has passed when we reach the lake crossing at roughly 16 km. We realise we won't make our unofficial target time of six hours. It doesn't matter much. Time flies by and it's (still) mostly a pleasure to be outside this crisp autumn day, with the nature cloured beutifullty in green, yellow and red.
After the lake crossing we hit the first service point. Loading up my water bladder takes forever. I fill my consumed 0,5l energy drink bottle with water and rehydration pills. Finally we are off again. I eat some pickles and sugar pills. Running feels great. But Gothoni, my running buddy, is getting more and more silent. I ask him how his doing. Mostly well apparently, but he is experiencing a slight low. Anyway he assures me all is good and we keep pounding the trail. Suddenly I realise he has been very quiet for a while now. When I turn around I see a girl trailing me. Gothoni is nowhere to be seen. Maybe he went to take a leak, I think to myself, and keep going. He'll catch up.
By now I'm waiting for the next distance mark. I pass the 20 km mark and am now closing in on the dreaded Ryläys hill. The climb is not very steep, but boy is it long. The mildly ascending terrain offers some spectacular lake views. My hand left hand looks wierd. It's swollen. I have to make a mental reminder to eat and drink. I don't think about much for the next five kilometers. Remember to fuel and where the hell is that 25 km mark. I encounter some really swampy and wet terrain and have to sacrifice my left foot. Now it's all soked and I'm expecting blisters. And it starts to rain.
I pass the 25 km mark knowing I'm now soon going to encounter the highest point of the run at 323 meters on top of Ryläys hill. The elevation gain isn't that bad, but the trail gets even more complicated with big boulders and sloping slippery cliffs. The view is well worth the climb. But I'm more interested in encountering the 30 km mark. I'm passed by the leader of the ultra distance. He looked so much stronger than I feel. I'm also passed by the guy chasing the leader. I cheer them on. Those guys deserve respect, covering the 43 km trail twice in less than ten hours. The descent from Ryläys hill is a nightmare. It kills my quadriceps. I jitter forward and downward on shaky legs. Fearing a fall on those sharp rocks.
Last weekend I participated in the marathon of dangers. It's a 43 km long trail run through the national park Koli, in Finland. Alltogether some 30:ish kilometers are made up of technical trails. Roots, rocks, slippery cliffs, mud, marsh, steep ascents and steep descents combined with 1160 meters of total elevation gain makes the course a challenge for any runner. This was the scene for my marathon debute. Intended to give me a better understanding of what the Transalpine would demand.
 | |
| Waiting for my turn at the starting area. |
The previous month, September, didn't go well training wise. I overtrained in late August, had some regression in running times, cought a flu once, and cought a flu twice. At least I got to taper a lot! Lying at home battling the flu only a few days before the event wasn't fun though. Getting out of bed straight to the woods felt a bit scary. I was nervous at the start - would I hold together and finish - or would I break and bust out. Time to find out!
Off we go. Jogging slowly into the forest. I'm monitoring my heart rate with some anxiety. It's way above where I think it ought to be. So we are holding back. It's probably mostly adrenaline, but I don't want to risk it at this point. The field passes by during the first kilometers and I'm sure I'll be dead last. After roughly three kilometers we hit a gravel road. Smooth surface for two kilometers. Then we head back into the woods for the next ten kilometers. I take my first sips of sport drink at around 40 minutes. We are passed by more people on the next uphill. I prefer to walk the uphills. But foolishly I run the downhills. Running the downhills will get me into trouble later. But at the moment it feels just great to get up to some speed in between the slow uphills.
 |
| Climbing the Jauholanvaara hill, tailed by happy trail runners. |
The hills are puny compared to the Alps, yet they feel quite high and quite tough. The Jauholanvaara hill is the first longer climb, some 200 meters of altitude gain. Power walking up the hill. I pop the first energy pills. Our tail is growing, so we let some runners pass by. Soon after the 10 km mark the trail starts to slope downwards. After the descent we encounter a mudmarsh. It's wet and it's slippery like hell. We slow down even more, not to face plant in the gray grease. More than two hours has passed when we reach the lake crossing at roughly 16 km. We realise we won't make our unofficial target time of six hours. It doesn't matter much. Time flies by and it's (still) mostly a pleasure to be outside this crisp autumn day, with the nature cloured beutifullty in green, yellow and red.
 |
| My running buddy Gothoni enjoying the boat ride in the sun. |
After the lake crossing we hit the first service point. Loading up my water bladder takes forever. I fill my consumed 0,5l energy drink bottle with water and rehydration pills. Finally we are off again. I eat some pickles and sugar pills. Running feels great. But Gothoni, my running buddy, is getting more and more silent. I ask him how his doing. Mostly well apparently, but he is experiencing a slight low. Anyway he assures me all is good and we keep pounding the trail. Suddenly I realise he has been very quiet for a while now. When I turn around I see a girl trailing me. Gothoni is nowhere to be seen. Maybe he went to take a leak, I think to myself, and keep going. He'll catch up.
 |
| Pictures don't do steep technical trails justice. |
I climb the second hill Kolinvaara, this time I walk the entire bit even though it isn't that steep. I'm starting to feel the first 17 kms in my legs. I take som pictures from the hill top and decide to wait for Gothoni, again being passed by some runners. I wait for what feels like several minutes but he is still nowhere in sight. I should call him, but I can't be bothered to haul out the phone from my pack. I decide to call him at the 30 km mark if he hasn't showed up by then.
 |
| The route offers some beutiful scenery from hill tops. |
By now I'm waiting for the next distance mark. I pass the 20 km mark and am now closing in on the dreaded Ryläys hill. The climb is not very steep, but boy is it long. The mildly ascending terrain offers some spectacular lake views. My hand left hand looks wierd. It's swollen. I have to make a mental reminder to eat and drink. I don't think about much for the next five kilometers. Remember to fuel and where the hell is that 25 km mark. I encounter some really swampy and wet terrain and have to sacrifice my left foot. Now it's all soked and I'm expecting blisters. And it starts to rain.
 |
| At times the pools of muddy water are unavoidable. |
I pass the 25 km mark knowing I'm now soon going to encounter the highest point of the run at 323 meters on top of Ryläys hill. The elevation gain isn't that bad, but the trail gets even more complicated with big boulders and sloping slippery cliffs. The view is well worth the climb. But I'm more interested in encountering the 30 km mark. I'm passed by the leader of the ultra distance. He looked so much stronger than I feel. I'm also passed by the guy chasing the leader. I cheer them on. Those guys deserve respect, covering the 43 km trail twice in less than ten hours. The descent from Ryläys hill is a nightmare. It kills my quadriceps. I jitter forward and downward on shaky legs. Fearing a fall on those sharp rocks.
 |
| I pass a girl on the descent down the Ryläys hill. |
When I finally reach the 30 km mark I feel great, even though I really start to feel the fatigue. I know I have the strength left to finish the last 13 kms. Time to dig out that cell phone from my pack. I call Risberg, who couldn't participate because of illness, and give hime a report. I call Gothoni to ask him where the hell he is. He has DNF:d. His stomach stopped cooperating and just wouldn't get him any energy from what he drank and ate. This gets my mood down a bit, I had believed he would be right behind me and that I could wait for him to cath up at the service point at 31 kms. I call my wife. She cheers me on and starts to tell me about what our puppy did. I can't focus on that right now, so I carry on with the run - I actually run the flats.
 |
| Anticipating that sweet choclate bar in my pack. |
I run past the service point as I have plenty of drink left and they don't serve any snacks anyways. Now follows a good six kilometers on a rather smooth surfaced gravel road. Sweet. My feet already hurt so much it doesn't make a big difference anyway. But I'm grateful I don't have to look down in front of me all the time. The road is boring though and I'm starting to feel pain in my right knee. At this point I would rather stop than carry on, it isn't fun anymore. But it's a part of the deal. You have to take the pain with the pleasure. I have to limp down the downhills. But on the flats I can still run. And I do.
I have to dig deep down within to find the motivation to run. I meet the force deep inside. And there I find the strength of my will. So I use it. I run. I run along the lakeside road. Totatally focused on running. I zone out. Then I look up. I look into those two blue eyes I used to love. My ex girlfriend is there on the shore of lake Pielinen. Following the race. Standing less than two meters from where I pass by. I flinch. She flinches. And the moment has passed. I pass by, shaken out of focus. She is staring down the road in the other direction. Wierd. 500 kilometers from home, and I haven't seen her in six years. Life offers a suprise every now and then. I carry on.
The route turns back into technical terrain. I mistakenly believe this is the last ascent and start to press on hard. I pass a couple of runners on the uphill. WTF? After a good climb of 100 elevation meters the trail starts to bend downhill. And my knee is killing me. I have to ask a runner coming up from behind if this really is the right path, he assures me it is. So I limp down the hill - painfully slowly. Every step couses sharpish pain in my knee. But I know there is less than 5 kms left, so I press on.
 |
| The devilish race director planned this torturous last climb before the real last climb. This guy should be arrested. |
I get down to the harbor and now I can see the starting point of the last ascent. It's a 3 km long uphill, a good 200 meters of elevation gain ending in a really steep 50 meter uphill. I collect myself once again and powerwalk the uphill. I pass by the runners who passed me on the downhill limp. I run a flatter portion of the uphill. On the last steep bit there are some people cheering. Some guys tell me I look strong, yeah right. Salt striped face and no posture left to mention. But I run the last portion of the uphill. And cross the finish line. I've just finished my first marathon. And not the easiest one there is. My time: 7:07. Nothing to brag about. But I learned a few important lessons.
Take it easy on the downhills. Train strength. Train hills. Train technical trails. Postpone the Transalpine with at least one year. Enjoy the ride.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Race report: Helsinki Midnight Run
Yesterday 6000 runners gathered at the senate square in the heart of Helsinki. The race is a 10k in the dark, filled with torch light, musical events and entertainment. Since I have been feeling a bit off since last week I arrived with a very conservative race strategy.
Two weeks ago I finished my second 30k long run. It felt great. Two days later I went for an 8k recovery run, which was one of my fastest MAF-runs so far. The day after I followed up with a 14k MAF-run. That run was a disaster. I felt really crappy and took a day off. Morning heart rate was elevated by 5-10 bpm. The MAF-test showed some regression. In frustration I aborted the MAF-test after 2 miles with a 7 minute mile. By then I knew something was wrong with me. I went to Berlin with some friends last week and taught I would flush out my system with a lot of booze. Hehhe. Not the best strategy. It backfired with flu and stomach symptomes for the entire week. My troath still felt sore at the dawn of race day. In retrospect I probably overtrained with two 30k runs in 8 days.
I chose a heart rate based strategy. Stay under 170 bpm for the first 3 km, under 180 bpm until 6,5 km, under 190 bpm until 8 km, under 196 bpm for 9,5 km and an all out sprint.
Arriving at the scene after a brisk 20 minute warm up walk. The square is filled with people in bright orange shirts, tents and loud music. A lot of anticipation in the air. There are two long queues in front of the university building where the clothes storage facilities are located. I wait in the line for maybe 15 minutes before I stash away my clothes. The queue to the toilets is even longer. I warm up while waiting for some 20 minutes. Emptying the tank just in time for the start,. Seven minutes to spare actually. I line up in the 50-55 minutes grid. The hot group starts five minutes ahead of us. The music is bursting out form the loudspeakers. Runners all around are twicthing and jumping in pre race agitation. Off we go.
A quick glance at the hrm, 150 bpm. We run downhill in the dimly lit streets of downtown Helsinki. I have to conciously keep my speed in check, not wanting to go out too fast. Arriving at the 2 km mark we have passed som uphill sections and already my heart rate has been drifting towards 175 bpm. I slow down on the next uphill, looking at my hrm showing 169 bpm. A lot of runners pass me on the uphill. We arrive at the first water station. I speed into the mid section, grab a cup and take som quick gulps of water. Choking and coughing. I'm not very good at running and drinking simultaneously - hey, I'm a man. At 3 km I have already passed 170 bpm, but still staying below 180. We run through a park over a hill. The pathway is beautifully lit with torches lined up along both sides. Down to the farmers market, where there is a samba procession. The course is lined with people high fiving runners passing by. I'm feeling strong and really enjoying the run.
We pass the half way mark at 5 km. I take look at my watch. 30 minutes has passed. S**t, that's slow. Ok, I'm going for a negative split to finish in less than 60 minutes. I speed up. My heart rate occassionally drifts past 190 bpm well before my pre set benchmark of 6,5 km. F**k it. Just go for it! Running faster feels comfortable and easy enough. I pass by a lot of runners. Some well dressed mid life women watching the race shout out to the girls behind me. "Girls! Catch that man, and you are all winners!" As we approach the second rehydration post I hear some girls on my left anticipating the liquids. A giant running beer bottle ahead of us turns around and tells them, that yes, there is beer there ahead of them. Chuckles.
I fly by a lot of runners, one or two speeding by me. It's so much fun passing people. We run along the beach side, people are cheering at the lines. At 7 km I change into higher gear again. My heart rate is well above 190 bpm by now. But the legs are drumming away and it doesn't feel like they are getting too much lactic acid. So I keep going. Speeding up once again at the 8 km mark. I'm giving it pretty much all I have by now. We curve in between the buildings. There are still some uphill bits before the finish. I bite my jaws together and work those legs up the hill. Passing a lot of runners. Those legs are starting to feel heavier for every step. Volounteers are running along the last uphill shouting to the runners to keep it up. "You are almost there! Keep going! Looking strong!" The last uphill is a struggle. I know we are soon done, but the last bend suprises me anyway. Suddenly there is a sharp turn to the left and a steep short downhill before the finish at the left. I really let go and fly down the hill. Passing som runners and racing those ahead. A sharp turn to left and I'm pumping my legs as hard as I can over the finishing mats trough the gate. Feels great! Sweating like a pig and out of breath. I stop my watch at 56:20. A new Personal Record! First I'm feeling disappointed, then I remember the flu symptomes and my weird stomach. Race well done. After all I'm pleased with the negative split. 29:56 and 26:24. The second split only three seconds slower than my previous best 5k.
Today, my troath is still a little bit sore but I'll try to get back to normal training regimen now. Time to polish up that form until a 43km trail run coming up in five weeks.
Two weeks ago I finished my second 30k long run. It felt great. Two days later I went for an 8k recovery run, which was one of my fastest MAF-runs so far. The day after I followed up with a 14k MAF-run. That run was a disaster. I felt really crappy and took a day off. Morning heart rate was elevated by 5-10 bpm. The MAF-test showed some regression. In frustration I aborted the MAF-test after 2 miles with a 7 minute mile. By then I knew something was wrong with me. I went to Berlin with some friends last week and taught I would flush out my system with a lot of booze. Hehhe. Not the best strategy. It backfired with flu and stomach symptomes for the entire week. My troath still felt sore at the dawn of race day. In retrospect I probably overtrained with two 30k runs in 8 days.
I chose a heart rate based strategy. Stay under 170 bpm for the first 3 km, under 180 bpm until 6,5 km, under 190 bpm until 8 km, under 196 bpm for 9,5 km and an all out sprint.
Arriving at the scene after a brisk 20 minute warm up walk. The square is filled with people in bright orange shirts, tents and loud music. A lot of anticipation in the air. There are two long queues in front of the university building where the clothes storage facilities are located. I wait in the line for maybe 15 minutes before I stash away my clothes. The queue to the toilets is even longer. I warm up while waiting for some 20 minutes. Emptying the tank just in time for the start,. Seven minutes to spare actually. I line up in the 50-55 minutes grid. The hot group starts five minutes ahead of us. The music is bursting out form the loudspeakers. Runners all around are twicthing and jumping in pre race agitation. Off we go.
A quick glance at the hrm, 150 bpm. We run downhill in the dimly lit streets of downtown Helsinki. I have to conciously keep my speed in check, not wanting to go out too fast. Arriving at the 2 km mark we have passed som uphill sections and already my heart rate has been drifting towards 175 bpm. I slow down on the next uphill, looking at my hrm showing 169 bpm. A lot of runners pass me on the uphill. We arrive at the first water station. I speed into the mid section, grab a cup and take som quick gulps of water. Choking and coughing. I'm not very good at running and drinking simultaneously - hey, I'm a man. At 3 km I have already passed 170 bpm, but still staying below 180. We run through a park over a hill. The pathway is beautifully lit with torches lined up along both sides. Down to the farmers market, where there is a samba procession. The course is lined with people high fiving runners passing by. I'm feeling strong and really enjoying the run.
We pass the half way mark at 5 km. I take look at my watch. 30 minutes has passed. S**t, that's slow. Ok, I'm going for a negative split to finish in less than 60 minutes. I speed up. My heart rate occassionally drifts past 190 bpm well before my pre set benchmark of 6,5 km. F**k it. Just go for it! Running faster feels comfortable and easy enough. I pass by a lot of runners. Some well dressed mid life women watching the race shout out to the girls behind me. "Girls! Catch that man, and you are all winners!" As we approach the second rehydration post I hear some girls on my left anticipating the liquids. A giant running beer bottle ahead of us turns around and tells them, that yes, there is beer there ahead of them. Chuckles.
I fly by a lot of runners, one or two speeding by me. It's so much fun passing people. We run along the beach side, people are cheering at the lines. At 7 km I change into higher gear again. My heart rate is well above 190 bpm by now. But the legs are drumming away and it doesn't feel like they are getting too much lactic acid. So I keep going. Speeding up once again at the 8 km mark. I'm giving it pretty much all I have by now. We curve in between the buildings. There are still some uphill bits before the finish. I bite my jaws together and work those legs up the hill. Passing a lot of runners. Those legs are starting to feel heavier for every step. Volounteers are running along the last uphill shouting to the runners to keep it up. "You are almost there! Keep going! Looking strong!" The last uphill is a struggle. I know we are soon done, but the last bend suprises me anyway. Suddenly there is a sharp turn to the left and a steep short downhill before the finish at the left. I really let go and fly down the hill. Passing som runners and racing those ahead. A sharp turn to left and I'm pumping my legs as hard as I can over the finishing mats trough the gate. Feels great! Sweating like a pig and out of breath. I stop my watch at 56:20. A new Personal Record! First I'm feeling disappointed, then I remember the flu symptomes and my weird stomach. Race well done. After all I'm pleased with the negative split. 29:56 and 26:24. The second split only three seconds slower than my previous best 5k.
Today, my troath is still a little bit sore but I'll try to get back to normal training regimen now. Time to polish up that form until a 43km trail run coming up in five weeks.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
5 Months assessment
With five and a half months of training behind, it's time to report some results.
First measure. The Polar Ownindex fitness test. My first test result, from the 12th of April, gave me a 41. Thats a low at the "avarege"-rating of my age group. Actually it's the lowest possible average, 40 being the top number for "fair" aerobic fitness.
The most recent test done on the 9th of August gave me a 55. That's towards the top end of "very good" for my age group. I got my highest score so far on the 1st of August when the test scored me a 56. Above 56 is considered "excellent". I read somewhere that Nordic skier and Olympic gold medalist Mika Myllylä scored 95 in his prime. Of course that might be artificially high as he was busted for blood doping. I don't know if he was cheating already during the time of that test. With no further ambitions than my own enjoyment and health I consider my trend pretty satisfactory:
41 - 12.4.2011
45 - 27.4.2011
52 - 11.5.2011
52 - 16.5.2011
51 - 21.5.2011
53 - 9.6.2011
49 - 11.6.2011
53 - 24.6.2011
53 - 13.7.2011
51 - 16.7.2011
54 - 21.7.2011
56 - 1.8.2011
55 - 9.8.2011
Second measure. The MAF-test. I've only done two so far, but it looks promising. First mile done at MAF heart rate has decreased from 12:56 to 11:35. Here are the results from the two test:
8.7.2011 30.7.2011
Mile 1 12:56 11:35
Mile 2 13:08 11:53
Mile 3 12:55 11:59
Mile 4 13:04 12:13
Mile 5 13:10 12:05
Temperature for the first test was 27 degrees Celcius and for the second test it was 20 degrees Celcius, this makes the improvement smaller than at first glance - but a noteworthy imrpovement none the less.
Third measure. Imroved running speed. Of course this would be best assessed by racing the same course with some time in between. Essentially it's pretty much the same as the MAF-test. I'll compare two runs done on the course I call Golf Course 5k.
Runs 5.5.2011 vs. 29.7.2011.
Time 43:00 37:00
Pace 8:36 7:24
Avg hr 142 144
Temp C 17 23
That's some nice improvement. One minute per kilometer faster in a bit less than three months.
Fourth measure. Weight. Initial weight 87 kg, weight today 82 kg. My Polar hrm shows a total of 73.000 calories burned since 12th of April. The real number is larger, as I haven't worn the hrm for every run. I guess that kind of calorie burning should make me a bit leaner, and it has by 5 kg.
Nice improvements all in all. I'm sneaking in a trail marathon in my schedule for this fall. I did my first 30 km training run yesterday. I think to take on the marathon so soon will be a real challenge. There will be some pretty technical trails and a lot of up- and downhill slopes. This race will hopefully provide some real insight to what needs to be done for further development during fall and winter.
First measure. The Polar Ownindex fitness test. My first test result, from the 12th of April, gave me a 41. Thats a low at the "avarege"-rating of my age group. Actually it's the lowest possible average, 40 being the top number for "fair" aerobic fitness.
The most recent test done on the 9th of August gave me a 55. That's towards the top end of "very good" for my age group. I got my highest score so far on the 1st of August when the test scored me a 56. Above 56 is considered "excellent". I read somewhere that Nordic skier and Olympic gold medalist Mika Myllylä scored 95 in his prime. Of course that might be artificially high as he was busted for blood doping. I don't know if he was cheating already during the time of that test. With no further ambitions than my own enjoyment and health I consider my trend pretty satisfactory:
41 - 12.4.2011
45 - 27.4.2011
52 - 11.5.2011
52 - 16.5.2011
51 - 21.5.2011
53 - 9.6.2011
49 - 11.6.2011
53 - 24.6.2011
53 - 13.7.2011
51 - 16.7.2011
54 - 21.7.2011
56 - 1.8.2011
55 - 9.8.2011
Second measure. The MAF-test. I've only done two so far, but it looks promising. First mile done at MAF heart rate has decreased from 12:56 to 11:35. Here are the results from the two test:
8.7.2011 30.7.2011
Mile 1 12:56 11:35
Mile 2 13:08 11:53
Mile 3 12:55 11:59
Mile 4 13:04 12:13
Mile 5 13:10 12:05
Temperature for the first test was 27 degrees Celcius and for the second test it was 20 degrees Celcius, this makes the improvement smaller than at first glance - but a noteworthy imrpovement none the less.
Third measure. Imroved running speed. Of course this would be best assessed by racing the same course with some time in between. Essentially it's pretty much the same as the MAF-test. I'll compare two runs done on the course I call Golf Course 5k.
Runs 5.5.2011 vs. 29.7.2011.
Time 43:00 37:00
Pace 8:36 7:24
Avg hr 142 144
Temp C 17 23
That's some nice improvement. One minute per kilometer faster in a bit less than three months.
Fourth measure. Weight. Initial weight 87 kg, weight today 82 kg. My Polar hrm shows a total of 73.000 calories burned since 12th of April. The real number is larger, as I haven't worn the hrm for every run. I guess that kind of calorie burning should make me a bit leaner, and it has by 5 kg.
Nice improvements all in all. I'm sneaking in a trail marathon in my schedule for this fall. I did my first 30 km training run yesterday. I think to take on the marathon so soon will be a real challenge. There will be some pretty technical trails and a lot of up- and downhill slopes. This race will hopefully provide some real insight to what needs to be done for further development during fall and winter.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Back to Base Building
After miserably failing to reach my time goal of sub 2h on the half marathon I'm settling down and going back to base building.
In my previous post 5K Race to Half Marathon Target I compared my 5K pace run time to two different running calculators. According to the projections I got my finish time for the half marathon should have been between 2:01:09 and 2:01:57. With four weeks of additional training I wanted to test if I could finish in under two hours. Reality hit me in the face and my finishing time was 2:19:33. The pace calculators naturally didn't account for he difference in heat. The race was run in a temperature of 31°C or 88 °F, significantly warmer than the 5K or any of my training runs for that matter. The difference in heat made some real difference. I ran further at a faster pace on training run in May than I did in the half marathon race in July, with a whopping 25 bpm difference in average heart rate. Difference in heat? 31 °C, sun, no wind and humid versus 10 °C, rain and windy. But the time estimate shouldn't be that much off anyway, should it? So why did I fail so miserably?
Poor aerobic fitness. With longer distances the importance of the aerobic metabolism grows. Shorter distances can be run with higher oxygen debt than longer. So the conclusion must be I'm lacking the proper aerobic base. Well, hello, of course I am. With only four months of training it should be obvious. Most of those past training runs were done too fast and too anaerobically. My ego had the better part of me fooled for a while there.
So what I'll do next is to build that aerobic base. I'll use the MAF-method, running at or below maximum aerobic function. As pinpointing the accurate MAF requires extensive testing I'll go with the 180-formula developed by Dr. Phil Maffetone. Subtracting my age from 180 and subtracting an additional 5, as my training has been inconsistent over the past two years. I thus arrive at a MAF of 144 bpm (180-31-5=144). I should the do all of my base building at or below this heart rate. I'll create a range of ten beats for my heart rate monitor (134-144) and stay in that range for all of my training, except even slower warm up and cool down.
For how long? I'll asses my MAF by doing monthly MAF tests. The MAF test is done on the track, after 12-15 minutes of warm up, by timing one mile splits on a five mile run at MAF heart rate. As long as the one mile splits improve, MAF will be kept the same. At some point I might delete the 5 beat subtraction and go with 148 bpm (as I probably have turned 32 by then). Time and MAF tests will show when. I don't really need any anaerobic conditioning to run over the
The benefit should be greatly improved aerobic fitness. This kind of low hear rate training supposedly minimizes the productions of free radicals in the biomechanical system and it should enable me to sustain higher training volumes than training at a faster running pace (with a more anaerobic heart rate). And it should be way much healthier.
To educate myself on the philosophy of low heart rate training I ordered The Big Book of Endurance Training and Racing by Dr. Phil Maffetone. So, one more book report might be coming up in the future.
Until then here are my initial MAF test results from Friday 8.7.2011. There should be plenty of room for improvement.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Race report: Paavo Nurmi Half Marathon
I had to wait for Risberg all the time. I can’t believe how bad he was! Teaming up with him really destroyed my time. And we are supposed to run over the Alps?
Only joking… I’m the one who were a bit under water at times. Ok, here comes the real story.
I knew the warm weather would be a challenge. I knew my stomach flu less than two weeks ago killed some fitness. I knew I hadn’t trained well for the last three weeks. Spending one week backpacking in Lapland one week sick and one week tapering (like I would have needed that). So these are my excuses for failing my goal of finishing in less than two hours. The clock stopped at 2:19:33. And it was a battle against the heat. Running with a heart rate rocketing to crazy heights. The heart needs to push blood towards the surface of the skin to keep the body cool in warm weather. And it still needs to push blood into the muscles to keep them going. So it has to beat harder and/or faster.
We lined up with the 2:15 rabbit. Why the 2:15 rabbit when my primary goal was to do a sub 2h time? Well, I ran a 2h pace last Wednesday. The run didn’t go well and I realized I wouldn’t be able to keep that kind of pace for more than maybe 1:15. Risberg most graciously decided to run with me. Which I think really helped, especially towards the end.
So we lined up with the 2:15 rabbit. Sweating like pigs only from standing in the sun. It was +31 degrees Celsius in the shadow. Probably one of the hottest days this summer. Off we go.
In the city the heat was intense. No wind and blazing sun rays reflecting from the black asphalt and the surrounding buildings.
At around 7 km I knew I would be in trouble soon. My heart rate climbed over 180 bpm on some uphill bits and it didn’t come back down much. Pretty soon it started to top 190 bpm on the uphill stretches. I ran for fifteen minutes with a heart rate around 190 trying to fool myself I might be ok with it.
”Elite marathoners race with a heart rate of 90-100 % of their maximum. Maybe I too will be able to do it”, I taught.
Hah! A beginner is what I am, far from an elite marathoner. So after the 10 km mark I decided to slow down to get the heart rate down to more sane levels. Speed walking. Jogging. Speed walking. Jogging. Damn it! The 2:15 balloon marking the rabbit disappeared far ahead. From 10 to 17 km was pretty awful. Switching between a slow jog and walking. But it was the only sensible thing to do. After opening too hard. Classic beginner mistake. Guilty as charged.
From 17 km on we increased the pace a bit. I decided to run the last 4 km, no matter what. Oh! A water point! Beautiful. Slowed down to walking drinking and soaking in the water. It felt good. Indeed so good I had to walk a little again. But not for long and we ran the last 2 km.
There was a guy ahead of me, maybe 30 meters from the finish gate. I decided to improve my ranking and nailed him one meter from the gate with a hard spurt. WTF? People were continuing to run after the finish? Risberg floated up beside me and told me we have to carry on for maybe 300 meters more to make a turnabout and finish trough the gate from the other direction. Helvetes helvete! I didn’t have very much left in me after spurting that hard. But somehow I managed to keep up a decent pace, passing by even more people before the real finish.
Yey! I finished my first half marathon race! I maxed out my heart with a maximum heart rate of 201 bpm (probably during the stupid spurt 300 meters from the finish). My average heart rate was 183 bpm.
Now I’m going to get some rest. Before going into low heart rate training mode next week. I have to build endurance for the next upcoming races this autumn.
Under the midnight sun far North
Large flocks of reindeers were roaming the hills. Some braver ones were coming really close to the wanderers. Exhibiting their silky horns and wise eyes. Watching the wanderers pass by their barren lands. Lemmings were scurrying quickly over the paths, lots of them. Again and again, like small furry balls rolling down the hills. White owls were circling in the sky. Carefully scanning the terrain for careless lemmings. Here and there tiny fur stacks littering the path. Silent evidence of love struck lemmings fallen pray to the owls. The poor lemmings raised their voices in their attempts to attract a partner, revealing themselves to their predators.
Lapland, I can tell you, is quite a magical place in the early summer. Not only is the wildlife active, so are the plants. Plants have only six months of light, and they need to make the most of it. Almost all the flowers of the North were blooming. Creating beautiful patterns of color, light and texture over the rolling mountains.
Lapland, I can tell you, is quite a magical place in the early summer. Not only is the wildlife active, so are the plants. Plants have only six months of light, and they need to make the most of it. Almost all the flowers of the North were blooming. Creating beautiful patterns of color, light and texture over the rolling mountains.
We met four runners. They were doing the Hetta-Pallas trail of 55 km all in one day. It strikes me this trail would indeed make a great 50k race. The Midnight Sun Run. Experiencing the barren wilderness scenery trough a runners high in the mild yellow light flowing from the midnight sun. That would be serene, magical. I believe it could well attract people worldwide. If I didn’t have my full time job in Helsinki maybe I could arrange something? Finding partners shouldn’t be hard. There were plenty of available rooms in the hotels in Hetta. A concern for the Lapland tourism is how to improve profitability of the summer season. Backpackers camping in the wild don’t bring much dough to the locals.
Maybe some day... Or maybe some one else could make something out of it. In the meanwhile, I’ll consider returning next year for an alpine run training camp. Great trail. Lots of technical stuff. Lots of uphill. Lots of downhill. Some quite steep climbs. Some gentler ascends. Loads of fun.
-Written on the bus to Turku-
I’m going to run the Paavo Nurmi half marathon today. The past two weeks I’ve been out jogging only twice. Due to the stomach flu I caught in Lapland. I had a high fever initially and prolonged imbalance of stomach bacteria. Ouch! And of course I took some time off simply tapering. Plus 32 degree Celsius forecasted with blazing sun! Start time at 13:20, it is going to be a slaughter.
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