Training Log: Big Jon

To start - plenty of time once there, plus a few strides and stretching. Cooler today (though humid after massive thunder storms overnight), feeling better for this but legs still feel drained.

O-ringen day 1, M55. Technically OK but a few misses and hesitations in circles (struggling to read all detail with sweat in my eyes!). Probably lost 2-3 mins in total.
27th 10 mins down but only 3 mins off 7th...
Felt terrible running especially on uphills, hope this improves over the week...

Gullvik, fromcampsite early - to avoid heat. Back very stiff at start so easy walk/ jog to my start. OK in terrain till about half way then stopped to stretch it. OK till end. Starting to pick lines of better running in the terrain. Still very slow and lethargic - hopefully a good coffee and a big race will get me going a bit tomorrow.
Less hot but very humid, short rain shower but hardly laid the dust!

Jog/walk to start and back from last control

Bergsjön, O-ringen training. Feeling better than yesterday but still slow - an uphill start made things hard for myself. Most controls OK but drifted right to first control - diagonally up massively detailed slope. Improved after this and moving O K on flat and downs.
Gonna be tough with the detailed slopes and heat.

Short slow (very) wander round some trails at Skuleskogen - too hot and too tired for more.

Swim at Gullviks - slightly cooler air than yesterday - lovely!

Steady round a few controls at Åsberget - O-ringen training area. Feeling very sluggish -walked much of uphills! Area dry as a bone - no water features at all and most undergrowth scorched and crispy. May carry water on courses.
Map pretty clear - but at the pace I was going it should be!

To start & from last control, horribly hot in sun.

Easy swim from Gullviks badplats- first Baltic swim of trip - and certainly not baltic! Not very salty at all.

Up Ottfjället from Vålådalen with S and E. Feeling terrible, no energy at all, managed to get to first top then cut short as feeling wasted. Focused hard to keep moving on descent.
Possibly lack of food or else lack of sleep (too hot to sleep at night) or maybe just not recovering.

Early morning run with S from campsite at Lit. Not very exciting track/road but got it done

Upstream from campsite to dam - with some pushing/pulling of canoe over rapids and shallows. Very hot, tired by end.

Pre-breakfast run with E & S - heard/saw capercaillie in the trees beside the track, found large black feather later - from. Caper?

Splash in river at end - found drowned wee animal, reckon a lemming - my first!

At Lit camping initially in bathing pond then into main river ( much more pleasant!). Ridiculously hot again.