Training Log Archive: Old Daniel

Warm up

Jukola Leg 7 from mass start.
I had targeted 2.30 but missed two controls very late on and missed the time and it seems lost tens of places, this just took the cherry off the bun.
It was a privilege to run in this race. The map was superb, the area was very varied and basically had everything, it would certainly grace a World Championship classic. The course kept your interest and as soon as you lost touch with the map you were in the proverbial doo doo.
It would have been more fun not to have been in the mass start but that was never going to happen only 400 escape this fate.

You start from the map tree and by peculiarity of the number 1488 there were basically 10 behind and 1400 in front , so the plan to go far left and run like crazy to get to the front, could at best be described as moderately successful and I did have to stand still and walk, losing a couple of minutes. Took a far left route to 1 (to be different), rejected path route to 2 as no attack point . A mixture of running hard on and off the elephant tracks and then carefully ticking off features took me through 2,3, drinks point and hill on route to 4 whilst passing more elephants than passed me. Went to a flag on a hill at 4 mine was knoll, knew it was too early but relocated on parallel knoll, so was too far east and had to stop and check again. Not too much time lost but enough for the elephants to have retaken their positions. Took a round route to 6, almost on my own via tracks, drink station, round edges of large depressions over a hill, through the green into the small re-entrant - a leg run like an orienteering god -a bit surprised not to wake up. 7 and 8 also went well, seemed like better runners now about, but going to 9 through the rocks and felled no longer god like but rather passed by many fitter and more nimble blokes. Read the map well after the drinks point into the nice but complex forest, in and out of 11. Seemed to be driving the train now (many seem to stop, drink, chat at water stations so gulp, drown, and go is good.) went too far right so used other control as attack point and found mine almost without hesitation. Thought about left routes to 13 and 14. (the later was certainly better) but could not maintain this pace and so now hanging on to back of the train. At least I knew where I was when dropped. Went past 15 into an area of a myriad of boulders and people. I knew I needed to return to the ridge to find my depression but was a bit reluctant to enter what looked like virgin territory. I punched and turned away to see a crowd assembling which could have been at Old Trafford at 15.00 on a Saturday. Took unpopular track routes to 16 and 17 (which I found on a straight approach through large depression.) Cramping a bit so took gell on route to 18; for which I used the bridges between depressions to find. Went to 19 to the north of the green, did not see the path but found depression with clearing but although this was only a few metres short could not find flag and lost time. Chose path route to 22 but influeced by others stayed in the forest too long, at the end I missed the flag (attackpoint was too far) and had to go to track to relocate. Then missed 24, too far right, could not make head or tail of map and seemed to lose ages a real shame. 25 ok but no grand stand finish. Tired but not exhausted.

C • Brilliant! 1

At Jukola watching Venla etc, Tremendous atmosphere
Our girls teams both did really well, congratulations to them all - the second team were DQ. The two inexperienced girls both ran short legs one short have been medium but enjoyed experience. Walked for miles and baked in the sun.

Needed to eat and drink more and earlier.

A test of patience to watch all the rest of the party getting out into the forest yet know I was to be the last to run and had to wait till 9.00 tomporrow.

Training at Mahametsa. Most of course -hot day. Forest a bit of a mixture some parts really, really nice and runnable others, green and/ or steep and/ or rocky. Challenged by navigation!

Training at Rajajarven Suppa. Much slower than am but worthwhile. Keen to get back out into the forest ended up going a bit further than planned and had to slog back.

Started to fantasise about a bottle of coke and an ice cream, a visit to the garage produced both


Ankle ligament (Irish injury) quite sore but only afterwards and loosened up a bit on walking.

Drove to Heathrow, flight to Helsinki, bus to Lahti. Late evening 10.30+ no need for torch although did miss a control late on in the gloom. It was uplifting to run in this rtitzy forest, all had confidence boost and spirits were high.
A mid night sausage snack took spirits even higher

Blaise Castle from car park. Nice run on Sunny day before travelling to Sheffield

Ran on the Downs which seemed to be ok for pollen despite grass being cut.
Pyramid 30 secs to 3 mins x2 with max rest of 2 mins -ok sunny but a bit if wind

Eyes still swollen so did not risk running today