Training Log Archive: lost jokes

Brocken. With Leslie.

Started with a bit of drizzle/fog but slowly it opened up. Nice views from the top. Taking it easy back down, walking quite a bit because Leslie got some stomach problems. Right toe hurting a bit again.

Very enjoyable run, great to run in such beautiful wild spruce forest.

Route

Lautenthal. Short run for groceries.

Route

Lautenthal. With Leslie. Blue skies and 20 degrees, a nice surprise. Lovely walk.

Route

Sydkoster.

Out for groceries first, then around the island trying to find the trails we didn't find last time. Lovely trails; changing all the time from very stony to smooth grassy and pine needle trails. Big rain shower near the end for free, came in very suddenly.

Legs a lot lighter than yesterday. Pace felt easy. Right toe hurting slightly, shoes might be a little too small and have to get used to less cushioning.

Route

Sydkoster.

Run/hike with Leslie after we arrived, exploring the island. Whole part along the coast between 1,5k and 3,5k was very rough going; climbing up and down small cliffs, fighting junipers and negotiating boulder fields, plus the occasional slab running.

Legs felt a bit heavy. Enjoyable run on a special island.

Route

Sollihogda. With Leslie.

Got dropped off here the evening before and decided on a run/hike from our camping spot before heading on. Nice to see Nordmarka, and even though this particular part was a bit scruffy it still had some beautiful bits.

Some small parts off trail. Dip in the lake near the end, probably the last one this year ;)

Route

Sollikamben.

Bus to Bjørke, then up the same route as 6th of May. Lot less snow today, much more rainy; about 200mm is expected over the course of these 6 days. Trails very very wet.

Pushed hard trying to make it back to the bus in time, didn't want to hitch in the rain. Made it with 4min to spare :)

Felt strong and enjoyed being out in the wet weather. Right toe hurting a bit with the new shoes, right shin starting hurting a little near the end cause of going down too fast.

48' up, 30' down.

Kvalsasen. With Leslie.

Kvålsåsen.

Foot pain free enough to run. Trails very wet; lots of rain today. Drizzle/rain during most of the run. Not feeling incredibly strong and calves are still (!) a bit sensitive so decided on a relatively short run.

Took a left at one point to check out Kvålsåsen where I'd never been. Unexpectedly nice area; pine and spruce, blueberry cover and bogs in a fairly dense forest. Little bit of off-trail exploring trying to find the highest point before turning around. Careful in the downhill. Nice run.

Route

Oksen.

Foot feeling better every day. Very eager to get back on the trails, this seemed like a nice test. Oksen had been on my list since arriving in Voss, so I was very excited! We were with four (Leslie, Susanna and Alice and me), so a quite leisurely pace with lots of chatting.

Sunny at the start, then near the summit the wind and rain came out. Put all my layers on but was still a little chilly. Very enjoyable to have all the elements battling around me. Great views from the top, parts covered with fog and rain clouds, other parts getting full sun. Dry again on the way back down.

Came home to find my blister had filled with blood. No idea why, will see how it looks and feels tomorrow.

Out for 4,5hrs.

Route

Granvin.

Blister still hurting, think I might've picked up a splinter in some way because sometimes when I land wrong the pain is very sharp. So, borrowed bikes and went on a long ride with Leslie.

Nice leisurely pace and at one point the sun even came out, only to be followed by a rain shower. Bit cold at the end. Great day.

Route

Still stiff calves, also developed a blister under my right heel because of a pebble stuck there in the last part of the race. Painful so just have to wait a bit with running again.

Stiff calves.

Warm-up. Feeling strong.

Hardangervidda Halfmarathon.
Route
Results

Took a chance by running in new shoes, but they fit like a glove, were very comfortable and had wonderful grip. Weather conditions lovely; about 14 degrees and partly cloudy.

Set off relatively easy, didn't want to blow up too soon. One guy flew ahead and a group of 6 followed. Pace was a little slow so I decided to overtake and lead the group, slowly pulled away from them on the first climb.

Good pace on the plateau and the boggy climb, occasionally saw the leader but when looking back I never saw the ones behind. Started feeling a bit nauseous, probably from eating slightly too much beforehand (to make sure I wouldn't bonk) and pushing a bit too hard.

Through the highest point in 1h03 and then took it relatively easy while my stomach problems dissolved. Nice downhill, not too difficult the first part, then a wet and stony part again where I was very careful not to roll my ankle.

Hit the gravel road at 1h32 and after a very short rest stop for banana and water started pushing hard downhill. Unfortunately my calves got quite stiff early on in the downhill and I had to slow down a bit. Still kept a good pace but felt too comfortable. I wasn't dissappointed, just hoped no one would overtake me from the back. Last part on asphalt was tough with my painful calves but I kept my position and finished 2nd.

Happy with the time, how the effort felt and how much fun it was to do a trail race and share it with so many others. Very motivated for future races.

Couple of learning points:
-Get new shoes earlier; I know I'm prone to injuries.
-Take strength & ankle & core stability more serious.