Training Log Archive: Anvil

Savonlinna. Tried to go for a run, but legs didn't want to. Did a lap of Sulosaari, an island near where I was staying.
On a bit of a come down after Jukola where nothing impresses me. Hope it doesn't last.

Just as good as last time. Running leg 2 this year, unfortunately the emit pre-warning didn't go through so I left Duncan waiting at the changeover for 4 minutes (and lost over 100 places). then made it worst one the tricky first in green, wasting 3 minutes - I'd got into the circle and within 20 metres of the control and didn't see it (visibility was ~1m in the dark so you needed to know exactly where you were, which I didn't).
Apart from that there I didn't lose much time; I took a long track route on the long leg to 4 and probably should have gone straighter and banked on elephant tracks, almost got very lost to 7 be luckily ended up in an area where it was easy to relocate.
For some reason I ended up having a split all by myself on 8 to 11. I was running in a big group of about 20 to 10 and we came across a control I wasn't mine, but *everyone* else punching it and ran off - I knew mine was another 50m, but it was suddenly dark and the elephant track didn't continue down the hill into the dark. It took a lot of effort to force myself down there and was rewarded with a lone soul waiting at the control for me to show him where he was!
14 was another log leg through fairly green and featureless undulating hillside. Decided just to follow the line of runners would be fastest. Occasionally passing by someone 50m on either side struggling confirmed it the way to go. I didn't think it'd be a gaffle and was right.
The hard part of the course was over now, so I just dug deep and tried to pass as many people as possible which was made particularly hard on the penultimate very rough leg which seemed to be made up of creaky old men who seemed to be using more energy stopping people getting past than actually traversing the terrain. Caught up 10 more places in the finish chute! (it was prett long!)
Made up all the places I lost at the start of the course and about 30 more so not too upset, but would have liked to be faster - was 30 mins behind the fastest time. I could easily shave of 10 minutes worth of fafffing round and being overly cautious in the dark.
Still, a helluva lot of fun. There was a moment in the race last year when I was by myself for the first time and was running round the edge of a little lake - the sun was just starting to rise, the birds were singing and there was a thin layer of mist on the lake and it hit me how awesome this event is. I had a similar moment this year, coming up of of a green gully into an overgrown grassy field on the crest of the hill - the clouds had finally parted and the moon was sitting there, huge and yellow lighting up the field and surrounding pine trees.
If you haven't done it, book your tickets for next year now - you can't beat it.
Oh yeah, my pick won - shoulda put some money on it. Cracker finish as well - only decided by the route choice of the 3rd or 4th last leg!

C • my splits 2

Event: Jukola 2009
 

Bit of a trot around the Jukola model map. Pretty much as expected. Freakin' hot, I didn't envy the women doing Venla.

Late evening jog round Pirkkola. Felt tired and shitty to begin with, then we saw a hedgehog that didn't run away. I touched it, quite prickly. Felt better after that. Hanging out for some forest time now!

Event: Forssa Games
 

Late evening run with BJ around Pirkkola. Both a bit tired and struggled a bit for various reasons. Woodchip path is my favourite.
Bring on Saturday!

Run by myself up in Central Park again. Went up to the man made ski hill - these Finns have too much money!
Came back through the smaller forest tracks, heaps of fun amongst the fir trees and old drainage diches/war bunker things. Finished with a loop of the wood chip ski track in Pirkolla, did 5 chin ups on a bar by the track. Beefcake. BEEFCAKE.