Training Log Archive: Sudden

First, and only, run to the Dutch Mill and back.

Day 3. Chase. I started 3 seconds and 8 seconds behind two old friends from my days living in Gothenburg. The course had a few really easy legs and we ran for most part together. I ran the hardest I could to second last control and the last control but couldn't keep my old buddy Cliffhanger behind me. He beat with 5 seconds overall. However, unknowingly we had a whole bunch of M35 guys between us. When the results came up, he placed 6th and I was 9th. Two others were just behind me. It was a lot of fun running and it was really fun to run head to head and doing it against some old friends just made it more interesting. I had the 2nd fastest time today so a good ending.

Isak also had a good race. It was 2K to start though and the course was 2.5K so he was struggling to keep the pace in the brutal, for being Sweden, heat on legs that were just in the open and along one big trail. He has learned a lot though just these few days. I look forward to retire.

Day 2. A bit more focused today and legs felt better. I ran well in the totally flat areas but had some problems in an area with some more intricate contour details. Being Gotland, the grass/branches/stuff on the ground made it difficult to see whether it was a hill/depression or not. Just a couple of minutes behind and 7th place.

Isak had a tough course today. Half of it was not on trails and following dry ditches a dry summer on Gotland is challenging for anyone.

I haven't been to Gotland since, 1996 perhaps, so it was about time. It is a really neat place. I have some good o-memories from here as well. Two medals back in 1991 at the military championships in falttavlan, military version of biathlon. instead of skiing, it is orienteering, not just a regular point to point but also punkt-OL which means you have a blank map and follow a marked route, once in a while there is a flag and you must, by using a safety pin mark where the flag has been hung. And shooting of course. Gold in relay and bronze individually. I think. 9th or so when it was orienteering only.

The location for the 3-days is very neat. On the island Furillen, just a few hundred meters of the coast of Gotland. The arena was on the beach, which is great since it is 30C.

The terrain is typical Gotlandish. Very subtle. Extremely subtle. My race today was so and so. A couple of times, I lost touch with the compass and drifted of and it is almost impossible to relocate anywhere else but at or near a distinct feature. Legs very sluggish, which the splits show. I was a bit behind even at the legs I did well. First day: just over 6 minutes behind and 15th.

Isak had a great day running open 1. He needs help now and then but he is really keen. Good warm up for me as well running with him before my race.