World Cup in Oslo

After 2 weeks without any running I started with 20' on monday earlier this week. No pain - which was nice. So I continued to increase the work load every day a little bit. On wednesday I ran the model event and managed already 1h orienteering without problems. Let's say - the leg was ok but the orienteering was far from that ;) My feeling for distance and direction were gone and I struggled with several controls.. nice training!

Thursday the Model Event got already better - still no problems with the leg. I tried to run some controls fast which worked out quite well, but I never felt fast, rather tough in both my legs and brain.

Friday: Middle Distance. It was my first orienteering race in weeks. The timing wasn't perfect neither was the selfconfidence. I stopped several times short before the control finding out that I actually was right, nevertheless the time losses were huge even without big mistakes. I ended up on 60th place (of 94) 9:50 down on Carl - who made an amazing race! Respect.

Saturday: Long Distance. I had mixed feelings before the race. What should I do? Run? If yes - the whole course? Full? Take it easy? Next friday I'll start the next Adventure Race (Explore Sweden Monster - ESM) what if my leg starts hurting again? Will I recover from a hard race within 6 days and does it actually make sens to run when the shape is bad and WC points seem out of sight?

I ran all. I got eager during the day and thought if the leg starts to hurt than it's nice to get to know now because the chance that i comes back during ESM would than be very high (I can't rule that out anyway). The race was nice - I enjoyed it. 29 degrees, 14.5k. Several times the group I ran with made small mistakes in into the controls - I didn't join their extra loops and thereby I gained some places which was nice. One control (to 13th) I again had the feeling that they were wrong and followed my own plans - and missed the control. I got tricked by an "open" white nose - so 3min were gone... the remaining 7k I ran mostly alone. Physically I felt good ( in respect that it wasn't so fast ;) until the end. I just got several blisters on my feet - but nothing serious. Finally i ended on the 64th place. Whatever.

Now it's time to reload and prepare the final things before ESM. There we'll race over 1069k - expected time for the winners is estimated with 4d 5h... let's see

Unwanted break...

Instead of getting nervous before Jukola's first leg I'm sitting at home. The reason lies in a tendinitis down in my shank which I carried away from the first Adventure Race in Sweden. My body actually felt really well after the 52hours race, but that wasn't the whole truth. Carbohydrates and proteins can be refilled quite fast whereas tendons need some more time to recover after such great efforts. I started to train too early so the tendinitis got worse and stayed even longer.

After several days without running I headed already off to the airport but just minutes before I got on the train to the airport I cancelled my starts at the NOC and Jukola. Ellen Moen (medical doctor) and Siri Hagman (physiotherapist) confirmed my presumption and advised me to

rather take a break straight away instead of extending and enhance the risk for a long lasting tendinitis.

mmmh.

BUT - there are lots of positive sides as well! I get healthy, can do other stuff, relax mentally and physically, get organized before we move, etc. A couple of days ago I used the time and went white water kayaking for the first time. It was fun! White water kayaking is part of Explore Sweden's adventure race, so I'd have to practize it anyway.

By the way, I survived without further injuries ;-)

Definition of Fun: Merrell Challenge

Our Adventure Racing Team organized Scandinavias probably funniest adventure race last weekend:the Merrell Challenge in Oslo. Vigleik did an amazing job organizing everything during the previous weeks (action plan, mystery events, great prizes, promotion stuff, etc.) so that the more than 50 teams could really enjoy the event!

Shortly summed up what the race was about:

The race took the teams through an 3-4 hour adventurous course with many challenges. The course was kept a secret until one hour before start. A total of 5 laps and 10 mystery events challenged both the physics, the team work and the mind. Several of the mystery events were impossible to pass unless the three team members worked together.

The 5 laps were: 1. Mountainbiking, 2. Navigation, 3. Paddling, 4. Mountainbiking and finally 5. Adventure Run. All laps started and finished at the “Merrell stadium”. Between and during the laps the teams had to solve the mystery events. These consisted of:

• Carrying one team member who got the feet strapped together
• Passing/climbing a log obstacle
• Passing a soapy/slippery wall/floor
• Pass a river using a cargo net which was stretched by use of a wire
• Transport a log over an obstacle
• Roll a tractor wheel around a short and hilly course
• Svimming
• Wading
• Crawling through watery pipes
• Mud crawling

It was great fun to watch the teams! Enjoy the pictures!

Date for 2010 event is set to June 12^th. The goal is to double the number of teams to 80-100 teams.

www.merrellchallenge.com - with all the details, results and pics.

Media echo after Tieto Enator Adventure Race

>Per Christian, me, Vigleik and Lina<

My first adventure race together with Team Merrell Haglöfs Multimania at the Tieto Enator, also called Open Nordic Adventure Racing Champs turned out to be a really nice success. Both for me personally and our team.

>perfectly organized just an hour before the start <

My personal goals were to survive the race. I was very curious about who my body would handle this challenge. I was in charge to navigate all the way which was a nice duty with much responsibility. During the first kayak stage I had to select the route choice over up to 15k of open water which I've never down before.

> never padled that long or far before in my life<

Considering wind and waves has never happened in the forest so far :-) it worked out well. I struggled more with the partly poor map quality due to missing essential information which resulted in two mistakes up to 15min time loss (not that much compared to 52h competition time though).

>Our TA - Transition Area - really cool!! - me last, as usual ;)

The race itself was really cool, we faced lots of different challenges starting actually already the days before the race coz of missing or late arriving equipment and has still not ended - like the tendinitis in my shank. Down under u'll find a selection of some pictures - there are more to see on my web album.

>Linda and Vigleik try to get up<

We received lots of media attention after the race, which was really nice! I added some of the links below:

http://www.ostlendingen.no/article/20090529/SPORT/773278809/1108#

http://www.friflyt.no/index.php?pagenr=12&articlenr=57033

www.kondis.no 2 articles. one at the frontside, one on the side of "Hedmark" page.

http://www.sleepmonsters.com/racereport.php?page_action=rep&race_id=6828&article_id=5825

>down the waterfall or carrying the damn heavy boats one 1k?<

>Tired? I recommend a cliff jump at sunrise - that opens your eyes!<

>27000kcal later...<

If you want to see more pictures:

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/zweagnase/TietoEnatorRace#

Sommer Plans..

It’s been a while. Well, i’m still alive and right now i do what it seems that I can do best – I travel. More accurate, I sit in a plane from Oslo to Trondheim. I do this in average once a week – but actually I don’t want to think too much about it coz I might figure out that I travel far too much…

What has happened since?!

In sports: I started my orienteering season in Sweden, Training and Tiomila. I continued it in Trondheim with several Sprint Cups and more training sessions and I’ve almost finished it it already too. Why? Adventure Racing rules now!

This year I’m part of the Norwegian Multimania Team. We’ll start at three races in from May until August – which will be enough ;) In May we’ll do the Nordic Championships in/around Karlstad in Sweden – it’s a 'easy' 50h race . After some weeks of relaxing – which is actually not really true – because I’ll be testing Skis with the Biathletes and Cross Country Skiers up in high altitude in the middle of Norway. From there I’ll head straight to the Nordic Champs (in Orienteering, this time). Jukola will also take place this year… and two weeks after that it’s World Cup in Oslo on my schedule.

That was June.

In July:

EXPLORE SWEDEN. An adventure race over about 1000k… should take about 1 week or something like that. I guess, I’ll get to know some new sides of my body there ;)

Later in July Line and I will take some vacation somewhere. For me mainly sleeping probably…

And in August Vigleik, Per, Linda and I will conquer the USA – or more accurate the ECO PRIMAL QUEST. That’s our main goal this year – another exhausting adventure race in South Dakota. 600 miles, unsupported – means we just have one box each with equipment for the whole race and no one to prepare some food, fix things or help us with anything. We’ll make it.

Anyway, Training goes good. My body get’s used to long bicycle rides up to 5h and my dreads are still in shape. I like it.

… Yesterday I got my new favourite play mobile – Specialized Expert Carbon. Looks beautiful. I took a little ride – it convinced me, I’ll keep it. Furthermore, my swimming improves – due to my kayak training – I spend at least as much time in the water as in the boat… I have hopes that there won’t be too much waves during the kayak sections of the adventure races… I mean 80k… that’s too much to swim ;)

My study also doesn’t stand still – it’s at least the reason why I know almost every flight attendant from Norwegian Airlines… nice guys, by the way.

..My other favourite activity at the moment (besides eating) is looking for apartments. Line and I have to move out from the Student apartment by the end of June. She finishes her study soon and I’m no student longer myself, so welcome to the real world. We have been to some apartment showings, but haven’t found the right one yet… We’ll also make that ;)

links:

Explore Sweden

Eco Primal Quest

Tieto Enator Adventure

Climate change even here...

That's what we were doing - and enjoying a lot last sunday! I'd say - not that bad...

When we left the car I thought that I might should take a short sleeve shirt with me, but well after just 5 min when we came to the sun I didn't regret anymore missing a short sleeve one - we just took off almost everthing we had. It was fun - never had such a trip before. The airtemp wasn't that high - but the sun, its reflection and zero wind were enough heating - despite the workout itself ;)
The time passed amazingly fast - it felt that we just walked 15min - but it was well 2 hours or something like that - the view the chat with friends made me forget that I was actually walking up a hill. Anyway, now I'm back at university - still healthy and I a bit more colour in my face - and the rest of my body - there is really no need to travel south to get a nice tain ;-)
By the way - the trip was near Oppdal - 2hrs drive from Trondheim - the top is called Okla. For the ones who care.

Avalanche controll...

So funny - I got up a bit earlier this morning - yersterday I rented backcountry skis & skins for a special price - I told them that I'd return everything already at 8 in the morning again - so I just had to pay 25$ which is about 150nok or 18€ or whatever - they looked at me a bit strange in the shop (it was 8pm when I rented the stuff) - anyway, so I got up at 4:45 - drove to the hill and started my tour at 5. Once I switched on my headlamp, but I didn't like what I saw - fog and a mix of rain and snow - so I switched it off again ;)

After 90min I got to the top of the ski lifts - on the way there i received a textmessage from Tobias with the results from the Sprint in Liberec - thanks a lot - increased my motivation and the smile in my face - so after I made already 1200m climb a snow mobile stopped next to me. To guys smiling at me and asking where I planned to go "up to the top of the lift"..which I saw a bit further away. They asked me if I saw the sign .. I was just 50m away from them - could read what was on them, but the shape was a clear hint ;)
So I figured out that they were from the Avalanche Controll and had to check out everything first. So then - I reached the "top" earlier than expected. Anyway, it was fun!
Or actually - the fun came afterwards.. I stopped by at the top station of the lifts on the way back. There I saw 4 coaches from the Canadian Ski Team - they just arrived up there with some drills and equipment. All in nice Canada jackets... Well ,so there I come - norwegian beenie and jacket - from the opposite direction. They looked quite surprised i'd say ;) I just said Hi and left again..
On the way down I had to make a movie - so that you can see how much I enjoyed the trip ;))
Tomorrow again - the plan was actually to climb both Blackcomb and Whistler Mountain (that be 2500m climb) but then I should have started at 3:45 - to be back for breakfast in time... a bit too early... (but I'm thinking Adventure Racing - so now the time doesn't matter any more - I have to get used to perform 24/7 anyway ;)

..wanna see the downhill ?! click here!
more news later...

Endlich kürzere Haare die nimma ins Gsicht hängen

Sodala, so schaut's aus jetz!

Lange hat's gedauert, aber seid letzter woche sind Haare wieder kürzer! Und ganz ohne dass sie geschnitten wurden ;) Dafür sind's a bissi verfilzt... halb so wild, hab mi scho dran gwöhnt.
Das Foto hab i übrigens im Hotel Liberec gemacht - war von Freitag bis Sonntag dort um mit Knut zusammen die WM Strecke zu checken und a bissi zu testen. Hat sich ausgezahlt - hoff ich zumindestens...

Mehr Weg als daheim...

Nach einem kurzem Zwischenstop in Trondheim sitz ich mittlerweile schon wieder wo anders. Östersund - the place to be. Die Biathleten könnens nimma erwarten und fangen diese Woche mitn Weltcup da an. Am Mittwoch geht's los mitn erstn Bewerb. Wir sind halt jetz schon da - so wie die meisten Teams.

Muss auch sagen, es is lässig da. Woifi - könntest dir überlegen!

Die Zeit in Trondheim hab i a ganz effektiv genützt. Geburtstagsfestl, Uni, Kamera, Langlaufen, Ausschlafen, gut essen und Zeit mit Line verbringen. Das wars. Und weil i jetz endlich wieder Fotos machen kann kommen jetz gleich welche ;) 

So richtig finster wird's da heroben nie! Jedenfalls nicht wenn man neben dem Biathlonstadion wohnt. Dann macht man solche Bilder ohne Blitz ;)

Das sind zwei der Wachsler beim Testen. Tom Iad und Thomas, für die die's genau wissen wollen...
Das Mikroskop, mein Freund und Helfer ... damit schau i mir die Schneekristalle an..
So schauen die Loipen da aus. A bissi weiter links is das Zielgebiet.

So schaut da Schnee grad aus. Wie jeder deutlich auf den ersten Blick erkennt is er recht trocken, dazu kantig. Luft bei -6C u 90% rel. LF; Schnee bei -5.2C. Kunstschnee, teils umgewandelt mit Naturschnee, ebenfalls leicht umgewandelt... der Raster is übrigens 1mm