Author: Administrator

Kormu Run 1.18.58

Picture: Matti Koljonen

Opened laptop yesterday morning around 9:45am. It was a sunny morning and I thought to check it out if there would be any running event my son could participate in. Found out there is something called Kormu Run. Took a look at the course map … what?! My old training course on the fields somewhere between Riihimäki and Loppi. When is this event going to happen? About an hour from now. Let’s focus. I can still make it. I must do this! Tried to talk my son to come as well but had to get out on my own. Threw sneakers in the trunk and off I went 10:02.

Tesla says I would be there 10:58. It’s really nice sunshine, dry road, 105.7 KOZZ-FM … I can make it bit sooner than that. After some high energy highway driving and shortcut through Herajoentie arrive at 10:41. That was pretty good. Ask if I can park near the start and it is okay. Get my number, change to racing shoes and I have still like 8 minutes to warm up. I feel pretty good about it all.

The race itself starts out nice. Legs feel good. I can still remember all the scenery, all the dirt roads, every curve. It all looks the same except for maybe a few new houses. I ran with Finnish 24h ultrarunner #2 from about 3km to half way when he finishes. There was one more guy maybe 1 minutes ahead of us but he finishes half distance too. It feels pretty easy until say 15-16km mark from where my leg muscles start to signal poor training background. Still manage to keep the pace even and cross the finish line in 1.18.58 which I think is a pretty decent effort.

Talk with some local guys who were helping to put the event together. Back home around 13:35. Compact trip. Good, uplifting feeling.

Tough 2Ks

Last night at home 1K tried 2K repeats. Could do three in 6.45, 6.53 and 6.53. Earlier in the week did an ok 25K classic skiing in Ruka. A week ago a couple repeats trailing Vane. The only race I have in sight is Midnight Run at the end of August where we’ll have a company team.

Camp Laanitupa

Came back from a five day family vacation to Lapland. Third year in a row the same thing we could call an adventure in the not-so-distant past: getting a very basic fifty-years-old cottage into gear. First thing is to dig it up from one meter of snow in -30 degrees celsius. Then to dig a path to get wood. Cut the wood. A path to a nearby stream. Break the ice. Carry water inside. First night we got the temperature inside into maybe +13, second night +16, and the third night we broke 20. After coming back basically all clothes have a smokey smell. We all appreciate and cherish the modern home automation again.

Better Team Won the Super Bowl

This was the first time I watched the whole Super Bowl from the beginning to the end without missing a play. While most people talk about the final call Seahawks did not to run the ball with Marshawn Lynch I would like to say Seattle was in the big picture one step behind most of the time. New England and Brady played much better, threw better, got the ball moving in the air. For Seattle, it looked to me they were just really lucky to hang on, get that equaliser just before half time, and also to push the final drive to the one yard mark. Plenty of long throws, which looked like throwing the dice. Until the miracle catch in the final drive I was expecting and even hoping that we’ll see Wilson’s first and final interception. Then it started to look almost obvious — Marshawn Lynch will finish this game. And I’m okay with that because he is what he is… Play starts. I’m watching Lynch… who didn’t get the ball?! Patriots celebrating… was it an interception?! What just happened?! What a thriller. Two years ago I would have said to Kaepernick to run the first two attempts at the same point. This year I would have said just to give the ball to Lynch. Even Wilson running himself would have been a better option than to throw the ball in the traffic. How many short throws did Wilson have in the whole game? Like less than five?