Training Log Archive: Useless FoolIn the 7 days ending Oct 7, 2012:
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Sunday Oct 7, 2012 #
Note
(rest day)
Saturday Oct 6, 2012 #
Event: Marathon of Dangers 2012
7 AM
Running race (Trails) 14:18:40 [4] 86.0 km (9:59 / km) +2540m 8:42 / km
shoes: Inov8 Roclite 285
Marathon of Dangers.
The trail run event of the year in Finland was here, once again.
We started our trip towards Koli around 10 am, driving more than 500km from Helsinki.
Last few years this event has been completely sold out about 2 months before start, and this year was not an exception.
700 runners in various categories were competing against each other and against them self.
I participated to the longest category – 86km ultra, gaining more than 2500meters of ascent in technical terrain.
Trails are tricky as the roots are exposed in the forest, and when those are wet, they are very slippery.
Mud, rocks and small cliffs in addition to the mix makes a middle section of the course very challenging.
Even the altitude gain is not very much on international level, it is still very demanding to keep up the good pace in such terrain.
This year we rented a cottage near the race center and stayed the weekend there with Janne, Susa, Ilkka & Sanna.
Preparations for the race during the week were mainly resting and eating, 2 short and very easy runs with HTRC.
I had remnants of a flu still left on Friday and had some problems with stomach, my guess was that it were more stress-related than anything else. So, the preparations could been better, but it was soon a go-time and there was no “real” excuse not to race.
Morning of the race day I felt quite strong and surprisingly slept well.
Alarm went off 0515, breakfast and race start was 0700hrs.
We drove to the race center and we had a plenty of time just relax before the start. 2 times 43km loop waited us.
It was still dusk when the runners started their journey, just enough light that everyone managed without headlights.
Lead group started really fast pace and I was “smart enough” not to go with them and I was concentrating to my own run.
Running felt easy, relaxed and I was already waiting the sun that was promised by the forecast.
Few days earlier, forecast was heavy rains for whole Saturday – luckily it didn’t happened.
Afterwards, start could have been even slower but pace felt reasonable and I was sure that I would be able to keep the same feeling in my legs trough the second loop technical section.
In 21,5k mark I even slowed the pace intentionally to ease up and make sure that second round will be secured.
In this race, if you hit to “the wall” in most technical section, called Ryläys, it will be very hard ascent and even harder descent.
Problems started in the first round, soon after last water station. I started to throw up, and kept vomiting my stomach out until it was empty.
Fun had started. I slowed down and came to the race center. Original plan was just to take energy bag from the box with me but now I was forced to stop, eat and rest a bit.
I felt like shit and quite confused that what a f*ck is happening. I took fleece, jacket and gloves with me as an extra warmth just as an precaution if the situation continues.
It didn’t took too long, everything came out and this kept repeating until I had nothing left to eat anymore.
I was determined to continue anyway. I was talking with somebody during between 53-60km that if I feel like this, I will not continue from Kiviniemi onwards.
I started to feel somehow better, maybe it was just because I got used to the feeling and kind of accepted the situation that there is no change to push without energy but I am still able to go forward at least with some pace.
Legs were okay, no blisters, no cramps. I was chewing rock salt and drinking a very small portions of water and it kept cramps away.
I was able to run, and most important thing was that I was able to run the descents.
Once I arrived to Kiviniemi, I have passed 4 peoples from my “lowest moment” and I decided that I will be out from Ryläys before darkness falls.
Phone is one of the mandatory equipments during the race and I was very happy about it. Because of the lack of sugar, I felt very dizzy, tired and I was freezing even I had all the clothes on what I had with me.
I took my phone every time when I felt that now the trail is going somewhere else than I am, in order to make myself to focus.
When I called someone, I was naturally need to be able to pronounce something, create reasonable sentences. It helped, a lot.
Sorry for everyone about bothering your Saturday evening with your families & friends.
I was out from Ryläys, without wearing my headlamp! Then I was completely confident that I will cross the finish line and I couldn’t care less about the finishing time.
It was still hard, I had +14km left and I had nothing but rock salt left. It was hard to keep any reasonable pace but I kept swearing to myself that “run, you bastard” and LOT of much more nastier words.
It helped and I was able to “run”, and every step took me closer to the finish line. Before the last ascent there is a hill that is hard ascent combined to semi-technical descent.
I was very pleased when I saw the lights of the Koli harbor and the final ascent started. Last bits of rock salt on top of the tongue and walking towards the finish line.
All my friends were there waiting for me to arrive, they were cheering, shouting and it encouraged me to ran last part of 30 meters to the finish line.
It was over. 14:18:40 was the official time and position was 48.
Felt bad, still joking and I was able to answer to some questions.
During some of my calls, I had requested a beer to the finish line from my friend Susa.
There it was waiting. Paramedic wanted to put me on IV but I told him that “I will drink my beer first, and if it stays in, I will try to eat later on.”
He had a laughter and surprisingly agreed. I was able to eat something about 1½ hours later – and I was happy that I didn’t had to go to IV even the sugar levels were quite low on finish line.
Recovery has been started. Even I felt totally beaten and my face is swollen, I went to work on Monday.
Happiest thing about the race was that I did not had any problems with feet. Even the shoes & socks were wet basically whole race, nothing.
Combination of Inov8 Roclite285, Footbalance and Gococo compression socks seems to be the perfect fit for me so far.
Next year, definitely again, 86km. Now it is time to rest for a while and then start run again – a lot.
Pics,
From top of Koli
Slippery trails
Last 30 meters.
Bit tired...
Beer
Tired but quite happy, about 3 hours after finishing.
With Susa & Nina who won the girls ultra with huge margin.
The trail run event of the year in Finland was here, once again.
We started our trip towards Koli around 10 am, driving more than 500km from Helsinki.
Last few years this event has been completely sold out about 2 months before start, and this year was not an exception.
700 runners in various categories were competing against each other and against them self.
I participated to the longest category – 86km ultra, gaining more than 2500meters of ascent in technical terrain.
Trails are tricky as the roots are exposed in the forest, and when those are wet, they are very slippery.
Mud, rocks and small cliffs in addition to the mix makes a middle section of the course very challenging.
Even the altitude gain is not very much on international level, it is still very demanding to keep up the good pace in such terrain.
This year we rented a cottage near the race center and stayed the weekend there with Janne, Susa, Ilkka & Sanna.
Preparations for the race during the week were mainly resting and eating, 2 short and very easy runs with HTRC.
I had remnants of a flu still left on Friday and had some problems with stomach, my guess was that it were more stress-related than anything else. So, the preparations could been better, but it was soon a go-time and there was no “real” excuse not to race.
Morning of the race day I felt quite strong and surprisingly slept well.
Alarm went off 0515, breakfast and race start was 0700hrs.
We drove to the race center and we had a plenty of time just relax before the start. 2 times 43km loop waited us.
It was still dusk when the runners started their journey, just enough light that everyone managed without headlights.
Lead group started really fast pace and I was “smart enough” not to go with them and I was concentrating to my own run.
Running felt easy, relaxed and I was already waiting the sun that was promised by the forecast.
Few days earlier, forecast was heavy rains for whole Saturday – luckily it didn’t happened.
Afterwards, start could have been even slower but pace felt reasonable and I was sure that I would be able to keep the same feeling in my legs trough the second loop technical section.
In 21,5k mark I even slowed the pace intentionally to ease up and make sure that second round will be secured.
In this race, if you hit to “the wall” in most technical section, called Ryläys, it will be very hard ascent and even harder descent.
Problems started in the first round, soon after last water station. I started to throw up, and kept vomiting my stomach out until it was empty.
Fun had started. I slowed down and came to the race center. Original plan was just to take energy bag from the box with me but now I was forced to stop, eat and rest a bit.
I felt like shit and quite confused that what a f*ck is happening. I took fleece, jacket and gloves with me as an extra warmth just as an precaution if the situation continues.
It didn’t took too long, everything came out and this kept repeating until I had nothing left to eat anymore.
I was determined to continue anyway. I was talking with somebody during between 53-60km that if I feel like this, I will not continue from Kiviniemi onwards.
I started to feel somehow better, maybe it was just because I got used to the feeling and kind of accepted the situation that there is no change to push without energy but I am still able to go forward at least with some pace.
Legs were okay, no blisters, no cramps. I was chewing rock salt and drinking a very small portions of water and it kept cramps away.
I was able to run, and most important thing was that I was able to run the descents.
Once I arrived to Kiviniemi, I have passed 4 peoples from my “lowest moment” and I decided that I will be out from Ryläys before darkness falls.
Phone is one of the mandatory equipments during the race and I was very happy about it. Because of the lack of sugar, I felt very dizzy, tired and I was freezing even I had all the clothes on what I had with me.
I took my phone every time when I felt that now the trail is going somewhere else than I am, in order to make myself to focus.
When I called someone, I was naturally need to be able to pronounce something, create reasonable sentences. It helped, a lot.
Sorry for everyone about bothering your Saturday evening with your families & friends.
I was out from Ryläys, without wearing my headlamp! Then I was completely confident that I will cross the finish line and I couldn’t care less about the finishing time.
It was still hard, I had +14km left and I had nothing but rock salt left. It was hard to keep any reasonable pace but I kept swearing to myself that “run, you bastard” and LOT of much more nastier words.
It helped and I was able to “run”, and every step took me closer to the finish line. Before the last ascent there is a hill that is hard ascent combined to semi-technical descent.
I was very pleased when I saw the lights of the Koli harbor and the final ascent started. Last bits of rock salt on top of the tongue and walking towards the finish line.
All my friends were there waiting for me to arrive, they were cheering, shouting and it encouraged me to ran last part of 30 meters to the finish line.
It was over. 14:18:40 was the official time and position was 48.
Felt bad, still joking and I was able to answer to some questions.
During some of my calls, I had requested a beer to the finish line from my friend Susa.
There it was waiting. Paramedic wanted to put me on IV but I told him that “I will drink my beer first, and if it stays in, I will try to eat later on.”
He had a laughter and surprisingly agreed. I was able to eat something about 1½ hours later – and I was happy that I didn’t had to go to IV even the sugar levels were quite low on finish line.
Recovery has been started. Even I felt totally beaten and my face is swollen, I went to work on Monday.
Happiest thing about the race was that I did not had any problems with feet. Even the shoes & socks were wet basically whole race, nothing.
Combination of Inov8 Roclite285, Footbalance and Gococo compression socks seems to be the perfect fit for me so far.
Next year, definitely again, 86km. Now it is time to rest for a while and then start run again – a lot.
Pics,
From top of Koli
Slippery trails
Last 30 meters.
Bit tired...
Beer
Tired but quite happy, about 3 hours after finishing.
With Susa & Nina who won the girls ultra with huge margin.
Wednesday Oct 3, 2012 #
Note
(rest day)
Rest until Saturday & Marathon of Dangers, 86km trail run event.
Video from year 2011.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpM24nZI0GQ
Video from year 2011.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpM24nZI0GQ
Tuesday Oct 2, 2012 #
9 PM
Running (Trails) 1:05:37 [1] 9.24 km (7:06 / km) +135m 6:37 / km
shoes: Inov8 Roclite 285
With Jarmo.
Monday Oct 1, 2012 #
9 AM