The summer has reached the point where preparations for the World Championships take place. This last two week period is interesting: the last hard trainings are extremely hard and even painful (check the HR-curve above), but on the other hand you are able to enjoy them because the running feeling is so good. I haven't been easing my training too much this summer either (maybe I should do that a bit more..) and from that point of view these last hard trainings with fresh legs are beneficial both physically and mentally. You can "spare" these methods and use them only at the last moment.
Speaking of which...training and coaching is exact art, as you can see from my "training numbers" (6,9 x 690m) ;-). 6,9 x means that six intervals were exactly 690m and one was shorter. Terrain was France-simulating Hitonhauta (JWOC 1992 by the way), where you can find some nice steep hills, fallen trees and rocky surface... Physical feeling was really good!
- Totally 4710m, 400m uphill, running distance about 5,2km. Time 29.56.
The next week I'll spend at home and before travelling to France we'll run a regional event in Mäntsälä on Saturday. The course setter says that it will be a heavy competition...
On Sunday, six days before qualifications take place, we'll travel to France. First we acclimatize at high altitude (alt. 1700m) for couple of days and the two last days we'll spend in Chambery (alt. 300m). The it's time to start the World Championships in France!