The training-camp in Ylläs is now finished. This time I succeeded to exercise more or less reasonably than on last summer's Ylläs-camp. Back then I had such training goals as banking up climbing meters by running to the top of the fells and that resulted in big pains in muscles. Nevertheless, even after this camp this afternoon's massage will be enjoyable event (or really painful...).
During the weekend I ran Tornionlaakson Rastipäivät. In the first race I was pushing like in a real race, even though the training mileage was pretty high during the week. It was special that this time I did well in the uphill-orienteering, and when the course started to decline I couldn't use the brake. Well, it was a fine competition still:
On the second day my body felt relaxed as an iron bar and HRavg was only 168. Also the orienteering performing was somewhat mediocre. The start in Etunen Rovavaara and Jyppyrä surprised me in terms of orienteering challenge and rocky underground. Tha last part in Ainiovaara was a lot better and there I both ran and orienteered slightly better. Even though the muscles were already pretty tired, the races were fantastic (and I won them both after all). It's a pity that you can't really run these small, but fabulous competitions more often.
Next in program is Forssa Games in Jokioinen. I have to admit that I have some butterflies in my stomach already. Of course because of Jukola also, but especially because it would be nice to catch the fifth win or to get the first place in the marathon-standings. It's pretty odd that sometimes these smaller seem rise the same nervousness as the World Championships!