In Norway again

I am back in Norway again. To snow and winter, but actually really beautiful running conditions….it is possible to run on hard packed snow around the lakes and in the forest preserve (only 200 meters from where I live, stretching for hundreds of…

miles). So I do my long distance runs there, and the faster stuff on the treadmill. Works great. Of course not like Kenya, but it has a special charm to it.

Testing will of course be a major part of the next four weeks before I go back to Kenya. Since I will be using altitude throughout the season this year, it is extremely important for me to map the days I performs the best after an altitude stay. I see a very clear pattern already, after the previous stays, but I want to be 100 % sure that this goes for every time – almost no matter what the circumstances are.

Frank Evertsen takes a major part in this, of course, and monitors everything in detail. I would say he is one of few who has knowledge of every one of the core areas to help an athlete perform well…..he has a Ph.d. (Dr.Scient) in Exercise Physiology on the topic going something like “Optimale traning intensity for endurance athletes – with cross country skiers in particular”, he has only 2 semesters left of Medical School that he studied at the same time (took 5 ½ years of it, but didn’t have time to finish), he has several years of experience in the Olympiatoppen (Norwegian Olympic Sports Development), and a backgroup as an athlete himself. Plus he is young (only 34) with an extreme instinct for new ideas and concepts. On top of that he is a practical person who get things done, and knows how to take 100 % care of his athletes. I am extremely lucky to work with such a person, and the challenging work we do is nothing but inspiring.

This week will be an easy one. I can go right up into altitude and train hard from day one, because my body handles altitude well. But I have to be disciplined when I come down. So I listen to my body and take one day at a time for the first 7 days.

Marius