Number 30364

I got mail today from Sweden. The package, which was dropped onto my mail slot included the diploma and the medal of successfully completing the Svensk Klassiker first time. As one can see from the diploma I'm 30 364th to complete this series of 4 sport events during one year in Sweden since 1972.

3 different sport event tours

Kalevan kierros tour, which consists of 6 different sports is by far the smallest when comparing the amount of participants. However Kalevan kierros is the most competitive, where participants competes against each others and points are calculated precisely to get the winner crowned in the end of the year.

Pirkan kierros tour, which consists of 4 different sports is medium size tour and meant for ordinary people, who want to keep fit but are not necessarily competitive and just want to do their best and finish every sport event successfully.

Svensk Klassiker tour, which consists 4 different sports too, is a world-class mass event. The events allure tens of thousand participants and these events are meant for both elite class competitors and ordinary people, who want to test themselves and successfully pass the events.

All in all my balance of account so far is 3 * Kalevan kierros, 2 * Pirkan kierros and 1 * Svensk Klassiker and therefore I have had a chance to exercise very diversely during multiple years, sports like : Skating, skiing, running, swimming, cycling, rowing and orienteering.

Let's keep on moving...

1st 25manna

25manna map

My first 25manna experience. The sun was shining, atmosphere was nice and relaxed. I was going to run on 6th leg 4,7km. Control points 1-4 went ok, no mistakes at control points but perhaps between 2-3 I could have taken more straight route choice. Approaching control point 5 I had problems with equipment, which impacted on my concentration and I did small mistake, which I was immediately able to correct. But then on control point 6 I didn't read the map carefully and went too much on right from the control point.  I lost roughly 3 minutes on this point. All in all I completed the leg at the time of 44:07. Without mistakes I could have run 4 minutes faster.

Tampereen Pyrintö leading after first leg (Anni-Maija Fincke)

Det var det!

Start of 30 km XC run

The primary objective for this year was to complete Svensk Klassiker and the last sport event of this tour was 30 km cross country running "Lidingöloppet". I'm extremely happy to successfully finish the run on Saturday despite of all the problems I encountered during the race.

Short shirt + trousers were my choice

The weather was a bit cool, cloudy and minor showers but I decided to start with short shirt and trousers. It was a good choice, I was feeling warm right after the start. Only the fingers and hands were a bit cold, I haven't used to use gloves when running, but on Saturday they would have been great to have.

First 10 km went OK, but then the stomach problems started. I was feeling pain in my stomach, which slowed the pace. I had to wait on toilet queues when my stomach was totally upset. I'm pretty sure that the energy drink provided by the organizers was the root of the problems. I haven't been using Powerade energy drink earlier.

Runners on the way

The immediate consequence of stomach pains and wait on the toilet queues was my pace was dropping 1 min/km. In addition I couldn't drink and get energy enough during the rest of the race and therefore my energy level was pretty low already at 20 km. It was a harrowing last 10 km, which I somehow managed to walk/jog until finish line. I didn't think of quitting the race, cause otherwise I would have been missing my Svensk Klassiker totally.

I have to say that Svensk Klassiker is much harder than Finnish tours like Pirkan kierros and Kalevan kierros.

The ferry from Stockholm arrived to Turku on Sunday morning half an hour late at 8:00. The orienteering competition at Suomusjärvi was about to start at 9:30. It was quite tight schedule to drive there and get ready for 11,2 km orienteering. However there was just enough time to get there and start together with plenty of Kalevan kiertäjät to the wet forest. It has been raining a lot on Southern part of Finland and the terrain was soft and laborious to run. I was feeling the previous day's 30 km run in my legs and body and therefore I just tried to do with my best to complete the course without big mistakes. The pace was not good but orienteering itself went pretty OK, apart from control point 21.

The orienteering route

All in all 45 km running in forest within weekend took all my energy. Now I'm just trying to recover somehow...