Escape from boredom

Preparing for Mjøsa Rundt on Saturday. Think I had eight bottles in it, but still need to buy more before Styrkeprøven, because I was missing two when I came back home. One was thrown far away, and one was lost among all the others.

Yesterday we did Mjøsa Rundt which is 225 kilometers around … Mjøsa… the largest lake in Norway. We managed to do it almost at our target which was 5.59, we did it in 6.00.59. A hard day because it was temperature was already above 17 degrees Celsius at 08.00, and 27 degrees at 14.00 when we passed the finish line. I almost got cramps when we passed Moelv, but luckily it passed away.

I did by the way pass 3000 kilometers on my bike last week…

This weekend I joined “17-timer’n”, the 17 hours team on their training weekend to Hafjell. We started yesterday at nine o’clock and headed up to Hafjell. From Minnesund we took of towards Feiring, Skreia and Gjøvik, following next weekeds track for “Mjøsa Rundt”. Then at Lillehammer we turned up to Hafjell where we stayed at Quality Hotell. Today we took the other side of Mjøsa back home today, following the rest of the track for Mjøsa Rundt, and this off course applies for Styrkeprøven as well.

A very good weekend, a bit more than 400 kilometers all in all, about 15 hours on the bike with low pulse. That was good because it has been much training the past weeks. Next Sunday it is Mjøsa Rundt, 225 kilometers, the final test before Styrkeprøven. The weather forecast predicts very high tempratures, which can be a challenge.

Is soccer a top level sport? For some that would be true, but all in all I would say that the answer is no, no, no! One of the top clubs in Norway, Lillestrøm has just fired their coach…or the official version is that he has resigned. According to VgTv the resason for this is that the team players are mentaly and fysicaly worn out because of hard training. WTF???

It just confirms what Tor Arne Hetland wrote http://www.sprintgutta.no/sak/000187.asp. I also recommend reading this article http://www.sprintgutta.no/sak/000192.asp which Espen notified me about a couple of weeks ago.

I’m convinced that I spend more time doing efficient traning right now than most of theese players do…

So – I would say: No!

Yesterday we participated in Vestfold Rundt, 165 kilometers around Vestfold county. By far my worst experience this year, hope it will stay that way 🙂 I guess the need for me to sleep on a towel due to pretty much sweat the night before had something to do with it, but never the less, I managed to keep up with the speed and passed the finish line with my team. Find more at
http://idrett.speaker.no/Organisation.asp?id=581352

Me passing the finish line on Sunday, with Hans behind pushing Frode who have just fractured his collar bone!

This picture and 298 others are available at

My team needs 5 escort car drivers for Trondheim – Oslo on the 21’st of June. All expenses will be paid, you only need a drivers license and a day of form work – Friday the 20’th.

Følgebilsjåfør søkes! Vi trenger følgebilsjåfører til Styrkeprøven, noen jeg kjenner som leser bloggen min som tenkes kan bidra for en god sak, nemlig å få laget mitt og meg fra Trondheim til Oslo på 15 timer? Laget dekker dine utgifter, men du må ofre i underkant 2 1/2 dag av ditt liv på oss, fra fredag 20 til litt utpå natta lørdag 21.

Today I competed together with my team in Nordmarka Rundt. 155 kilometers around…Nordmarka. Starting from Valle Hovin, towards Bærum, Jevnaker, Roa and back to Valle Hovin. My team did reach our goal almost, I believe we ended up with the time 4.20, we where hoping for 4.18. I had to stop about 500 meters before the finish line due to one man flipping over and hitting the pavement. Not sure by now, but we assume he fractured his collar bone. The accident was caused by a stupid driver in a car forcing his way out in front of us, making the first ones brake hard. Sadly enough we had four men down today, that is way to many!! I’m just lucky it wasn’t me…

Today I passed 2000 kilometers on my bike this year.

Had planned to go with my team around Nordmarka today, but after a telephone conversation with Espen yesterday I gave in even before I had started. Due to the race yesterday I agreed with him that it would be better for me to slow down today, so I went alone around Mjermen today. First to Bjørkelangen, via Setskog and Rømskog and at last Hemnes back home to Vestreng. All in all 105 km.

The sun was shining, a lot of pretty nature, and I also saw a sparrowhawk sitting next to the road (or at least I assume it that, at least it was a hawk of some kind). I also got, as yesterday, plenty of wind towards me …. 🙁

Yesterday I baked “biking cookies” after the recipe I found on the web page belonging to Team Jæren. The url to the recipe is found here http://www.teamjaren.no/2008/hva-skal-du-spise/ (Norwegian). Tried it today when riding Ceresrittet, did the trick. Easy to chew, did not make me cough, and packed with energy. In addition I added flaked coconut and some dried fruit (raisins, mango and such). The picture is not very good, but at least you get a sense of the amount of cookies.

Apart from that, I managed to stay with the rest of the bunch for 20 kilometers, then I lost them. I thought “not to worry, others will soon catch me up so I can ride with them..”…but no! I continued for 50 kilometers all alone, only the last 12 kilometers did I see others, and the last 10 I was able to get help by riding behind others. Anyhow, about 25 minutes behind the winner of my class, that is as expected.

Sun protection cream, who thought of that, I was not going to the beach…

I did not finish last 🙂