A Merry Christmas to all of you
who are reading this blog every now and then. I want to apologize for that there was no entry for more than one month but the studies took overhand and I had to set some priorities. A lot of things happened during this time:
I took part in a study and got some wire-electrodes inserted in my calf, the finnish president Tarja Halonen visited Jyväskylä and I saw her and I lot more events I cann't even remember so fast.
However I also got some problems with the heel and had to cut down the running (only 40km the last 2 weeks) but therefore made a lot of cross-training like aqua-jogging, ergometer-cycling and gym training. Only yesterday I took part in a somewhat unique race - just for experience. It was held in a disused bunker of the finnish army.

Now I am writing the last papers and preparing the last days of my studies here and will go back to Germany on 20th of December to spend the Christmas time with my family - I am really looking forward for that.

Puuuh, ice age started here in Finland it seems.
Today I started the usual long run (with Vesa and Miikka) at 11 and it was still -15°C! Running for 2h10 we ended up in "warm" -10°C - no it was really not too warm and all of us were covered with ice-beards and white eyelids. However at the same time the sun was shining and it was again beatiful to run throught the nature - this time in a snowy white.
Next week the temperature is forecasted to be around the freezing point and it may be that we loose some of the 15cm snow here. Nevertheless the people are busy waxing their skis :) and the skiing season is opened. I could observe it when I was running my usual forest round through the so called Laajavouri-area which used to be a cross-country region during winter times: More and more people replaced their boots with skies and the end of the week I felt like I was the only one destroying the cross-country trace. At the same time it is just so amazing that the tracks there (and that might be 20km) are completely lightened and you can ski or run the whole night without being scared to break your bones.
Concerning school I had some days to get fresh again (especially mentally) for the upcoming tasks since there was not so much work this week. Fortunately I also started my work as a research assistant and I can get some extra chips while freely choosing my working times.

Time for an update, now that there is the first "easy week"
I can think of since I started my studies here - no reports, assignments or tests for the next couple of days.
Last Monday - 23th of October there was the Liikunta(=sport sciences)-Party for the freshman. After a nice evening with lot of barbecue, Sauna and swimming in the lake I had to leave already early because I had to make a presentation (about comparing sensorimotor and high-intensity strength training) on next morning at 8am. After that it took quite a load off my mind since it took me some nerves to write the review report of the article and prepare the presentation.
On the following Thursday I wrote the intermediate test in Suomi 2 ... and I realised that I should do more when I want to pass the final exam.
Friday then was another exam - on the lectures of the "Measurement of neuromuscular function and performance" - course. Also for this test I should have prepared myself better - I hope I learn from the fact that I was not sure how to answer all the questions.
The weekend was just fine and the first snow came and now the whole city is white - winter came quite fast and most of the mates are complaining. But I enjoyed running through the forest and next to the lake with the snow scrunching under my feet. Fortunately my bike is also working well and I had no problems with going to university - of course it takes a bit longer but it is worth to keep your bones wholesome :)

The intensive course by visiting professors
with the title "movement control, human performance and training adaptation from 9-16th of October 2006 was indeed intense but at the same time really interesting and inspiring. There are not so many chances to get internationally renowned and leading researchers together and giving up-to date information on their research area.
I also got the result of my first book exam - I passed it! And how! On the finnish grading scale from 0(failed) to 5(as long-headed as the lecturer) I got a 4 - that's really unexpected and made me lucky for quite some hours :)
Contrary the 10km competition in Pieksämäki on 8th of October was not satisfying. I only ran 34:26 and took 4th place. Now it is not about the place but last year I was 1 1/2 minutes faster. So I can clearly state that the shape is not as good as at the same time in 2005 - a lot of work is still to do.
The upcoming days I will use to make some research training (digitalizing cross-country skiing technique) and write some more reports e.g. for the intensive course.

2 busy weeks passed by
and there are some more to come. However it is quite enjoyable and it is a lot of positive stress right now.
On 23th of September was the so called "Vaajakosken maastroultra" competition which was organised from my running club here in Finland (see picture). We ran the mountainous 60 km in a relay of three (Tero, Juuso and me) and became the first one to cross the finish line.
The Monday after this race I took part in the first book exam at the university. For some courses you have to write a book exam about a special literature to get the credits. Usually this literature is totally independent from the lectures (somewhat strange but that's it) and you can try to pass them as often as you want. That's why I want to make this experience only 3 weeks after I arrived here. However I have a feeling that I might have passed the exam. In the evening I rewarded myself with going out with two girls from my home university (greetings to Claudia and also Jenny-hope you had a good trip back to Germany)
Two days later we had a lecture with Ben Levine from the US. He is one of the best researchers concerning altitude training - but anyway he could not really tell me when there is the best time for competing post-altitude :)
On Thursday (28.09.) I went canoeing. It was indeed funny to navigate a canoe and it was great experience - now that the trees turn so colourful in autumn (so called "ruska" in finnish).
This weekend (30.9./1.10) was quite relaxing - on Saturday there was a come together with most of my study mates but apart from this it was good relaxing.

Vaajakosken maastroultra (23.09.): I (No.161) am changing to Tero

Siltojen Juoksu 2006
is history now (since 16.09). As suspected I could not defend my title in the 14km-race of this running competition here in my current home-city Jyväskylä. Although the time was 48:44 and thus better as I suggested, there were some better runners (Congratulations Mikael, Mikko ja Marko) deserving the victory. Also an outbreaking flu and some hamstring-problems make me being satisfactory with my performance (thus it was only 7th place).
When I consider the average speed of something under 3:30min/km and compare it to my former competitions this year, where I have never been that fast (not even in 30mins-run), I am sure to be on the right way back to good shape.

Influence of the mechanical properties of the muscle–tendon unit on force generation in runners with different running economy
was the title of my first article, about which I had to make a report and an oral presentation. However this article by Albracht / Arampatzis was quite hard work and not easy to understand. But I managed it and got the main points. At the same time it showed my, that there is a lot of work for me and a lot of thing in biomechanics, physiology and so on have to be made up since I am a graduated biomedical engineer. On the other hand it is really interesting getting to know how the body works during physical activity.

The first week is over
and there have been a lot of new experience, people, impressions and so on again. On the other hand it was quite nice to see some familiar faces and places again. However the forest is still the same nice at it was when I departured last autumn.
On Tuesday there was the official opening ceremony for all new degree students of the University of Jyväskylä. The famous Seminaarit performed a great show and it was worth to see it.
Also the first lectures at the Department of Physical Activity took place and it was interesting to get to know how they handle the courses here - quite different to my former school (University of Applied Sciences Zwickau) in Gemany.
Also training runs good so far. Just get the rhythm of making training twice a day (which is not hard since most of the days the lectures begin at 10.00). On Thursday (07.09) I made a first faster session: 10km in approx. 36 min together with Miika and Matti - both preparing for marathon.

Arrival
After one night at the railway station in Tampere (missed the train by something about 10mins because of flight delay, passport control etc.) I finally arrived in Jyväskylä.