5000m sub 16
Last wednesday the time was ripe: My first track race since over 12 months, and my first 5000m race since more than 2 years (last time was in Äänekoski/FIN back in July 2005, result was 16:47,52).
This time the race took place in Saarijärvi and I ran a 15:56,17. After some days I can say that it was just what I exoected - not more and not less. I guess the fact that I won the competition made me think it's a a very good performance immediately after the race - when the endorpine level was quite high. However, in terms of the half-marathon preparation (beginning of September) it fits perfectly in the schedule. Also the recovery was very good and I wasn't feeling tired the next days at all.

ECSS 2007
Last week I was busy on the ECSS (European College of Sport Science) and I listened a lot of interesting presentations. In addition to the usual topics such as Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology and Coaching there have been some new and emerging talks about currently well-discussed topics such as gen-EPO, stem cells and motor control. Overall it was a great experience and a good chance to get an update what is currently going on in the different fields of Sport Sciences.

Concerning the training I increased the mileage from the 100km at home in Germany straight to 100miles during the first week back in Finland. However, because of the Congress I lost some kilometers again and counted around 130km for last week. During the 4 congress-days my longest run was 50 minutes and it was impossible to do any speedwork due to the scientific and social programme of the ECSS. Now I hope to get some fast kilometers by taking part in some competitions.
Keep updated for results ;)

Back to business
After one week holiday in good old Germany I am now back in Jyväskylä.
A doctor's appointment on the second day of my holiday brought certainty that I need to go operation at my left foot because there is a bone growing on the lateral side between talus and calcaneus. However right now it doesn't hurt and I hope I can run some fast races in autumn and go to operation after that.
Then on Friday, Kimmo (finnish running mate, now working for his PhD in Germany) came to visit my hometown Zwickau over the weekend and celebrate the 60th birthday of my father. It was nice for me because I also learnt something about my origin by guiding him through the region (e.g. we visited the August-Horch-Museum and the Göltzschtalbrücke). The birthday-party was as funny as expected and it was great to see all the family members in one place and get an update what everyone is doing.
The negative aspect of my home leave was that I did nothing for my studies and the training also suffered (less than 100km for that week). On the other hand being with the family compensates those aspects - and holiday is the time for relaxing.

On my flight back I had some moment of shock when the plane took off with one hour delay. There were some problems with the luggage and 1 hour after the planned departure the captain announced that the plan had to start although, there were still some 30 pieces of luggage missing. The point was that I had the keys for my apartment in my checked-in luggage. I was indeed relieved when I saw my luggage on the luggage belt. I learnt: always take the keys in the hand luggage with you :)

Home, sweet home...
I'm back in Germany for 1 week now. Main reason is the 60th birtday of my father - lot of family members are gathering together and after waiting for 6 months (christmas was the last time I spent in Germany) it's really nice to see the family again.
The last weekend in Finnland was nice, with perfect weather and a visit at Jaakko's summer cottage on Sunday. Typical finnish: Möki (summer cottage), Sauna, swimming in the lake, makkara (sausages) and mosquitos.

me, Jaakko and Miika relaxing from training at the summer cottage

The first day in Germany was exciting too: +30 degrees and sweeting without doing anything- one reason why I choose Finland as my favorite country. However I also had a track work-out with 2x5x400m immediately after my arrival. The times of 72 seconds might not scare most of the competitive runners but for me it's quite good (especially in this weather conditions) and I am on the right way to improve the running shape now. I am planning to participate in some races when I am back Finland, but the main focus is on running a fast half-marathon in autumn.

May is over
and so is the busiest time of the first half of the year. So here is the update of my running competitions in Finland so far:

28.04.: 10 K road (Pentin pinkaisu in Vaajakoski): 34:08 min, 5th place
-ran with the leading pack for 4K but afterwards the 15km-bicycle "warm-up" (no car) and the barbeaucue the night before (junk food and few hours sleep) took it's toll and I had to let them go. Anyway the time was ok for the circumstances

06.05.: halfmarathon road (Katujuoksu / City run in Jyväskylä): 1:14:32 h, 2nd place
-probably would have won the race if it would have been 2 km longer or if I would have known that I was not in the leading position (only realised after 12km that I was in 3rd/4th place), a massive negative split again (1st half: 38mins, 2nd half 36 1/2mins) after last weeks exception and last 5km feeling really good

12.05.: 6K cross-country (pm-maastot in Keuruu): 20:44 min, 6th place
-well I never was a cross-country runner and after last weeks HM I could not stride fast. However good training after the half marathon, which was some kind of "peak comopetition" for the spring

Besides running there were a lot of other things, e.g.:
I made a 100 hour internship at Firstbeat-Technologies which was really interesting especially because it was related to running and the working atmosphere was very natural and productive.
I was selected as the chairman of the Subcommittee for International Affairs of the Student Union at the University of Jyväskylä.
I finished all my PRE-measurements for my Master thesis and now the training period started for my subjects. Since the courses at the University are also finished there is more time now and I can enjoy the Finnish summer. Running in a recovered state feels so easy!

Some new beginnings
Last weeks - or better months passed once again in amazing pace and some changes or better: new beginnings appeared during this time.
First of all my master thesis is on its way since the first measurements started already in late February (that's probably the main reason for the long break without any post in this blog). When I wrote the last post I had really no idea that the development is going to be that fast and I don't get any time to breathe deeply.
However, at the same time (4 weeks ago) I started to put some quality kilometers to my training log. With a short set-back last week - due to the thesis stress and lacking recovery - I hope I am on the way to an injury-free season with the first major competition (finnish championships half-marathon) in late April. The first serious fast sessions of this year (e.g. 4x2000m indoor in 6:40min) gave me quite some motivation; of course I can feel the work-outs for 1 or 2 days (=at least 1 day too long) afterwards but I was surprised to keep the pace during the whole sessions.
With the spring coming to Finland I will go back from the street to the forest for most running sessions again - now that the cross-country skiiers are mostly bagging their skis. I can summarise that the winter was really short (only around 2 months) with some icy weeks (under -20°C) but anyway it was a real winter with quite a lot of snow, just the way I like it.
Also I got some great news from good old Germany - thanks to Katja + Lars (my brother and his girl), who visited me in the middle of February.
Stay tuned for news and some changes on my site (like e.g. video, weather, new design I already changed)

A new year started and the first month is already past.
The expectations for this year were - and still are - optimistic as every year. After having a nice Christmas holiday with my family and friends home in Germany I came back to Finland on 10th of January. I can’t believe that this is already more than 3 weeks ago. The time is really passing by way too fast.
The lectures started and one can already imagine that this semester is also going to get really busy and a lot of work is to be done. I had the first discussions about a possible topic for my Master thesis.
My running shape is still lacking although an injection into my heel short before New Year’s Eve gave temporary improvement of my heel pain (caused by an inflamed heel spur). However I need to do something for my speed since I left out all the fast exercises for around one month (apart from a 20,6km competition in 1:19:08h on a hilly course) and do not feel comfortable when running somewhat faster than 5min/km-pace.

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.