Press Conference with the Bislett Games

Yesterday they had one of the “Bislett Games preview” press conferences at the Plaza Hotel in Oslo. It is now only a bit over two weeks until the Bislett Games, and they went through all the lineups in the events. For the 5000 meters I think they…

have come up with a perfect mix of Africans and Europeans. The field is as strong as ever, but this year they have also managed to get a few Spanish athletes, French, Belgian etc. That means that the race will not only provide a chance for some good times, but also give you a good feel with the other Europeans before the European Championships.

It is still going better in practice. I have had three good quality sessions since the last update, and the they have all been like planned. Especially Mondays track session where I did a standarized 400 meter session that I have done for many years. Frank took lactate acid tests and after 2/3 of the session he pulled me out. He wants me to stay fresh from now on and not rush things. I do not have time for mistakes at this point of the game 🙂

Two weeks to go,
Marius

Gradually getting faster

I have had a nice, steady lift since the race in Florø. Things are like planned so far, and if things continue like this I will JUST be ready in time for the Bislett Games.

Our main aim this year is to be in the beginning of the peak phase…

at Bislett and on top of it during the European Championships 6 weeks later. Therefore, we have made harder priorities this year compared to before. A gradual buildup before a greater peak, sustained through those main races (but even there building up). We have good experience with this before and hope it will work again.

Long treshold session today in the beautiful summer weather here in Oslo. I will stay here until the European Cup 1500 m. the 22nd of June and just prepare myself. Finally some time to relax and not travel :))

Nice, quiet training days here in Oslo

Marius

Back from Florø

What can I say ? The seasons debute was just about as expected. Extremely heavy legs after the altitude (which I am not close to stable from). I could feel it coming on Thursday when the good period I had in the beginning of the week suddenly turned…

around. It is scary how much variations you can have. The higher you go in altitude, the better base training you get (=stronger) but the more up and downs you get also. So I basically felt like I was running with the breaks on 🙂 Normally I would be worried, but I have been through this before. The only difference is that this year I had to compete during a period of great post-altitude variations, something I normally would try to avoid. But it will pay off later in the year when I am rested and feel smooth. My aim is to peak later and this is the price I have to pay for it.

Now I will recovery for a few days and get into a normal rythm again. And build up for the Bislett Games at the end of the month.

All well 🙂

Marius

Off to Florø

I am leaving tomorrow to Florø for the 2000 meters there. I feel close to ready, but it is always strange to start off a new season. Lots of tension in the Team around me and I can feel the big meetings getting closer.

Please wish me luck :)…

Marius

3 days until Florø 2000 meter

I am finally feeling a bit sharper after a H A R D period of training. I managed to get down to normal times again this Monday on the trackworkouts (to coach Franks great relief) and seem to be progressing through the week. It goes like planned, but…

we were a bit nervous when we realized how worn down I was in the middle of last week :))

Now I hope to be training nice and comfortable for a while. No peaks (until close to Bislett Games the 28th of June) but just good, hard progression. I need that now after a long series of altitude stays.

I cannot believe that we are already into a new track season. In one way the winter has seemed long, because of all the training (and no injuries and time to “rest”) and travelling. But in another way it feels like I was running the World Championships yesterday. I think it has to do with focus. You are so much into something, and work your way through pains and up and downs. At this level, you simply have no time to look forward to and plan the track season, because it seems like you will never get through all the hard training and still be healthy/fresh. But suddenly you are there, ready to bring all that training to racing again. Today it is under a month until the Bislett Games. That will be my first major test of the year. With another month of work I hope to be there.

But before that, Florø. A nice little international meeting where my manager Ståle Jan Frøynes is involved in the organization. It is great to start there every year – it always marks the start of a new season of track competitions.

All well,

Marius

One week until my seasons track debute

It is now one week until I run the Florø track meeting here in Norway. The 2000 meter like last year. I am excited about starting the season but I also know that this comes a bit early for me after my Bolivia stay. I have a GREAT endurance base, but…

I am not used to this kind of hard altitude stay so close to the season. You sort of go into a daze, before you get an incredible lift after a while. The reason why I did the altitude stay all the way into May this year, is because I want to me in top shape at the European Championships in August. Last year I had a good peak at the World Champs but was maybe even sharper a month earlier at the Bislett Games. This year I have adjusted things aimed at the European Champs.

The field in Florø will be nice and hard. Some Kenyans, a Marroccon and a 3.36 1500 meter Russian. Plus some Norwegian runners.

Looking forward to it and hopefully it will a nice start to a good season :))

All well,

Marius

Press meeting with the Athletics Federation today

The yearly “national team meeting the press” was held today at the Top Athletics Center. About 15 journalists and photographers came from all the main newspapers to get an idea of how the athletes are set for the season and get individual pictures….

Plus we took national team photoes.

I like events like this. It is relaxed, laid back and you get to talk to the main athletics athletes in Norway. It is a small group, most located in Oslo.

I had a horrible track session this Monday but today I had a great anaerobic treshold session. Frank came out to the Sognsvann lake and took lactate acid tests. My endurance base is super at the moment, but because of the last altitude stay being so close to the season and so high I must expect some more time in order to get the track sessions right. But I feel better for every day at sea level so it looks promising.

I enjoy being back in Norway again. It is nice to run around the Sognsvannarea where so many people go to jog and walk. On every single run I get people who greet me and wish me good luck for the season. That is inspiring because it is so spontanious as I run past. It makes you feel that you are doing a good job, and that people respect what you are doing :)) And it reminds you that you have to stay focus and do your best in practice every single day.

Tomorrow is another hard session on the track. I hope it will be better than Monday 🙂

All well from the beautiful spring in Oslo !

Marius

Back in Oslo, preparing for Florø 2000 meters

I am once again back in Oslo and the familiar training places around here. Today was a very light anaerobic treshold session. I was extremely tired after my last Bolivia training camp and I will be even more careful this time as the season gets…

closer. I have no time to feel tired and worn out. That means missing training sessions.

Franks Kenyan athletes are in Oslo now, and I will get hard competition in the Florø 2000 meters. Last year I got beat by three of them (but I beat them later in the season in the 5000 meters). I hope to be closer this year, but the best of them Joseph Kosgei was second in the Kenyan 3km cross country, right behind 12.54 5000 m. runner Sammy Kipketer, so he will be tough to beat.

First track session at low altitude in the beginning of next week. Until them, I am enjoying great weather in Norway and looking forward to the seasons start 🙂

Marius

Leaving for Norway !

In a few hours I will be leaving for Norway again after another great trip to Bolivia. It is time to get back to Norway to celebrate the 17th of May (national independence day -big celebration) 🙂 I will arrive the evening the 16th, just in time to…

get some sleep before a long day with lots of icecreama, parades and time with friends. But better to come home to after weeks so far from Norway ? Both in distance and culture (and altitude 🙂 )

More from Norway when I get there !

Marius

Back !

I am now safely back in La Paz again after a looooong and strange journey in the remote areas of Bolivia. Through the days there, we have experienced temperatures from -5 to +35 Celsius, from snow-capped moutains to the tropical jungles of Bolivia….

Ranging several thousand meteres in altitude.

We started our trip on Thursday, going up to the flat Altiplano area above La Paz. It looks as remote as it is. Much more so then our other training base outside La Paz. But extremely nice training conditions. And extremely simple living conditions. My nights up there, where we found the training base of our dreams, were in a double sleepingbag, on two madrasses (no bed, like expected..), with a thick hat on, with no electricity, no water (especially one of the mornings when even my drinking water next to the bed froze 🙂 ) and no people around for miles. But what training conditions we found ! Right there, only 90 minutes drive to the tartan track of La Paz. 90 minutes the other direction to the Lake areas where it is great for long, hard distance runs. 90 minutes down to 1500 meters altitude and the jungle (great for high speed runs close to competitions and heat acclimatization), 90 minutes only from the international airport and right next to some perfect slopes to train on. And ideal altitude. I would say you would have a hard time finding a place like this anywhere else in the world with these surrounding and possibilities. Simply great, and worth the time to find.

And the trip was even safer then expected. The closest we came to danger on our trip was the incredibly narrow roads down to the jungle. Where it is left-side driving because the car coming from down has the best view of his outside tire…..pretty logical actually. Last year, 28 cars went over the edge of one of the roads nearby (we avoided that particular road – I like my life too much…) last year..

This will be my training base before the Bislett Games and the European Championships.

We are now tuning into the last days here in Bolivia. Had a good training session on the track today, even after all the change in surroundings from the trip. Shows me that I am on my way 🙂

All well from here !

Marius