Author: Marius

ended up right by the largest Indian market in town and it was the most confusing feeling……I mean, arriving Kenya as a mzungo (white) was strange, but arriving the Indian quarters of La Paz was like being thrown into a Hollywood movie setting where you are absolutely clueless about what was going on…..

Speaking of movie settings…..arriving the airport of El Ato above the city of La Paz gave one of the most spectacular views I have ever experienced. There, below us : La Paz – 1 million inhabistants packed into a valley with mountain peaks well over 6000 meters altitude (Bolivia has 1000 peaks over 6000 meters) all surrounding the city.

Life here is very relaxing. To illustrate this, I just realized todays (and Frank as well) that we have been one hour off the time here for a week without noticing (!) Imagine working one hour off everyone else back in Norway……would bring some confusion when your watch says 5 and all other 4……

But now that we have gotten used to our own little time, we decided to stick with it. So we go to bed at around 10…..which is actually 9……etc. Quite convinient 🙂

Training is going like planned. An easy start and slowly building up. The aim of this training camp is mostly to look at Bolivia as an altitude alternative for Kenya (and it definately is !!), get an early training camp in for acclimatization and find some peaceful paths to train on for a nice start of the season. So I am not pushing or anything. Just comfortable. The altitute feels fine – no problem at all – you can run hard and fast as long as your are a good athlete and used to altitude training. Fantastic training possibilities and great views everywhere.

About all from here. From now on I will update more often…..I had to work hard to find a place with a fast enough connection for updates…..

All well,
Marius

Ps : Event of the day : Some teenage girls in the “rich area” of La PAz got Frank mixed up with Emilio Estevez and started screaming. Definately made his day
🙂

small group of Frank, Henrik and myself had a quick meeting today, and went through all the details. All seems good now. Now it is just to go down there, train hard and see Bolivia.

I will try and update this page from there, but I am not sure about the internet services. If not, I will get someone from home to do the job for me. Either way, it will be updated. And if I can get any pictures home also, I will try that as well.

Wish me good luck. I will need it 🙂

Marius

happen there anyways, so you better try to limit these “surprise” factors as best you can on beforehand.

Training is going well. My running muscles are tuning in to training stress again, and I am running with my usual stride again. I think the timing will be perfect – building up the mileage and feeling nice and rested before going to Bolivia where the altitude stress for sure will make you work hard.

I have also spent some time having small lectures lately. One in Halden (for the orienteering team there) on Saturday and one in Oslo the day after for the top triathletes. Quite interesting to see what kind of running training these sports are doing – trying to mix different components and running being one of them.

All well,
Marius

there. We started the search for a new training place to find a good alternative for Kenya. The problem with Kenya is that it is hard to find good variation in altitude. Most of the altitude area by Eldoret goes from 2000 meters to 2500 meters. So we wanted somewhere else, where the range is greater.

We also wanted to experience a new place and see another culture up close. So we searched the map, and found two interesting areas that were 1) high enough 2) interesting enough. They were Northern China and Bolivia. Then we found info on those two places, and ended with Bolivia. The temperature, altitude, and running conditions are suppose to be great down there.

It will be Frank, Henrik Sandstad (14.09 5000 meter) and myself going down there. A small little group, but with a very professional attitude torwards running and performance. I like to travel in small groups. It is better if you want to keep focus over a long period of time.

So 6 days to go until a whole new running experience. It will be the 23rd country I run in 🙂

Marius

(see link to pictures from Bolivia below this text)
Bolivia
Pronounced As: boliv, Span. bolvyä , officially Republic of Bolivia, republic (1995 est. pop. 7,896,000), 424,162 sq mi (1,098,581 sq km), W South America. One of the two inland countries of South America, Bolivia is shut in from the Pacific in the W by Chile and Peru; in the E and N it borders on Brazil, in the SE on Paraguay, and in the S on Argentina. Sucre is the constitutional capital and seat of the judiciary, but La Paz is the largest city, political and commercial focus of the nation, and the administrative capital and seat of government.

weeks , and now I am feeling the training tiredness again. But I like it, so it is ok.

I am now building myself up to maximum training and will reach it at the end of the month. From there on, it is full training dose and the effort (and training intelligence) to do the best possible results for next season. I am looking forward to getting into that rythm. It is easier to run more and consistent, then it is to run on and off. A good training rythm is a matter of habit……but it only takes some days off and you have to work hard to get back into that habit again…

All well,
Marius

start up because my running base is getting better. And it is easier and easier to keep on going through to the last races of the season. This year I managed to race well for almost exactly 3 months, last year about 2 months, and the years before that 5-6 weeks. Quite motivating to see that you are building your body strong over time.

I am also in the middle of planning my next season of running/altitude training. I am not starting off the year with Kenya like last year, but planning on a training camp at altitude in a totally different place……more of that later – it is still on the planning stage. (though it has been mentioned once in the Norwegian press). But it will be some time this fall, before all my exams at the University in November.

So, here we go again. New year of training, lots of possibilities and (alot of) hard work 🙂

Marius

already. But the real planning will start at the time I start running again. Some interesting moves, and new places to train, so I will start my regular updates on this page from next week or so.

So….yes, I am alive and yes, I have no problem not running at all :))

Marius

that soft, wet cinder, but fun !

Now I am so ready to do nothing. And that is what I will do : nothing. Go to the University, sleep, go out with friend and just enjoy.

2001 season ended 🙂

Marius

ps: (my own) World Champ pictures will be out next week.

will stay dry, otherwise I will be in trouble !

Well, people. Wish me good luck 🙂

Marius