tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27350606892133529612024-03-13T03:24:11.732+01:00Øystein Kvaal ØsterbøØystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-16968959681694688562015-09-10T07:58:00.001+02:002023-12-24T13:37:43.150+01:00Antwerpen Sprint O-Meeting<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=566" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/566.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from Brussels" /></a>Last weekend I competed in <a href="http://www.asom.be/en/home" target="_blank">Antwerpen Sprint Orienteering Meeting</a>, and it was actually the first time ever I was running orienteering in Belgium.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/115696214252270959121/album/AF1QipNGdQbmAm77ucTCKfvGWgvqVLgGwwrfq39qp_nL" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vFvbJftv7J4/VfCUN1l0ybI/AAAAAAAA-Rw/tvg0-2DX0Qw/s160-Ic42/DSC_4211.JPG" title="Pictures from Belgium" /></a>I arrived already on Tuesday to have some extra time to explore the country. The local star Yannick Michiels picked me up at the airport, and we went directly to Brussels where we did some sightseeing (including eating Belgium waffle with chocolate) and afterwards we ran a course from last years Brussels City race.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=568" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/568.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from Sahara" /></a> Friday we did an orienteering training in the morning, on a nice map called Sahara, plus a sprint training in the afternoon, followed by diner in Antwerpen together with some of the other international runners.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=564" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/564.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from ASOM Sprint 1" /></a>Saturday ASOM started with two sprint races just North of Antwerpen. In the first sprint I did some mistakes, but still managed to finish 2nd, 43 sec behind Yannick.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=565" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/565.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from ASOM Sprint 2" /></a>The second sprint went well, and I was again 2nd, now 23 sec behind Yannick.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=567" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/567.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from ASOM City race" /></a> Sunday it was an Urban middle distance in Antwerpen Old Town. I was happy with my performance, and I again came 2nd, 1 min behind Yannick.<br />
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Overall Yannick won in front of me, and the two last years JOWC winner Tim Robinson came 3rd. In the women's Galina Vinogradova won in front of the Norwegian girls Elise Egseth, Lone Brochmann and Kristine Fjellanger.<br />
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<a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/115696214252270959121/album/AF1QipNGdQbmAm77ucTCKfvGWgvqVLgGwwrfq39qp_nL" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tQ08RXZjKjs/VfCUh1EacyI/AAAAAAAA-UY/DfTh_RvOios/s220-Ic42/DSC_4277.JPG" title="Pictures from Belgium" /></a>It was great weekend in Belgium, with nice courses on good sprint maps, and I definitely want to come back to <a href="http://www.asom.be/en/home" target="_blank">ASOM the last weekend i June next year</a>. I was also nice to visit several citys, and enjoying good food, and Yannick was a perfect host and training partner the whole weekend.<br />
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My <a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/115696214252270959121/album/AF1QipNGdQbmAm77ucTCKfvGWgvqVLgGwwrfq39qp_nL" target="_blank">pictures from Belgium</a>. <a href="http://www.orientering.no/" target="_blank">Orientering.no</a> has made a report from both <a href="http://www.orientering.no/nyheter/Sider/Sprintet%20til%20andreplasser%20i%20Belgia.aspx" target="_blank">Saturday</a> and <a href="http://www.orientering.no/nyheter/Sider/Intensiv%20sprinthelg%20med%20gode%20tilbakemeldinger.aspx" target="_blank">Sunday</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/115696214252270959121/album/AF1QipNGdQbmAm77ucTCKfvGWgvqVLgGwwrfq39qp_nL" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d2pBlKPSzBw/VfCUlGUwFII/AAAAAAAA-Uw/Rwy190oyRmQ/s220-Ic42/DSC_4291.JPG" title="Pictures from Belgium" /></a>
Today the <a href="http://www.o-nm2015.no/" target="_blank">Norwegian Champs starts in Levanger</a> (1 hour drive North of Trondheim), and the four coming days it will be Long distance, Middle distance (qual + final) and Relay. In the <a href="http://www.liveresultater.no/livesider/livesenter.php?arr=458" target="_blank">Live center you can follow all races with results, GPS trackling and speaker sound</a>.<br />
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PS: The last year my main focus has been on training, work and social life, and I have not prioritized updating this blog so frequently. For weekly updates you can follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo" target="_blank">Twitter: @Kvaal_Osterbo</a> and <a href="https://instagram.com/okvaal/" target="_blank">Instagram: @okvaal</a>.Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-88387143645882688152015-07-28T07:58:00.000+02:002015-07-28T07:58:00.114+02:00St. Moritz and Livigno as WOC preparation<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/StMoritzLivigno" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6ZipYc1NwCU/VbTPhme5tpI/AAAAAAAA8js/afp2xzjCy-M/s220-Ic42/DSC_3406.JPG" title="Pictures from St. Moritz and Livigno" /></a>
This season I have followed a bit different training program than the previous years, and it's the first time I have used high altitude training systematically. I have not been on so many training camps, but when I have been away I have tried to stay at the same place for a longer time. In January I spent <a href="http://okvaal.blogspot.com/2015/02/3-weeks-in-swiss-altitude.html" target="_blank">3 weeks in the Swiss mountains</a>, in March/April I spent <a href="http://okvaal.blogspot.com/2015/05/3-weeks-in-sierra-nevada.html" target="_blank">3 weeks in Sierra Nevada in Spain</a>, and in July I have spent 16 days in St. Moritz and Livigno as a last preparation for the <a href="http://www.woc2015.org/" target="_blank">World Orienteering Champs in Scotland</a> that starts on Friday this week.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=562" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/562.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from WOC selection Sprint" /></a>In the beginning of July we had Norwegian WOC selection races. I skipped the Middle distance since it came in conflict with the Swedish Sprint Champs, that I wanted to run since Sprint is my main focus this season. But I ran the two last selection races in Norway. In the <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=562" target="_blank">Sprint in Vikersund I came 3rd,</a> and in the <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=563" target="_blank">Long distance in Høydalsmo i came 7th</a>. That was good enough to be <a href="http://www.orientering.no/nyheter/Sider/15%20l%C3%B8pere%20klar%20for%20Skottland.aspx" target="_blank">selected to run Sprint and Sprint Relay in WOC</a>, and I'm also a reserve to the Forest Relay.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/StMoritzLivigno" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sp93Y7W2ELs/VbTRS8E-9xI/AAAAAAAA8zo/2pDN0B9bBvs/s220-Ic42/DSC_3846.JPGG" title="Pictures from St. Moritz and Livigno" /></a></div>
The day after the selection races I traveled directly to St. Moritz in Switzerland, where I stayed alone for two days before I met Borger Melsom and Sindre Rønning. Together with them I stayed 2 weeks in Livigno. Livigno is just over the boarder to Italy, 1 hour drive from St. Moritz, but the price level is much lover. We traveled back to St. Moritz and the Engadin valley some days to get variation in the training environment.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/StMoritzLivigno" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zh0ofmncKbA/VbTPZVBdi4I/AAAAAAAA8iA/FY830d8iN5k/s220-Ic42/DSC_3366.JPG" title="Pictures from St. Moritz and Livigno" /></a>The first week I took it quite easy to acclimate to the high altitude, and did some longer trainings with hiking/jogging where I was out for 2 - 7 hours, plus some shorter training and a medium speed run.<br />
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The second week I started with some tougher training, and in total I did 3 interval sessions and 2 more medium speed runs. I did also Via Ferrata two times. The second last day Sindre and I were out <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/839273037" target="_blank">hiking in Engadin most of the day</a>. We climbed two peaks higher than 3000 masl (Piz Murtel and Piz Nair), and took cable cars down to save the legs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/StMoritzLivigno" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-znznvKiCtSg/VbTQ7XtBVDI/AAAAAAAA8vE/keLG-WQfNt8/s220-Ic42/DSC_0484.JPG" title="Pictures from St. Moritz and Livigno" /></a></div>
In total I was very happy with the weeks in St. Moritz and Livigno. The weather was great, the training conditions perfect with nice mountain on all sides, and Sindre and Borger gave me good company. I was also healthy the whole time, and managed to do what I had planed.<br />
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On my <a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo" target="_blank">Twitter @Kvaal_Osterbo</a> you can see some of the highlights I have mentioned:<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/StMoritzLivigno" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yixKZkIfaNM/VbTQsqaTiRI/AAAAAAAA8sc/HYXL7StpkXM/s220-Ic42/DSC_3740.JPG" title="Pictures from St. Moritz and Livigno" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li>Easy first day in St. Moritz</li>
<li>Took some different cable cars 2nd day in St. Moritz</li>
<li>Nice mountain hike/run between St. Moritz and Corvatsch</li>
<li>First interval session</li>
<li>Climbed the via feratta to Piz Trovat 3146 masl</li>
<li>Sprint-o + track intervals in St. Moritz</li>
<li>Easy day while the others rollerskied to Passo Stelvio 2758 masl</li>
<li>Hike to Piza di Rin 3007 masl and medium speed running</li>
<li>Interval training in Bormio</li>
<li>Hiking for 7,5 h in Engadin</li>
<li>Ends 2 great weeks in Switzerland / Italy with sprint-o in Ardez</li>
</ul>
<div>
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/StMoritzLivigno" target="_blank">Pictures from St. Moritz and Livigno</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/StMoritzLivigno" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YWNDTglNy6Y/VbTQKi4p0DI/AAAAAAAA8nY/6xOU6DLS4V4/s220-Ic42/G0050116.JPG" title="Pictures from St. Moritz and Livigno" /></a>Now I have stayed home in Stockholm for almost a week, and on Wednesday I will travel to Scotland for the World Champs. My WOC program is as following:<br />
<ul>
<li>Fri 31st July Sprint Qualifier</li>
<li>Sat 1st August Sprint Relay</li>
<li>Sun 2nd August Sprint Final </li>
<li>Wed 5th August Relay (I'm reserve)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/StMoritzLivigno" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5UWZt9ywkVs/VbTO9u93_cI/AAAAAAAA8b8/VzgKOCLqRi4/s220-Ic42/DSC_3172.JPG" title="Pictures from St. Moritz and Livigno" /></a>You can follow the races live on TV in several countries (<a href="http://www.orientering.no/nyheter/Sider/NRK%20sendinger%20fra%20VM%20i%20Skottland.aspx" target="_blank">Norway/NRK</a> and <a href="http://www.svt.se/sport/vm-i-orientering-skottland" target="_blank">Sweden/SVT</a>), and through <a href="http://www.woc2015.org/info/watch-at-home" target="_blank">the organizers web service.</a><br />
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PS: The last year my main focus has been on training, work and social life, and I have not prioritized updating this blog so frequently. For weekly updates you can follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo" target="_blank">Twitter: @Kvaal_Osterbo</a> and <a href="https://instagram.com/okvaal/" target="_blank">Instagram: @okvaal</a>.Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-71579995156143566762015-05-27T07:57:00.000+02:002015-05-27T10:58:41.614+02:003 weeks in Sierra Nevada<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/SierraNevada" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5QXbWzvWDu4/VSJOprcxXqI/AAAAAAAA2YI/YLzaqT7B6x4/s220/DSC_1936.JPG" title="Pictures from Sierra Nevada" /></a>
Last winter I followed a bit different training program than the previous years. Since I'm not in the Norwegian National Teams training group I have had the opportunity to plan my training exactly as I want and believe in. I have not been on so many training camps, but when I have been away I have tried to stay at the same place for a longer time. I have not been running too much orienteering, but had main focus in becoming a faster runner. A main goal has been to have continuity in my training, without to many disturbing elements.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/SierraNevada" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9piiOA5vdew/VSJM8wm0KtI/AAAAAAAA2QA/r6WbNosEhVU/s220/DSC_1654.JPG" title="Pictures from Sierra Nevada" /></a>
In January I spent <a href="http://okvaal.blogspot.com/2015/02/3-weeks-in-swiss-altitude.html" target="_blank">3 weeks in Swiss mountains</a> and in February <a href="http://okvaal.blogspot.se/2015/02/lidingo-camp-in-guardamar.html" target="_blank">10 days in Alicante with my club IFK Lidingö</a>. In connection with the Easter I had my second high altitude training camp, and from the end of March to the middle of April I spent almost 3 weeks in Sierra Nevada in Spain.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/SierraNevada" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-01bns1Jllds/VSJPQxprd0I/AAAAAAAA2bg/YvhCJxXFS9Q/s220/DSC_2035.JPG" title="Pictures from Sierra Nevada" /></a>
Originally I was thinking about going to Flagstaff in USA or Dullstroom or Eldoret/Iten in Africa, but ended up with Sierra Nevada since it was a much shorter travel, and still seemed to be a place for good training conditions. In short terms I can say that it was fantastic environments for training, and that the first two weeks was really good, while the last week was partly destroyed by stomach problems and fever.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/SierraNevada" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5IvYUNHNbQ4/VSJM5FrA-oI/AAAAAAAA2Pw/WVmRuEyIaTI/s220/DSC_1623.JPG" title="Pictures from Sierra Nevada" /></a>
I stayed in Sierra Nevada ski resort 2200 masl the whole period. The day I arrived it was snowing, but the following days the temperature increased to be around 15 degrees in daytime. The first week I did only easy training, and the last two weeks I had planed to have a high intensive training every third day.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/SierraNevada" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pYkY8Gl3yvg/VSJNvTcMQfI/AAAAAAAA2T4/jO3_9ZXB3Q0/s220/DSC_1809.JPG" title="Pictures from Sierra Nevada" /></a>
For most of my training I traveled down to altitude between 1200 and 1800 masl. There it was mostly great weather, and possible to run in short pants and without shirt. I did several long easy runs in the mountains, where I was out for 3 – 4 hours.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/SierraNevada" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dGXIOzU66Qk/VSJNF_yzBYI/AAAAAAAA2Qw/zhRgzl22IM4/s220/DSC_1681.JPG" title="Pictures from Sierra Nevada" /></a>
The website <a href="http://www.treksierranevada.com/" target="_blank">Trek Sierra Nevada</a> was useful for finding nice places to run, and I was running all of <a href="http://www.treksierranevada.com/map" target="_blank">the 10 closest hikes in the area between Sierra Nevada and Granada</a>. Sometimes I made a combination of several hikes, or made an extra loop.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/SierraNevada" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L_AlC_M9wno/VS9oFhYCaCI/AAAAAAAA3d4/IttuxaRMidI/s220/DSC_2088.JPG" title="Pictures from Sierra Nevada" /></a>
The first two weeks my training went really well and here are the highlights I have mentioned on <a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo" target="_blank">Twitter @Kvaal_Osterbo</a>:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo/status/581551656854245376" target="_blank">Alpine skiing the first day with great weather</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo/status/581933008221016065" target="_blank">Mountain run from Monachil</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo/status/582481027362373632" target="_blank">Mountain run from Güejar Sierra</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo/status/583025668700708864" target="_blank">Running exercises, speed and intervalls in Granada</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo/status/583368580999356416" target="_blank">Long run from Granada to Bears de Granada</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo/status/583711268969783296" target="_blank">Run/hike to the top of Pico Veleta 3398 masl.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo/status/584472625583366144" target="_blank">7 x 1000 m and mountain run from Sierra Nevada</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo/status/584819400525672451" target="_blank">Sprint-o and gorge walk</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo/status/582481027362373632" target="_blank">in Monachil</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo/status/585181520593342464" target="_blank">Sprint-o and track intervalls in Guadix</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo/status/587930623332986880" target="_blank">Pico Veleta on randonee skies and sprint-o in Granada</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo/status/588270560825712641" target="_blank">3 different hikes as a final long mountain run</a></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/SierraNevada" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VAPQ7aDWeu0/VS9oatmwGDI/AAAAAAAA3gw/xEWssEYmrfc/s220/DSC_2203.JPG" title="Pictures from Sierra Nevada" /></a>
The first week I stayed alone. That was fine because I had a lot of work to do, and was mainly sitting in front of my computer when I was not out training. The two last weeks I got company from a Norwegian friend and my family.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/SierraNevada" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9RUEzYvwUw4/VS9ojuCjuNI/AAAAAAAA3h4/uUg6yYh8FtY/s220/DSC_2303.JPG" title="Pictures from Sierra Nevada" /></a>
The third week was unfortunately partly ruined because I got some serious stomach problems. In that period I traveled down to Nerja at the coast, to recover faster than in high altitude. I had to stay in bed (or at the bathroom) for some days, with fever in the beginning.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/SierraNevada" target="_blank">Pictures from Sierra Nevada</a><br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=545" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/545.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from NC-1 Sprint" /></a>
It took some weeks before I felt recovered from the stomach problems, and I think the sickness also influenced in my results during the Norwegian World Cup selection races in the end of April, where I finished <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=545" target="_blank">3rd in Sprint</a> and <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=547" target="_blank">16th in Long</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=549" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/549.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from Swedish League WRE sprint" /></a>
But the last weeks my shape has felt better and better, and I have got some pretty good results, even if my orienteering have not always been the best. <a href="http://okvaal.blogspot.se/2015/05/4th-in-10mila-with-ifk-lidingo.html" target="_blank">In 10mila I ran in the IFK Lidingö team finising in 4th place</a>, and in a <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=549" target="_blank">Swedish League WRE Sprint in Dalarna I finished with the 2nd best time</a>, but was disqualified because I punched a wrong control. Last week I was <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=550" target="_blank">3rd in Stockholm City Cup</a>, <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=552" target="_blank">2nd in Centrum Team Sprint</a> together with Niklas Serrander and did <a href="http://springlfa.se/30385/" target="_blank">a pretty good 5 km street race finishing 2nd in the time 15.33</a> (in a too hilly course to set a top time).<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=550" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/550.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from SCC-1" /></a>
Now I am looking forward the <a href="http://www.nmsprint2015.no/" target="_blank">Norwegian Sprint Champs in Tønsberg</a> the coming weekend, and hopefully <a href="http://www.woc2016.se/en/pre" target="_blank">World Cup in Norway and Sweden</a> next week.<br />
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PS: The last year my main focus has been on training, work and social life, and I have not prioritized updating this blog so frequently. For weekly updates you can follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo" target="_blank">Twitter @Kvaal_Osterbo</a> and <a href="https://instagram.com/okvaal/" target="_blank">Instagram @okvaal</a>.<br />
<br />Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-39474833980605497452015-05-18T07:55:00.000+02:002015-05-18T09:46:17.557+02:004th in 10mila with IFK Lidingö<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=548" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/548.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from 10mila" /></a>My club IFK Lidingö had great result in all the 5 major relays last season, finishing 2nd in 10mila, Jukola and Swedish Champs, and winning 25manna and Smålandskavlen. The winter training have gone well for the whole team, and we had quite big expectations for 10mila this year.<br />
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The Lidingö boys did a great job during the night, and sent me out on the 7th leg in the leading group together with 4 other teams.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/10milaSkepptuna" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pWb_TdK4-Jw/VVW9IQwDDSI/AAAAAAAA4Yg/N17qC_MqtIE/s220/WP_20150509_002.jpg" title="Pictures from 10mila in Skepptuna" /></a>
I followed my plan and ran secure night orienteering in the beginning of the leg. Had company with Frol and SNO, but from the forking in the east part of the course I was alone (in 3rd position).<br />
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It started to be lighter when I headed back, and I tried to increase the speed. But on the long leg to the 15th control I lost more than 1 minute going too much to the right in the middle part of the leg. Tried to be accurate with the direction on the shorter legs in the green in the end, but missed the 18th control with almost 3 minutes. I was then passed by IFK Göteborg, Kalevan Rasti and Halden, and changed over as 6th team.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/10milaSkepptuna" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ue9BCrud5eY/VVW9FpyByJI/AAAAAAAA4YM/myGevcbAvYg/s220/WP_20150510_006.jpg" title="Pictures from 10mila in Skepptuna" /></a>
Filip and Mårten did great races on the following legs and brought us up in the lead before the last leg, but Fredrik didn't have a good day technical (even if it seemed like he had the highest running speed), and we finished in 4th position. It felt bittersweet since we were so close to the victory, even if most of the team did really well. IFK Göteborg won in front of Halden and Kalevan Rasti after a strong sprint finish by Eskil Kinneberg.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/10milaSkepptuna" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vFCAA1VC4N8/VVW9GxRdB9I/AAAAAAAA4YQ/ay7cUlSTlBk/s220/WP_20150510_010.jpg" title="Pictures from 10mila in Skepptuna" /></a>Lidingö's women's teams did also great, and finished <a href="http://eventor.orientering.se/Events/ResultList?eventId=9208&showRelayLineups=True&groupBy=EventClass" target="_blank">6th, 21th and 39th</a>. We have already started to look forward to <a href="http://www.jukola.com/2015/en/" target="_blank">Jukola</a>, that will be held in Finland in just one month.<br />
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<a href="http://eventor.orientering.se/Events/ResultList?eventId=9208&eventClassId=190461" target="_blank">Results</a>, <a href="http://www.tulospalvelu.fi/gps/" target="_blank">GPS tracking</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFr03ZJNj9tjNCjEV_jnotA" target="_blank">video broadcast</a> from <a href="http://10mila.se/" target="_blank">10mila</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www6.idrottonline.se/IFKLidingosSkidoOK-Orientering/" target="_blank">IFK Lidingö's</a> homepage has a report from each leg for both the <a href="http://www6.idrottonline.se/IFKLidingosSkidoOK-Orientering/Nyheter/NyheterfranIFKLidingoSOK/Damlaget6apa10-mila/" target="_blank">women's</a> and <a href="http://www6.idrottonline.se/IFKLidingosSkidoOK-Orientering/Nyheter/NyheterfranIFKLidingoSOK/Herrarna4apa10-mila/" target="_blank">men's teams</a>.Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-713171253453409942015-02-26T07:50:00.000+01:002015-02-26T07:50:00.667+01:00Lidingö camp in Guardamar<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/Guardamar" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eKaMDpwKaZI/VO3pOBl0u6I/AAAAAAAAzGs/UzdVHOHPZDM/s220/DSC_1113.JPG" title="Pictures from Guardamar" /></a>
In the middle of February i spent 10 days in the Alicante area in Spain on training camp with my club <a href="http://www.ifklidingo.se/" target="_blank">IFK Lidingö</a>. We stayed in Guardamar, where JWOC middle distance was arranged in 2002.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/Guardamar" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r63ZZ7Xgd2g/VO3ocjmZk6I/AAAAAAAAy-E/9spEERprywY/s220/DSC_7258.JPG" title="Pictures from Guardamar" /></a>
A camp like this is often almost only orienteering trainings with map. But I wanted to have a good training period with different types of training, and skipped some of the orienteering trainings to do running on hard surface, running exercises and some longer trainings.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=526" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/526.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from Guardamar" /></a>
Fredrik Johansson and I arrived on Wednesday 11th Feb, two days before most of the other Lidingö runners.<br />
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Thursday we ran the <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=523" target="_blank">Long</a> and <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=524" target="_blank">Middle</a> course from the World Cup held North West of Murcia in April 2014.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/Guardamar" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wBqbIkapbTQ/VO3ob5aCr4I/AAAAAAAAy94/7Rzgq852xHg/s220/DSC_7247.JPG" title="Pictures from Guardamar" /></a>Friday I joned Fredrik for a 90 min progressive run. We started running 4.00 min/km, and increased the speed every 10 min. I finished with 3.20, while Fredrik ran a bit longer and faster. In the afternoon I did the first of many training on the Guardamar maps along the coast.<br />
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Saturday the club camp started, and we did two shorter orienteering trainings (plus running exercises).<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/Guardamar" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-D2Arc7oYG7c/VO3or0QO4xI/AAAAAAAAzAg/hvFqV7Z7FDI/s220/IMG_6781.JPG" title="Pictures from Guardamar" /></a>
Sunday we had three orienteering sessions; a normal course, a relay simulation and a night orienteering training.<br />
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Monday I took a day off from running, and did a <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/699010199" target="_blank">5 h bike ride</a> with Niels-Peter Foppen. We biked over a mountain to Hondon, where we ate lunch. Both the nature and weather was great.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/Guardamar" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-chgk9iC01PM/VO3pWad9kmI/AAAAAAAAzII/XhoPVi2mySY/s220/DSC_1134.JPG" title="Pictures from Guardamar" /></a>
Tuesday I did running exercises lead by Anders Gärderud plus a <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=537" target="_blank">tricky sprint training in Alicant</a>e.<br />
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Wednesday most of the Lidingö runners did <a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/700401829" target="_blank">a long run i the mountains</a>. I did also a night orienteering training.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=533" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/533.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from Guardamar" /></a><br />
Thursday we had a tough day, with a prologue plus a night orienteering chasing start. I won the prologue, and was running alone most of the chasing start. But I blow it in the end, and was passed by almost all the others to the last control. Many Lidingö runners are training good and running well at the moment.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/Guardamar" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aFZhM1-3rgE/VO3oemWMkYI/AAAAAAAAy-Y/UTB0Lh4hano/s220/DSC_1017.JPG" title="Pictures from Guardamar" /></a>
Friday I again did running exercises with Gärderud plus a sprint training. This time at the university in Elx, where full speed the whole way was required. Nick Simonin, Mårten Boström and I all finished within 1 second.<br />
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Saturday I ended the camp with a long orienteering course plus some road running. (Most of the others stayed one day longer then me.)<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/Guardamar" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xkerOXcB_NY/VO3pd-RqpfI/AAAAAAAAzJY/s6BZMinn7a0/s220/DSC_1167.JPG" title="Pictures from Guardamar" /></a>In totalt I would say it was a great training camp, with a lot of good trainings together with almost 20 other Lidingö runners. Thanks to the club and our trainer Thomas Furuheim who organized everything!<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/Guardamar" target="_blank">Pictured from Guardamar</a><br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/index.php?user=oystein&categoryID=2&year=2015&filter=" target="_blank">Maps in my DOMA</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.tractrac.com/index.php?page=clubpage&id=25" target="_blank">Lidingö's GPS tracking</a><br />
<br />Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-63883089799918735272015-02-09T07:55:00.000+01:002015-04-24T12:02:25.823+02:003 weeks in Swiss altitude<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/Pontresina" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Y0d5gGeJH2g/VLo0sA6DLiI/AAAAAAAAvMM/s0Dl835OMW8/s220/DSC_0503.JPG" title="Pictures from Pontresina" /></a>
In January I spent 3 weeks in the Swiss mountains. The first and third week I stayed in Pontresina in the Engadin valley, and the second week in Lenzerheide, where the European Ski-o Champs was arranged. The main focus for the trip was to get a lot of easy training (mostly on cross country skies) on high altitude, but I did also some sessions with fast running on lower altitude. It was 3 great weeks with a lot of good training in really nice environments!<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/Pontresina" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-weP7bkB2qDk/VLv8LBxKSGI/AAAAAAAAvYA/WO1EqHI_MwQ/s220/DSC_0527.JPG" title="Pictures from Pontresina" /></a>
The first week i spent in Pontresina, 5 km from St. Moritz in the Engadin valley. I stayed together with the Norwegian Ski-o Team, that had a pre camp before the European Ski-o Champs the following week. The first week on high altitude I did only easy training. The first days it was not much snow, and we skied on artificial snow. But it was good for the running. In the weekend it came a lot of new snow, and the last day in Pontresina it was nice ski conditions.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/SkiOEOCLenzerheide" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gg7tjCi_Lc4/VL-pqNHQb0I/AAAAAAAAwEY/KQuEPSBbPX4/s220/DSC_1354.JPG" title="Pictures from ESOC in Lenzerheide" /></a>
The second week I moved with the Ski-o Team to Lenzerheide, where the <a href="http://www.skiolem15.ch/" target="_blank">European Ski-o Champs</a> was arranged. I was there mainly for doing my own training, but since the Norwegian coach got sick, and had to stay home in Norway, I helped the team as a leader, joining team leaders meetings and being at start and arena during the races. It was quite busy days, but I was still able to train pretty well.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=517" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/517.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from ESOC Long, loop 1" /></a>
I was also competing in the Long distance with mass start, since Norway had a free starting spot. The race went OK, and I finished 29th, 5 min behind the winner Erik Rost. On the first loop I had the short forking, and was in front of many of the best, but when I had the long forking on the last loop I was pretty alone. <a href="http://www.skiolem15.ch/index.php/en/live" target="_blank">Results, video, GPS, maps and pictures from all races.</a><br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/SkiOEOCLenzerheide" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-38sRClVpnU0/VMimtcYPyiI/AAAAAAAAw6E/L6DuiRDX3gE/s220/DSC_2158.JPG" title="Pictures from ESOC in Lenzerheide" /></a>
It was nice to be a part of the Ski-o Team again, and be able to help them, after competing on international level most of the seasons from 2003 - 2009. (I have relay medals and individual top 6 positions from 3 World or European Ski-o Champs.) The week was ended in the best possible way when Norway won the mens relay (like last year), and we got also medals to Øyvind Watterdal in the Sprint and Audhild Bakken Rognstad / Hans Jørgen Kvåle in the Sprint relay.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/SkiOEOCLenzerheide" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qNhY4wE9qHI/VMK4-OkpRvI/AAAAAAAAwKM/4MW5tiGyRcc/s220/DSC_0617.JPG" title="Pictures from ESOC in Lenzerheide" /></a>
The third and last week in Switzerland I went back to Pontresina, where I stayed together with a friend from Trondheim. The skiing conditions was now excellent with almost 200 km of tracks.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/Pontresina" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-AqMEoFZu_pE/VM8_6F44x-I/AAAAAAAAyDc/gjEEVNhHPC0/s220/DSC_0837_b.jpg" title="Pictures from Pontresina" /></a>
The last one and a half week I traveled down to lower altitude every third day for running faster sessions. I did <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=520" target="_blank">sprint-o and track intervals in Chur</a>, longer intervalls in Tirano and track intervalls in Chiavenna. At all these places it was totally snow free, and in Tirano as warm as 10°C.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/Pontresina" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s_XEWj9sd-8/VMlLuG4NdkI/AAAAAAAAxFQ/LwVDCTQ4q5A/s220/DSC_0700.JPG" title="Pictures from Pontresina" /></a>
I did also the two longest skiing sessions of my life during the last week in Pontresina. The first more then <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/684729237" target="_blank">5 hours (80 km) up the valley to Maloja</a>, and the last <a href="http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/686816834" target="_blank">7 hours (100 km) down the valley to Zernez</a>.<br />
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I was also able to taste the local dishes fondue and raclette, and the last weekend I meet my parents. Before I took the flight home I did a <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=521" target="_blank">sprint-o in the historical city of Milano</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/Pontresina" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZRsQC685jxQ/VM9AmWDl4QI/AAAAAAAAyHA/NVQpwRm1VJM/s220/DSC_0923.JPG" title="Pictures from Pontresina" /></a>
In total I got 3 great weeks in the Swiss mountains, with a lot of good training. Both the Engadin valley and Lenzerheide are really nice places, especially when you love skiing, and that was also the reason I was choosing to go the the Alps on this time of the year, in stead of for example Kenya or South- Africa.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/Pontresina" target="_blank">Pictures from Pontresina</a><br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/SkiOEOCLenzerheide" target="_blank">Pictures from ESOC in Lenzerheide</a><br />
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<a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo/status/564446780868538368" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B9VRWtZIEAElNHo.jpg" title="Pictures from NM 3000 m indoor" width="200" /></a>Yesterday I tested my shape running 3000 m indoor during the <a href="http://www.nm.steinkjerfik.no/" target="_blank">Norwegian Champs in Steinkjer</a>. I had aimed to run below my personal best that is 8.29, but was not feeling too fresh, and had to struggle the whole race, without having the best feeling. In the beginning it was a fight for the positions, and the runners in the front started really fast. I was leading the second group from 600 to 2400 m, but was passed by some fast guys in the end, and finished 10th, on the time 8.44. <a href="http://www.kondis.no/dramatikk-og-ny-triumf-for-erik-udoe-pedersen-paa-3000-m.5689722-127676.html" target="_blank">Results</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa_mmv8Iaw8&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">video from the race</a><br />
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<a href="https://twitter.com/Kvaal_Osterbo/status/564446780868538368" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B9VRWtiIQAEeDZN.jpg" title="Pictures from NM 3000 m indoor" width="200" /></a>
The result was not as good as I had hoped. But I have not been running too much during the 3 weeks in the Swiss Alps, even if the speed on the shorter intervalls has been pretty good. And I probably need more practice on keeping a stable high speed to perform better. But it's still a long time until the orienteering season starts, and I think I have made a good base of training so far this winter.<br />
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The coming week the <a href="http://www.orientering.no/ski-o-vm2015/Sider/Home.aspx" target="_blank">World Ski-o Champs</a> will be arranged on Budor in Norway. I would have liked to be there and watch may friends, but I will focus on training for the orienteering season, and will instead follow them <a href="http://www.liveresultater.no/livesider/livesenter.php?arr=391&lang=en_EN" target="_blank">live on internet</a>.Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-52128528366142472232014-10-08T13:58:00.001+02:002014-11-17T14:45:20.691+01:00Swedish Champion in Ultra Long distance<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/SMUltraLongUppsala" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nd8cSb7d4W0/VGiUBFfNHbI/AAAAAAAAsq0/eWuLqeV5WCA/s220/received_10203617616620184.jpeg" title="Pictures from SM Ultra Long" /></a>
Last weekend I participated in the Swedish Championship in Ultra Long distance. It was held in Skogstibble west of Uppsala, and it was a 24 km long course with Mass start. It was held at the same weekend as the World Cup Final in Switzerland, so some of the best Swedes where unfortunately not running. I had originally hoped to run the WC, and especially the Sprint final, but because of the economical situation Norway was only sending 3 men and 3 women, and I was not good enough this year. But SM Ultra was a nice replacement for the WC, and a totally different sort of challenge.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=478" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/478.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from SM Ultra, loop 1" /></a>
I had expected it to be several forked loops, like in Blodslitet. But from the control codes it seemed to be no forking until the butterfly. Most runners was together on a long line until we had past the road half way to the 3rd control. Between the road and the 3rd control the runners started to spred out, and I got stuck in a lot of fallen trees and was suddenly alone. Got a bit stressed, but continued following the compass in the right direction, and saw the open area to the right before the control. When I was entering the control circle I met the leading runners, and understood I was approx 30 seconds behind them. (A lot of runners missed several minutes on this control, and was already then out of the match for the victory.)<br />
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To the 4th control I managed to catch the leading group (who ran too much to the right, and missed the path through the green), and I punched the butterfly control first. Had the same forking as Karl Walheim and Joakim Svensk on all loops. We lost some time to the 5th and 8th control, and when we entered the butterfly control the last time we meet the leading guys who had just left the butterfly, and at the control we also meet some other guys. At the 14th control we where together again, and we where now a group of 8 runners who stayed together most of the rest of the race.<br />
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To the 16th control we split up, and together with some others I came to much to the left and punched the control 20 - 30 sec after the first runners. But we got contact on the following leg, and where together at the map change. <br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=479" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/479.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from SM Ultra, loop 2" /></a>
The 8 runner group stay together the whole second loop, that was pretty short. We did a small mistake to the 22nd control. The speed was OK, but not very high. This loop had nice runability, compared to most of the other terrain, where it was stony and partly very dense vegetation.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=480" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/480.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from SM Ultra, loop 3" /></a> On the last longer loop I understood that it would not be any more forking, and I was a bit disappointed how they managed to make a 24 km long course with 3 loops, without having more forking then a butterfly on the first loop. The speed increased a bit, and I was mainly in the last half of the group. Was not struggling, but didn't feel for running faster either, and the leading guys did a good job, except a mistake to the 30th control.<br />
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To the 36th control the others was insecure, and I got the control first. Was leading the group on the following leg, but got stuck in a really stony area, lost the direction, got insecure, and some other took over the lead again. <br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/SMUltraLongUppsala" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-owJPZE3pwjY/VDUmNF5qgTI/AAAAAAAAr1k/2qD9X3ytAIY/s220/10670170_362157143944472_4637154009277404024_n.jpg" title="Pictures from SM Ultra Long" /></a>
To the 38th control I thought is was the right time to get a better position before the finish, and I passed some of the others on the open area. The rest of the course had not so stony ground, and I felt OK physical. To the 39th control I took over the lead, but Joakim Svensk passed me just before the control and I thought 2nd position was good enough before the sprint. To the 2nd last control Joakim ran to much to the right, I got the control first, and already then I felt pretty sure to win the race. To the last control I just followed the compass to the field, and I didn't need to sprint in the run in, and could win 4 seconds in front of Martin Regborn. <a href="http://eventor.orientering.se/Events/ResultList?eventId=8085&groupBy=EventClass" target="_blank">Results</a> and <a href="http://obasen.orientering.se/winsplits/online/sv/default.asp?page=table&databaseId=33498&categoryId=1&ct=true" target="_blank">splits</a><br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/SMUltraLongUppsala" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fNlPjyyiQdE/VDUmPYxrBiI/AAAAAAAAr1U/f9mM1SizI-M/s220/10672377_703292259745923_8677547286939853853_n.jpg" title="Pictures from SM Ultra Long" /></a>
Cool to win my Swedish Champion titel, even if I was just following other runners big parts of the race. But in a mass start doing the right moves on the right times is a big part of the game, and I succeeded this time. That my club mate <a href="http://annabachman.wordpress.com/2014/10/07/sm-guld/" target="_blank">Anna Bachman</a> won the women's race made it a perfect day for IFK Lidingö!Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-74292169234989091992014-06-19T23:49:00.000+02:002014-06-20T15:05:22.533+02:002nd in Jukola with IFK Lidingö!<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=457" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/457.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from Jukola" /></a>
Last weekend I participated in the world biggest orienteering relay Jukola in Finland. My club IFK Lidingö have had a great spring season, with a 2nd place in 10mila and many runners performing well individual. But the last years we have had problems performing as expected in Jukola, and often lost too much time on the longer night legs in the beginning.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/JukolaKuopio" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9Ri_bJvLksg/U6NYDSIySWI/AAAAAAAArPc/HuHcG7_ueAQ/s220/10441123_830236093673194_6624682520029522346_n.jpg" title="Pictures from Jukola in Kuopio" /></a>
This year we knew we had a competitive team, but had still respect for the tough terrain in Kuopio, and expected it to be much individual orienteering and several teams that would do better then in 10mila. It was not easy to pick the team, because all 10 in the first team in 10mila did great races, and also several guys in the second team. The selected runners for the 6 last legs was the same as in 10mila, and we decided to have one of our best runners Filip Dahlgren on the 3rd leg, to be sure to have a good position before the day legs where it is difficult to catch up time.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/JukolaKuopio" https:="" picasaweb.google.com="" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" ukolakuopio=""><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BZ-xPPJnDyQ/U6NZdGGgAWI/AAAAAAAArR8/zYYBhojd6rc/s220/20140615_024007.jpg" title="Pictures from Jukola in Kuopio" /></a>Jo Forseth Indgaard who ran the 1st leg was the only who were not in the 1st team in 10mila due to injury problems in the winter and early spring, but he was now back on his normal level. Jo gave us a great start of the relay finishing 2nd after running alone most of the leg. He was 1 min behind Carl Kaas and 1 min before the following teams.<br />
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Anders Carlsson followed up in an impressing way. He was alone in the lead already on the first control, and was keeping the distance to several strong runners hunting him. But he unfortunately did a 3 min mistake on the second last control, and changed over 2 min behind the leading group.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/JukolaKuopio" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-H5ZFcjoMJqA/U6NXrbixE7I/AAAAAAAArOU/FGNwrP4AjMU/s220/BqIZrH-IAAEEQ77.jpg" title="Pictures from Jukola in Kuopio" /></a>Filip Dahlgren lost a bit in the beginning, partly due to long forking, but then he showed how good runner he is and caught up the leading runners. But also he did some smaller mistakes in the end, and changed over 1 min behind the lead.<br />
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Erik Ivarsson Sandbeg did as has he did in 10mila; brought us up in the lead and also had the fastest leg time. Impressive! Cool that it was 3 teams from the Stockholm area (Lidingö, Södertälje and Järla) that was in the lead during the night.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/JukolaKuopio" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-h2ntGAoTtsM/U6NXxkw1ocI/AAAAAAAArOs/fztzaCB4RMA/s220/BqIlZZyIgAAJyoZ.jpg" title="Pictures from Jukola in Kuopio" /></a>
I started on the 5th leg a few seconds in front of Järla, but never saw their runner. I though it was more teams close behind, and when I was running I didn’t know that it was more then 2 min down to the next teams. I did a stable and secure leg, without any big mistakes, and could stay alone in the lead the whole leg. I did not run the perfect route on all legs, and also hesitated a few places, but each time I relocated and adjusted my direction very quickly, and avoided loosing much time. It was the fist time I was running absolutely in the lead in Jukola, and it was a nice feeling to run alone and know that as long as I don’t do mistake I will stay in the lead.<br />
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Mårten Boströn did also a stable race, and stayed in the lead the whole leg, even if Södertälje was just a few seconds behind to the changeover.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/JukolaKuopio" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-mWVizW9-rmg/U6NX6FS6YuI/AAAAAAAArPE/kRbPmNBxxO0/s220/liding-laget.jpg" title="Pictures from Jukola in Kuopio" /></a>
Fredrik Johansson was starting on the last leg together with Jonas Leandersson, and 3 minutes in front of Kalevan Rasti. Fredrik did a good race, but Thierry Gueorgiou did a fantastic leg, and caught up Fredrik and Jonas after half the leg. Fredrik was the only one who was able to follow Thierry, but he never managed to pass him, and finished in 2nd position, 11 seconds behind.<br />
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If we should have beaten Kalevan I guess Fredrik would have needed a few more minutes gap. Fredrik was 2nd on the leg, and the 3rd runner was 6 min slower than Thierry. This time Kalevan was in my opinion not winning because they was the most stable team, but because they had the combination of a good enough team and the best last leg runner.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/JukolaKuopio" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SkaAr3xEZgc/U6NYY9VtLqI/AAAAAAAArQE/FmGgTbSmEDA/s220/Jukola_prize_giving.jpg" title="Pictures from Jukola in Kuopio" /></a>
Just after the finish it felt as in 10mila a bit irritating finishing 2nd, when we were so close to the victory, and had been <a href="http://results.jukola.com/tulokset/en/j2014_ju/kilpailijat/16/" target="_blank">alone in the lead half of the relay</a>. But all runners in our team did really well, and it’s the best result ever for Lidingö in Jukola! To be so close to the victory also makes us very motivated to train even better for the big relays coming up:-)<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/JukolaKuopio" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KxBzbojcvfM/U6NZPm4YNWI/AAAAAAAArRk/MUssNfUljM0/s220/20140615_101856.jpg" title="Pictures from Jukola in Kuopio" /></a>
Also the men’s 2nd team did very well, and was top 20 after 6 legs. And the girls team finished 9th and 15th in Venla. That shows that Lidingö has many runners on a high level in both genders, and that is one of the main reasons we have such a great club atmosphere.<br />
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<a href="http://results.jukola.com/tulokset/en/j2014_ju/" target="_blank">Results</a> and <a href="http://www.tulospalvelu.fi/gps/" target="_blank">GPS tracking</a><br />
TV broadcast of the whole <a href="http://areena.yle.fi/tv/2184297" target="_blank">Venla</a> and Jukola (<a href="http://areena.yle.fi/tv/2184300" target="_blank">part 1</a>, <a href="http://areena.yle.fi/tv/2184301" target="_blank">part 2</a>, <a href="http://areena.yle.fi/tv/2184302" target="_blank">part 3</a>)<br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/98326112" target="_blank">KopterCam video of the start</a>Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-87977669396696224702014-06-03T23:50:00.001+02:002014-06-04T23:37:49.822+02:00SM Sprint in Uppsala<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJt4iJphBYxltfYpFKfRSsU7nqWaGy463bLC068fzeSNgfCKhi4XGnlSu9uOJwIMLtcuoDX4ZeES1atS7PVt9090wAflf3x5i586dDeVyfK4jxiACN0IbQ-y00DQ7vydBERQlycswwCFk/s1600/20140601-121535_GOJ15389_5313.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJt4iJphBYxltfYpFKfRSsU7nqWaGy463bLC068fzeSNgfCKhi4XGnlSu9uOJwIMLtcuoDX4ZeES1atS7PVt9090wAflf3x5i586dDeVyfK4jxiACN0IbQ-y00DQ7vydBERQlycswwCFk/s1600/20140601-121535_GOJ15389_5313.jpg" height="182" title="Picture from SM Sprint Final" width="200" /></a>
Last weekend competed in the <a href="http://www.orienterings-sm.se/sprint.html" target="_blank">Swedish Championship</a> in Sprint arranged in Uppsala. OK Linné had a competent course setter team and I expected challenging courses in nice sprint areas.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=456" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/456.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from SM Sprint Qual" /></a>The qualification Saturday evening was held a few kilometers south of the city centre. I did a solid race, but lost about 5 sec to the 4th, 9th and 16th control by not running the shortest line. To the 15th control I had not seen the fence when I decides to go left, but had one of the fastest splits even if I change to go right in the end of the leg. I finished 4th, 34 sec behind Gustav Bergman, that have been in really good shape the whole spring. <a href="http://obasen.orientering.se/winsplits/online/sv/default.asp?page=table&databaseId=31178&categoryId=3" target="_blank">Results, splits</a> and <a href="http://www.tulospalvelu.fi/gps/20140601SMsprintH21/" target="_blank">GPS tracking</a><br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=455" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/455.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from SM Sprint Final" /></a>The final Sunday was held in Uppsala city center, with arena at Uppsala Castle. I did in overall a pretty good performance, in a really nice and challenging course. I had in general a bit slow start and lost aslo a few seconds on the route choice to the 5th and 6th control. 25 seconds behind the leader already at the 6th control is far too much. But the rest of the course went well, and I was one of few runners that found the best route to the 8th control. I finished with the 3rd best time (14.52), 33 seconds behind Gustav Bergman, but unfortenately I got disqualified because I during my morning run by a mistake had been 50 meters inside the embargoed area for the race:-( <a href="http://obasen.orientering.se/winsplits/online/sv/default.asp?page=table&databaseId=31178&categoryId=3" target="_blank">Results and splits</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.orientering.no/nyheter/Sider/%C3%98sterb%C3%B8%20med%20medaljefart%20i%20Sverige.aspx" target="_blank">Østerbø med medaljefart i Sverige</a>, orientering.no<br />
<a href="http://goranjohanssonphoto.blogspot.se/2014/06/orientering-sm-sprint-i-uppsala.html" target="_blank">A lot of nice pictures taken by Göran Johansson</a> and <a href="http://vimeo.com/97113985" target="_blank">a video filmed from the air</a>.Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-34187945850347272222014-05-25T23:48:00.003+02:002023-12-24T13:54:43.040+01:00NM Sprint in TrondheimThis weekend my Norwegian club Wing OK arranged the Norwegian Championships in Sprint and Sprint Relay in Trondheim.<br />
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My preparations was unfortunately not the best, since I got sick when I came home from a WOC training camp in Italy one and half week ago. After feeling worse last weekend I went to the doctor and took different tests, and Monday I started with antibiotics. I got better pretty fast, and Wednesday I could start with easy training again, after one week without training.<br />
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I had to skip the Middle and Long selection race for World Cup witch was held on Wednesday and Thursday. But that didn't matter too much, since I anyway had planed to skip the World Cup on Kongsberg, because my focus will be on Sprint and Relay until WOC.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=450" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/450.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from NM Sprint Qual" /></a>
But now back to the Sprint Champs. The qualification Saturday morning was held partly on Kristiansten Festning, which was also used for WOC 2010. I did a good race, with safe and controlled orienteering, and got a shared 1st place in my heat. <a href="http://obasen.orientering.se/winsplits/online/no/default.asp?page=table&databaseId=30972&categoryId=4" target="_blank">Results and splits</a>. <a href="http://www.orientering.no/nyheter/Sider/-Kontrollert%20kvalifiseringsl%C3%B8p.aspx" target="_blank">- Kontrollert kvalifiseringsløp</a>, orientering.no<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=451" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/451.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from NM Sprint Final" /></a>The final in the afternoon was held partly in a new sprint area, with the finish at Solsiden in the city centre. I did a mainly good race, that was destroyed by two big mistakes.<br />
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In the beginning of the course I tried to get an overview and decide as many routes as possible. I was maybe too focused on the coming legs, because after the 2nd control I started to read the map on the leg to the 4th control, and didn't understand a thing when it was no opening in the house I wanted to pass through. I got confused when I stopped and looked around, and I also thought I had punched the wrong 3rd control, since mine should have been on a wall, and not a flowerbed. I was running back to the previous control, and than I understood that it was my 2nd control, and I had to continue to the 3rd control. This mistake cost me 20 sec.<br />
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It felt like I had lost 20 - 30 sec, and I hoped it was still possible to win the race, or at least get a good position, if I was running fast and error free the rest of the course. After the mistake I was running quite aggressive, and had a good flow from the 3rd to the 11th control.<br />
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The other mistake was to the 12th control, where I didn't see the wall closing the opening between the buildings. When I was not able to enter through the building I ran left, and lost 10 sec compared to the right route.<br />
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The rest of the race was OK. I took the best routes, but was quite tired after running fast in the middle part of the course, and lost a few seconds to the fastest runners.<br />
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My result is a shared 6th place, 16 seconds behind the winner Nicholas Oskarsson. It's good to see that it's severals Norwegian who is running well in sprint, and that I can't do big mistakes like today if I want to get a top position. Gøril Rønning Sund won the women's class. <a href="http://obasen.orientering.se/winsplits/online/no/default.asp?page=table&databaseId=30987&categoryId=1&ct=true" target="_blank">Results and splits</a>. <a href="http://www.orientering.no/nyheter/Sider/Oskarsson%20overrasket%20med%20NM-gull.aspx" target="_blank">Oskarsson overrasket med NM-gull</a>, orientering.no<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=452" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/452.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from NM Sprint Relay" /></a>Sunday the Norwegian Champs in Sprint Relay was arranged for the first time. I was running the 2nd leg for Wing, who unfortunately didn't have a good enough team to fight for a top position. My performance was not the best either, and I was both feeling very tired and did some mistakes. Halden won after a tight fight with Frol. <a href="http://eventor.orientering.no/Events/ResultList?eventId=1179&showRelayLineups=True&groupBy=EventClass" target="_blank">Results</a>. <a href="http://www.orientering.no/nyheter/Sider/Fasting%20avgjorde%20NM-sprintstafett.aspx" target="_blank">Fasting avgjorde NM-sprintstafett</a>, orientering.no<br />
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Even if my performances was not as good as I had hoped it was a nice orienteering weekend in Trondheim, and I would like to thank all members in Wing for a well organized event. <a href="http://www.liveresultater.no/livesider/livesenter.php?arr=339" target="_blank">Live center with results and GPS tracking from all races</a>. The organizer's picture gallery from the <a href="http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-Lj5rD/i-Pgj2FX9" target="_blank">Sprint</a> and the <a href="http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-Cpd7N/i-W8V7CgT" target="_blank">Sprint relay</a>.Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-70076419363206997762014-05-09T00:03:00.000+02:002014-05-09T22:02:19.861+02:002nd in 10mila with IFK Lidingö!<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=446" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/446.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from 10mila" /></a>
It has been a really good spirit in IFK Lidingö the whole winter, with a lot of runners being motivated, training well and pushing each other. After finishing 7th, 6th and 9th in <a href="http://10mila.se/" target="_blank">10mila</a> the last years, we felt it was time to step up this year, and fight for the top positions. After shoving stable performances in the pre season relays with several team, and having many runners doing well in individual races, we felt it was a realistic goal.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/10milaEksjo" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-doFUjcXXBog/U2vmYoWLMCI/AAAAAAAAp1A/7fPV7X-ZHUI/s220/883358_10202476210365741_1577668795180010289_o.jpg?gl=US" title="Pictures from 10mila in Eksjö" /></a>This post is pretty long, and I will both give a short report about how all the guys in my team did, and a longer about my leg.<br />
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Niklas Serrander gave us a good start at the 1st leg, finishing 2 minutes behind, after having most of the long forkings. Julian Dent brought us the whole way up in the lead during the 2nd leg, having the fastest leg time.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/10milaEksjo" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-s7e8dSpEwAw/U2vmdeYdwqI/AAAAAAAAp1Q/Ld-UXsfTs8k/s220/10MilaBlogg-44.jpg?gl=US" title="Pictures from 10mila in Eksjö" /></a>
Nick Simonin stayed in the leading group the whole unforked 3rd leg, that this year also was the first with night orienteering. We had hoped it should be possible to get rid of some of the top teams already on this leg, but in stead it tightened together, and Halden was the only favorite that was not in the leading group after this leg. After this leg Klaus Schgaguler changed over in 2nd position for our second team.<br />
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Anders Skarholt and Anders Carlsson did as expected stable races on the 4th and 5th leg, and could send out Filip Dahlgren among the first on the unforked Long Night. Also Jo Indgaard did a great 4th leg for our second team, and stayed in the leading group.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/10milaEksjo" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IQjTpZrZwxA/U2vmblzRHmI/AAAAAAAAp1I/Bo_-t8rQKJI/s220/10MilaBlogg-51.jpg?gl=US" title="Pictures from 10mila in Eksjö" /></a>Filip is one of the best runners for a long night leg, and he was leading the group for the first half of the leg. But in the end he got stomach cramps, and had to fight hard to stay in the group.<br />
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Erik Ivarsson Sandberg did a great 7th leg, and after having the best leg time he could send me out as 2nd runner on the 8th leg, together with Thierry Gueorgiou (Kalevan Rasti) and only some seconds behind Jonas Leandersson (SNO).<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=447" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/447.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from 10mila training" /></a> My leg was 13 km long and the last with night orienteering. It was also several really good runners having this leg, so I had big respect for my task. But after running <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=447" target="_blank">5 night trainings</a> the week before 10mila I felt quite confident.<br />
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It’s smart to watch at the <a href="http://www.tulospalvelu.fi/gps/2014TmilaH8/" target="_blank">GPS tracking</a> or look at <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=446" target="_blank">my map</a> when you read my comments, to understand better what happened.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=446" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/446.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from 10mila" /></a>
As mentioned I started together with Thierry, and he opened pretty offensive. I had the same 1st control as him, and followed him until he was running too much to the left before the 3rd control (where he had a different forking). I had fully control but came to a control 50 m before my control, and was a bit confused when the code was wrong. But after some seconds hesitation I saw my control a bit futher in the march.<br />
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To the 4th control it was very green, and I came too much to the left, but I realized it pretty fast and didn’t loos too much time. Now it was some longer and easier legs. On the way to the 5th control I meet Graham Gristwood (Mora), and on the road to the 6th control I could see a headlamp about 45 sec in front of me, that I guessed could be Jonas.<br />
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I picked the 6th and 7th control well (when Graham did a small mistake), and when I came out on the road towards the 8th control I was just behind Jonas, who had been running more to the right compared to me.<br />
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On the longer leg to the 10th control I thought left of the water was the best option, but Jonas was running straight (and I wondered if he planed to go right of the water). He could have an other forking, where right was best for him, and I decided to go on my own, even if he could have been a good company. <br />
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On the shorter legs from the 10th to the 14th control I tried to be very accurate. To the 13th control I came a bit to the left, and hesitated some seconds, and than Graham caught me again. After the 14th control it was very green, and I lost my headlamp. When I tried to get in back on my head also Jonas caught me. <br />
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I was running together with them most of the rest of the course, and we kept a good speed on the longer legs. To the 21st control I wanted to run right, and I was happy when the others followed me. On this leg we caught one minute on Thierry, who took the right route choice.<br />
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In the green to the 22nd control I got a stick in my eye, and lost a contact lens. It made it difficult to see the map sharp, and after some minutes I decided to also take out the other lens. I could now see the map clear, but it was more challenging to see since far in the terrain since it was still quite dark.<br />
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To the 28th control Jonas and Graham went straight over the hill, and I decided to use the path and go a bit more to the right. Here Jonas had the other forking, and got a 20 sec gap. Graham and I also missed the 30th control with 10 seconds, and I finished as 3rd runner, 30 sec behind Jonas. When I heard Thierry was only 2 min in front of me I got happy, because I know we then still ha a good chance to catch them, since we had very good runners on the last legs.<br />
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When I analyze my race afterward I'm satisfied. I lost some time to the 3rd and 4th control, but after that I did really well. I used other runners where it was smart, and did my own decisions where it was necessary. I was accurate in my night orienteering and my runnings speed on the longer legs was among the fastest, and I picked the best route choice every time.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/10milaEksjo" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kyw8TGavKFc/U2vmfan3P8I/AAAAAAAAp1Y/AStOh1FbnfE/s220/10MilaBlogg-55.jpg?gl=US" title="Pictures from 10mila in Eksjö" /></a>
Fredrik Johansson was running the 9th leg, the second longest and the first in daylight. He was able to catch Kalevan Rasti since Fabian Hertner missed in the beginning, and in the last part of the course Fredrik and Fabian managed go get several minutes of down to the following teams.<br />
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Mårten Boström started on the 10th and last leg together with Jan Prochazka (KR). Both are strong runners, and I looked forward to an exciting finish. They stayed together in the beginning of the leg, but Jan managed to get a small gap when it was forking, and Mårten did a mistake when he tried to catch up. Mårten had still one of the best times on his leg, and could finish as 2nd runners, less then 2 min behind Kalevan Rasti. <br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/10milaEksjo" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LmHlmzBP6po/U2vmuGEKCcI/AAAAAAAAp2Q/wqOhfCduI7M/s220/10MilaBlogg-61.jpg?gl=US" title="Pictures from 10mila in Eksjö" /></a>
Just after the finish I could feel a little disappointed, because we were so close to win the relay, and then finished 2nd. But now I feel really satisfied and proud to be part of this team. All 10 runners did almost perfect legs, and we followed the plan we had made for the whole relay. Also our second team did well, and where in the lead for the first four leg. Also these runners are part of the great result, because they have been pushing us during the winter and made is necessary for everyone ot perform their very best to try to get a spot in the first team. Lidingö's women's teams did also great, and finished <a href="http://eventor.orientering.se/Events/ResultList?eventId=7526&organisationId=546" target="_blank">7th, 17th and 44th</a>. We have already started to look forward to <a href="http://www.jukola.com/2014/en/" target="_blank">Jukola</a>, that are held in Finland in just one month.<br />
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<a href="http://eventor.orientering.se/Events/ResultList?eventId=7526&organisationId=546" target="_blank">Results</a> and <a href="http://www.tulospalvelu.fi/gps/" target="_blank">GPS tracking</a> from <a href="http://10mila.se/" target="_blank">10mila</a>.Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-36827875905214897282014-04-03T14:17:00.002+02:002014-04-03T14:28:30.186+02:00Danish Spring and WC/EOC selection<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=435" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/435.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from Danish Spring Sprint" /></a> The Norwegian selection races for the <a href="http://www.wcupspain2014.es/" target="_blank">World Cup in Spain</a> and the <a href="http://eoc2014.fpo.pt/index.php/en/" target="_blank">European Championship in Portugal </a>was includes in the event Danish Spring held two weeks ago. Good runners from several Nations was competing, and it was a great start of the season home in Scandinavia.<br />
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The weekend started with a Sprint in Helsingør on Friday. I did a stable performance, without any real mistakes, but did not have the best flow and it was partly very slippery because of the rain. I was therefore happy to win the race:-)<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=436" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/436.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from Danish Spring Middle" /></a>In Saturday's Middle distance I did mainly an OK race, except that I lost 20 - 30 sec to both the 6th, 12th and 21st control. Thats of course too much to get a good result in a middle distance, and I ended up 15th, 2 min behind Rassmus Andersson.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=437" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/437.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from Danish Spring Long" /></a>The weekend was ended with Sunday's Long distance. I did overall a pretty good race, even if I lost a bit more then 1 min to both the 5th and 23rd control, where I didn't have a good enough direction, but also had problems to understand the map. Fallen trees from last winters storm made it difficult to run the optimal route som places. I was happy to finish 4th, as 2nd best Norwegian, 3 min behind Fredric Portin and 2 min behind Olav Lundanes.<br />
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After Danish Spring I was <a href="http://www.orientering.no/nyheter/Sider/Uttak%20til%20verdenscup.aspx" target="_blank">selected to run both the WC in Spain</a> and <a href="http://www.orientering.no/nyheter/Sider/Ungt%20og%20offensivt%20lag%20til%20EM.aspx" target="_blank">EOC in Portugal</a>. I will get a quite tough program, since I'm selected to run both the Long and Middle in Spain, and Sprint, Middle and Relay in Portugal. It's cool that it's many debutant's in the Norwegian team.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=438" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/438.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from Måsenstafetten" /></a> The last ten days I have. been on Lidingö, where I have decreased my winter training a bit to be in better shape for WC and EOC. Last weekend I participated in Måsenstafetten, that went pretty well for most Lidingö runners, and gave us a good feedback before 10mila in one month. At the moment I'm on the plane to Alicante, and are looking forward to two intensive weeks in Spain and Portugal. The WC in Spain can be followed <a href="http://www.wcupspain2014.es/live-tv-and-tracking/" target="_blank">live with TV and GPS tracking</a> on Saturday and Sunday.<br />
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PS: Orientering.no has made an <a href="http://www.orientering.no/nyheter/Sider/-Handler%20om%20%C3%A5%20finne%20balansen.aspx" target="_blank">interview with me about mental preparations</a> (in Norwegian).<br />
<br />Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-41075408434800760532014-03-03T21:44:00.000+01:002014-03-03T21:48:11.645+01:00World Cup #1 in Turkey and mixed sprint relay<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/WCTurkey" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-baxxo67uTSc/UxTovprB5NI/AAAAAAAAmso/J2Dz5n6zG_s/s220/20140302_105446.jpg" title="Pictures from WC in Turkey" /></a>
Right now Øystein is in the wellness centre on the hotel enjoying a Turkish bath and massage. He forgot to lock his computer, and as his room mate I decided to write an article on his blog, since it has been some time since last update. The first World Cup round in Turkey is over and Ida, Øystein and Bjørn will stay here until Thursday before we go to Slovenia and meet the rest of the National team for a six day long training camp. We have some days of easy training here in Turkey after the World Cup, enjoying the sun and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/WCTurkey" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ugoFszCa64M/UxToMyvJgvI/AAAAAAAAmqQ/G5qNI31mRxo/s220/20140228_184153.jpg" title="Pictures from WC in Turkey" /></a>We were supposed to be four runners from Norway, but Silje got sick and couldn’t run the competitions. We came to Antalya on Wednesday night and Thursday we used to prepare for the stony and low visible terrain by visiting the <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=426" target="_blank">Model event</a> and <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=427" target="_blank">Antalya O-Days stage 1</a>. With two good trainings we felt prepared for the first World Cup race of 2014. Here is a short summary of the competitions.<br />
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<b>Middle qualification</b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=430" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/430.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from WC-1 Qual" /></a>
It was a tight race in the short Middle distance and unfortunately Øystein didn’t manage to qualify because of too many small mistakes. Anyway, only the thirty best got to the A-final and there were still some World Cup points to fight for in the B-final. Ida and Bjørn qualified for the A-final with stable performances.<br />
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<b>Middle final</b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=429" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/429.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from WC-1 Final" /></a>
The finals were dominated by the Swedes and the Swiss which seems to be in good shape. Ida was best of the Norwegians with an 8th place among very strong runners and Bjørn got a 21st place. Øystein ran through the B-final with following days sprint in his mind.<br />
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<b>Mixed sprint relay</b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=428" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/428.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from Sprint relay" /></a>
Since mixed sprint relay is in the WOC programme for the next years we want to use every opportunity to train for it. Even though people have different opinions about this relay format, it is taken seriously by all the athletes and we have ambitions to fight for medals at WOC. We had to replace Silje, and Anette Baklid fulfilled the team in the last minute. Everybody ran as expected and finally, after some disqualifications we placed 9th. Especially Øystein ran very fast and caught several teams and had second best time on the second leg.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/WCTurkey" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uJylQ5_i5QM/UxTonsDU0vI/AAAAAAAAmsI/4ydE6QI31Kw/s220/20140302_094508.jpg" title="Pictures from WC in Turkey" /></a>Now we have some weeks of good training to prepare for <a href="http://eoc2014.fpo.pt/index.php/en/" target="_blank">EOC in Portugal</a>. <a href="http://www.danishspring.dk/" target="_blank">Danish Spring</a> 21st - 23rd of March is selection races for EOC and WC in Spain. In other words, the next weeks will be important.<br />
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News on World of O from <a href="http://news.worldofo.com/2014/02/28/world-cup-qualification-sweden-and-switzerland-dominate/" target="_blank">Middle Qual</a>, <a href="http://news.worldofo.com/2014/03/01/world-cup-turkey-middle-maps-and-results/" target="_blank">Middle Final</a> (<a href="http://news.worldofo.com/2014/03/01/route-choice-analysis-world-cup-middle-turkey/" target="_blank">route choice analyze</a>) ans <a href="http://news.worldofo.com/2014/03/02/world-cup-sprint-relay-maps-and-results/" target="_blank">Sprint relay</a> and<a href="http://www.liveresultater.no/livesider/livesenter.php?arr=315" target="_blank"> Live centre</a> with link to results and GPS tracking.Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-85111482733466075702014-02-11T11:57:00.000+01:002014-02-11T11:58:39.424+01:00Summary of last autumn<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=409" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/409.thumbnail.jpg" title="Maps from training in Stockholm" /></a>
I have not updated my blog since last autumn, and I will now try to make a short summary of what I have been doing the last months. In September and October I was so busy racing, training and travelling, that I did not take the time to make updates, and since November I have stayed mostly home, and had to focus on daily routines like training and work.<br />
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<b>WOC 2014 training camp with the Norwegian team in Asiago in Italy</b><br />
September started with a WOC 2014 training camp with the Norwegian National team in Asiago in Italy, which I have already wrote a <a href="http://okvaal.blogspot.com/2013/09/woc-2014-training-in-italy.html" target="_blank">report</a> about.<br />
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<b>Norwegian Champs in Kongsberg</b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=399" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/399.thumbnail.jpg" title="Maps from Norwegian Champs" /></a>
The following weekend the Norwegian Champs was arranged in Kongsberg, in the neighbor terrain to where the World Cup races will be held in the beginning of June. The Long distance went pretty well, and I finished 6th. On the Middle I came 16th. On the relay I did a good last leg for Wing OK, and after having the 4th best time on the last leg we could finish as 11th team.<br />
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<b>Races in Alta Badia and WOC training in Asiago in Italy</b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=405" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/405.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from Alta Badia WRE Long" /></a>
The third weekend in September I went back to Italy for five days together with a few runners from Halden SK and some other Norwegians. During the weekend I was running two really nice races in Alta Badia, and I finished 2nd in both the Sprint (with mass start) and WRE Long distance. Monday to Wednesday I got some good trainings in Venice and Asiago, before I went home for Lidingöloppet.<br />
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<b>Arranging and running Lidingöloppet home on Lidingö in Stockholm</b><br />
<a href="http://www.lidingoloppet.se/sv/Nyheter/Lidingoloppsfredagen/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.lidingoloppet.se/Global/LL_helgen_2013/Stafett_520.jpg" height="133" title="Article from Lidingöstafetten" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.lidingoloppet.se/" target="_blank"> Lidingöloppet</a> is the worlds largest cross country race, with more then 40.000 participants. It's the main income for my club IFK Lidingö SOK, and I was helping with the organizing every day. On <a href="http://www.lidingoloppet.se/sv/Nyheter/Lidingoloppsfredagen/" target="_blank">Friday I was also running the first leg for the winning team in the relay Lidingöstafetten</a>.<br />
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<b>World Cup final in Baden in Switzerland</b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=422" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/422.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from Sprint Realy in Switzerland" /></a>
In the beginning of October the World Cup final was arranged in Baden in Switzerland. Friday it was an unofficial Sprint relay, and I was running the 3rd leg for the Norwegian first team. We where fighting in the lead the whole relay, and finished 2nd, after the Danish team. Neither in Saturdays Middle nor in Sundays Sprint I did my best, but managed still to to finish <a href="http://osport.6prog.org/WC_Home.aspx?HOW=F" target="_blank">13th overall in the World Cup</a>, as the best Norwegian male.<br />
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<b>WOC training camp with IFK Lidingö in Asiago in Italy</b><br />
After the WC final I travelled directly to Asiago, where I joined the last 3 days of IFK Lidingö's WOC training camp. It was my third time in the Asiago area this autumn, and I started to feel familiar with the terrain for the WOC 2014.<br />
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<b>25manna relay in Stockholm</b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=403" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/403.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from 25manna" /></a>
In the middle of October 25 manna was arranged in Stockholm. I was running the first leg for IFK Lidingö, and it went fine until I did a huge mistake in the end. The rest of the team was running pretty well, and we finished in 6th position for the third year in row.<br />
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<b>Park World Tour in China</b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=394" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/394.thumbnail.jpg" title="Maps from Park World Tour in China" /></a>
In the last half of October I spent one and a half week in China, and I have already wrote a <a href="http://okvaal.blogspot.com/2013/10/park-world-tour-in-china.html" target="_blank">report from the Park World Tour</a>.<br />
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<b>Smålandskavlen relay in Oskarshamn</b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=392" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/392.thumbnail.jpg" title="Maps from Smålandskavlen" /></a>
My season was ended with Smålandskavlen the last weekend in October. It went really well for the the whole team, and <a href="http://okvaal.blogspot.no/2013/10/victory-in-smalandskavlen-with-ifk.html" target="_blank">IFK Lidingö managed to win the relay</a> after a trilling finish.<br />
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<b>The start of the new training period</b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=398" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/398.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from Stockholm Mila by Night 1" /></a>
After Smålandskavlen I took it easier, and so far this winter I have stayed mostly home and had focus on daily routines like training and work. In September I moved to a big house on Lidingö together with four other orienteering runners, and after a very busy period in September and October it has been great to spend more time together with them both for training and social activities.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=404" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/404.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from Traning in the Trondheim area during Christmas" /></a>
During November I increased my training, and since December I have been training very well. It has not been much snow in Stockholm so far this winter, and until Christmas it was excellent conditions for orienteering training. During Christmas I had planed to do more skiing in Trondheim, but also there it was snow free in the city, even if it was skiing conditions in the higher parts of Bymarka. The Christmas was therefore a great mix of running, skiing, strength training and social activities..<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=412" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/412.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from Ski-o NM Relay" /></a>
Even if I so far this winter have been more home than normal, I have been on some training camps and races. In November I was selected in Norwegian Elite training group, and so far I have been on two different training camps, one in Moss in Norway in December and one in Silkeborg in Denmark in January. In January I have also been competing in ski-orienteering two weekends. In the Norwegian Relay Champs I won a silver medal with Wing OK, and I also got the opportunity to competed in the World Cup on Gåsbu (since Norway had some extra places on home ground). I will maybe write some words and publish maps from this activities if I get time.Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-24993750346899495122014-02-06T07:55:00.000+01:002014-02-08T22:36:11.861+01:00Bergen Sprint Camp<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=413" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/413.thumbnail.jpg" title="Maps from Bergen Sprint Camp" /></a> Last weekend I participated in <a href="http://sprint-camp.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bergen Sprint Camp</a> together with more than 200 other orienteering runners from 14 different nations. In total it was arranged 5 quality trainings in 3 days, where 4 of them counted as an overall competition. The weather in Bergen was perfect, with several plus degrees and no snow, and Varegg had planed challenging courses on good maps for all the trainings/races.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110676089107356940132/BSC2014Nattsprint?noredirect=1#5975196413049364306" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aa6JegcRRt0/Uuwpes7-31I/AAAAAAAAAyg/9rhovhk2wxo/s160/2014-35_s.jpg" title="Pictures from Bergen Sprint Camp. Photo: Jan Kocbach" /></a>
I have focused on physical training (and forest orienteering) so far this winter, so this weekend was a perfect start on a period with more focus on sprint orienteering. On the Friday Night sprint I had problems getting a good flow, and did also some bad route choices.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110676089107356940132/BSC2014Bysprint?noredirect=1#5975399893335524882" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9_1tPkLtCdk/Uuzii0ErxhI/AAAAAAAABAc/L4CrgtvQKmk/s160/DSC_7053.jpg" title="Pictures from Bergen Sprint Camp. Photo: Jan Kocbach" /></a>
The Saturday morning City sprint went better, and on Saturday evening Loops it went well (except the first leg on loop E).<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=421" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/421.thumbnail.jpg" title="Maps from Bergen Sprint Camp" /></a>
Sunday BSC was ended with a Final, where the top 6 overall runners started together, and the first to finish was the winner. I had the same order in the butterfly as Murray Strain and Mårten Boström, but we took different route choices on several legs. On the long leg to the 10th I and Mårten took left and Murray right, but it was very equal, and I punched the control just in front of the two others. (None of us took the optimal route, as you can see in <a href="http://sprint-camp.blogspot.no/2014/02/veivalgsanalyse-puljesprint.html" target="_blank">Jan Kocbach's analyze</a>, where F or D seems to be the fastest.) On the last long leg I took the left route, and when Murray and Morten followed me I tried to keep a stable high speed up the hill, and managed to keep the lead until the finish. Galina Vinogradova won the women's class.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110676089107356940132/BSC2014UrbOSlYfesprint#5975824156322272178" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qd9IutMkCfs/Uu5kaK3Jk7I/AAAAAAAABFM/H7aNyK_x1VE/s160/DSC_7238.jpg" title="Pictures from Bergen Sprint Camp. Photo: Jan Kocbach" /></a>
After the Final I also climbed the famous Stoltzekleiven for my first time. <a href="http://stoltzen.no/" target="_blank">Stoltzen</a> is one of the World's steepest uphill races and has more then 300 m climb in less than 1 km.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/110676089107356940132/BSC2014Puljesprint#5975850453447681666" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LSXkwyGFy5k/Uu58U3SbJoI/AAAAAAAABas/rXlNrLxqeb8/s160/DSC_7684.jpg" title="Pictures from Bergen Sprint Camp. Photo: Jan Kocbach" /></a>
You can see all maps from BSC in my <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=284" target="_blank">DOMA</a>, and Jan Kocbach has made a new great app called <a href="http://events.worldofo.com/spas/" target="_blank">SPAS (SPlits Analysis System)</a> were you can analyze the route choices of more then 100 runners on each stage. The organizers page with <a href="http://sprint-camp.blogspot.no/2009/02/resultater.html" target="_blank">results, maps, route choice analyzes and pictures</a> are well worth a visit. <a href="http://sprint-camp.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bergen Sprint Camp</a> was again very well organized, and is one of the best opportunities to train sprint orienteering on quality maps and courses.Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-63626829322326398712013-10-30T19:50:00.000+01:002016-09-22T00:20:48.744+02:00Park World Tour in China<a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/115696214252270959121/album/AF1QipN0gKgfpv38J-sJ5-eL1pTtDNXAiYNPkzbDq65Y" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7X3kbCQ-PpY/UnTdVEi3tkI/AAAAAAAAiwM/-abMXbcVxNU/s220/PWT%20group.JPG" title="Pictures from PWT in China" /></a>
In the last half of October I spent a week in China participating in <a href="http://pwt.org/" target="_blank">Park World Tour</a>. This was the fifth time I was going for PWT in China, and it has always been one of the seasons highlights:-)<br />
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The tour this year was called <a href="http://www.vasavof.com/VOF/" target="_blank">Vasa PWT Orienteering Festival</a>, and was arranged by <a href="http://www.nordicways.com/" target="_blank">Nordic Ways</a>, that are organizing a lot of different events on China in typical nordic sports such as skiing, running, orienteering and biking.<br />
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The first races was held in Changchun, 1000 km north east of Beijing, where I ran <a href="http://okvaal.blogspot.com/2012/10/pwt-in-china-report-with-maps-and.html" target="_blank">PWT last year</a> and also participated in the <a href="http://okvaal.blogspot.com/2011/02/tour-de-ski-china.html" target="_blank">Chinese Vasaloppet in 2011</a>.<br />
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<b>PWT-prologue, Changchun</b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=393" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/393.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from PWT-prologue" /></a>
The first racing day it was held two competitions, and we started with a Prologue in the morning. It was 3 km course with a combination of middle distance and sprint character. I did an OK performance, but I lost some time to the winner Mårten Boström the last half of the course because of the route choice to the 8th control, a small mistake to the 9th control and generally to slow running speed.<br />
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<a href="http://www.orientering.no/nyheter/Sider/%C3%98sterb%C3%B8%20nummer%209%20i%20Kina.aspx" target="_blank">Østerbø nummer 9 i Kina</a>, orientering.no<br />
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<b>PWT-1 Sprint, Changchun</b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=394" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/394.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from PWT-1" /></a> In the evening the first real PWT race was held as a Sprint in Changchun Sculpture Park. My race was again OK, even if I lost some seconds several places, but I felt the winner Yannick Michiels was running very fast.<br />
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<a href="http://pwt.org/home/news_show.asp?news_id=1168" target="_blank">The PWT China tour 2013 on the way</a>, pwt.org<br />
<a href="http://www.orientering.no/nyheter/Sider/-Manglet%20litt%20fart.aspx" target="_blank">- Manglet litt fart</a>, orientering.no<br />
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<b>PWT-2 Middle, Changchun</b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=395" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/395.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from PWT-2" /></a>The following day we ran a Middle distance in a really nice forest with mainly great runnability and several counter details.<br />
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My speed was good enough to fight for a top position, and I did also a good technical performance, but a huge parallel mistake to the 18th control destroyed a good result. I left the valley one spur earlier then I had planned, and was quite confused when I came to a control with code 48 in stead of 47. The control I came to was the 20th control, that I should have on the second loop, and in total I lost 1 minute on the mistake and a possible to 3 position. Edgars Bertuks won the men's class, and in the women's class Karolin Ohlsson won all the three first races.<br />
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<a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/115696214252270959121/album/AF1QipN0gKgfpv38J-sJ5-eL1pTtDNXAiYNPkzbDq65Y" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-KX7dXuQse5k/Umo8KHja16I/AAAAAAAAhOc/284wTVfxCyU/s220/20131020_144031.jpg" title="Pictures from PWT in China" /></a>
<a href="http://pwt.org/home/news_show.asp?news_id=1169" target="_blank">China tour continues with middle distance</a>, pwt.org<br />
<a href="http://www.orientering.no/nyheter/Sider/Parallelfeil%20%C3%B8dela%20for%20topplassering.aspx" target="_blank">Parallelfeil ødela for topplassering</a>, orientering.no<br />
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After two intensive days with three races in Changchun the plan was to fly to Beijing the next morning, and have the last race the same evening. Unfortunately it was very foggy, and we had to wait on the airport for 7 hours before we could fly to Beijing. The last race was therefore postponed one day.<br />
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<b>PWT-3 Sprint, Beijing</b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=396" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/396.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from PWT-3" /></a>
The race in Beijing was a sprint held in the Ruins of Yuanmingyuan Park. It was a great area for a sprint race, and the water and bridges made it passible to make complex route choice legs.<br />
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After being too slow in the first sprint race I tried to open more offensive today, and succeed quite well. Unfortunately I lost a few seconds on some of the route choices in the first part of the race, but I did well in the control picking part and managed also too keep up the speed in the easier last part. My result was a 2nd place, 6 seconds behind Yannick Michiels, and it was great to end the tour with a good result.<br />
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<a href="http://pwt.org/home/news_show.asp?news_id=1170" target="_blank">PWT China tour 2013 concluded in Beijing</a>, pwt.org<br />
<a href="http://www.orientering.no/nyheter/Sider/Sekunder%20fra%20seier.aspx" target="_blank">Sekunder fra seier</a>, orientering.no<br />
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<b>The Great Wall</b><br />
<a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/115696214252270959121/album/AF1QipN0gKgfpv38J-sJ5-eL1pTtDNXAiYNPkzbDq65Y" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_FfJzOimLkk/Umo84_dyvUI/AAAAAAAAhWA/qYCMWudOD3g/s220/P1010988.JPG" title="Pictures from PWT in China" /></a>
After the race we went directly to the Great Wall. The weather was quite bad, <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/PWTChina#5797777502336599874" target="_blank">compared to last year</a>, and most of us was running on the wall to avoid getting cold. The wall is partly very steep, and it was quite slippery on the wet stones. In the evening we had a Beijing Duck dinner.<br />
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<a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/115696214252270959121/album/AF1QipN0gKgfpv38J-sJ5-eL1pTtDNXAiYNPkzbDq65Y" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-exh-rJTX5Cc/Umo9VJqRKlI/AAAAAAAAha0/Ji9uA2EKMIo/s220/DSC04235.JPG" title="Pictures from PWT in China" /></a>
The following day I spent shopping and in the evening we had another fun night with good food and happy people. The last day I got a haircut and had a short run before the flight home.<br />
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<a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/115696214252270959121/album/AF1QipN0gKgfpv38J-sJ5-eL1pTtDNXAiYNPkzbDq65Y" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d479WU1urcg/Umo9CWwDV2I/AAAAAAAAhXo/liB9YAooRgg/s220/20131022_230656.jpg" title="Pictures from PWT in China" /></a>I want to thank Nordic Ways (with Gåvert Wååg as General Manager), Jaroslav Kacmarcik (who had contract with the runners and fixed most with maps and curses) and all the runners participating for making this great trip possible! <br />
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In my Picasa you can find <a href="https://get.google.com/albumarchive/115696214252270959121/album/AF1QipN0gKgfpv38J-sJ5-eL1pTtDNXAiYNPkzbDq65Y" target="_blank">200 pictures from PWT in China</a>. My pictures from <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/PWTChina02" target="_blank">2010</a> and <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/PWTChina" target="_blank">2012</a> can also be worth a look.Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-59548388325590985542013-10-29T17:59:00.003+01:002023-12-24T13:58:06.459+01:00Busy autumn seasonThe last two month has been really busy for me, with a lot of competitions and several training camps. The short periods I have been home I have spent my time working, and unfortunately not had time to update this blog with maps and pictures.<br />
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Since the beginning of September I have had this program:<br />
<ul>
<li>WOC 2014 training camp with the Norwegian National team in Asiago in Italy</li>
<li>Norwegian Champs on Kongsberg</li>
<li>Races in Alta Badia and WOC training in Asiago in Italy</li>
<li>Arranging and running Lidingöloppet home on Lidingö in Stockholm</li>
<li>World Cup final in Baden in Switzerland</li>
<li>WOC training camp with IFK Lidingö in Asiago in Italy</li>
<li>25manna relay in Stockholm</li>
<li>Park World Tour in China</li>
<li>Smålandskavlen relay in Oskarshamn</li>
</ul>
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Now I have my season break, and will finally have time to publish some maps, pictures and short reports. Yesterday I wrote about <a href="http://okvaal.blogspot.com/2013/10/victory-in-smalandskavlen-with-ifk.html" target="_blank">IFK Lidingö's victory in Smålandskavlen</a>, and tomorrow I will write about PWT in China. I had planed to make some updates from China, but since many apps and websites (like Facebook, Twitter, Blogger and Picasa) are blocked there it made in difficult.Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-47474227763443397532013-10-28T17:47:00.002+01:002013-10-28T18:17:53.506+01:00Victory in Smålandskavlen with IFK Lidingö<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=392" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/392.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from Smålandskavlen" /></a> Last weekend I ended my orienteering season competing in the traditional relay Smålandskavlen in Oskarshamn south east in Sweden. The terrain was really nice, and I got a good feeling after Saturdays training.<br />
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Anders Carlsson and Filip Dahlgren gave us an excellent start of the relay, being 4th and 1st on the two individual night legs, and Niklas Serrander could start the first day leg in the lead. Niklas has been sick this autumn and is not in his best shape, but did an impressive performance doing almost none mistakes.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/Smalandskavlen" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-CS19bi2A0LA/Um6Xt7mOgNI/AAAAAAAAikY/VKmus2bzX_Q/s220/DSC04249.JPG" title="Pictures from Smålandskavlen" /></a> I started out on the 4th leg as 3rd runner, 3 min behind Scott Fraser (SNO) and 11 sec behind Jacob Lööf (Malungs). I lost 10 - 30 sec to both the 2nd, 3rd and 4th control, and got caught by Jere Pajunen (Kalevan Rasti) that started 50 sec after me. He held a good speed, but to the 7th control I passed him, and after that I was mostly first of us. I was accurate in my orienteering, and felt I ran pretty well.<br />
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The 14th and 15th control was forked, and I took over the lead, passing SNO and Malungs without knowing it. To the 17th I was running to the left of the march, and just before the control I met both KR, SNO and Malaungs who had been running to the right. To the 18th I ran too much to the right, and needed to use the last longer leg to catch up a 15 sec gap to the others. I managed to pass Malungs and KR in the run in, and could change over as 2nd team, 3 sec behind SNO.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/Smalandskavlen" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-utUah_3h8Ug/Um6X8skKXYI/AAAAAAAAilI/lmGFm0QcC6U/s220/DSC04265.JPG" title="Pictures from Smålandskavlen" /></a> Fredrik Johansson did an excellent last leg. Together with Malungs and SNO he managed to run away from Thierry Gueorgiou (KR), who was tired, and in the same forking where I took over the lead he took an other route then the others, increased his speed, and managed to come alone to the finish. It was a great feeling to end the season winning one of the big relays together with my mates in IFK Lidingö! <a href="http://eventor.orientering.se/Events/ResultList?eventId=4150&groupBy=EventClass" target="_blank">Results</a> and <a href="http://www.smalandskavlen.nu/sida.asp?id=338" target="_blank">GPS tracking</a><br />
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<a href="http://orientering.se/Nyheter/FredrikJohanssonavgjordeSmalandskavlen/" target="_blank">Fredrik Johansson avgjorde Smålandskavlen</a>, orientering.seØystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-58043677037756217412013-09-10T15:59:00.002+02:002013-09-10T16:18:23.766+02:00WOC 2014 training in Italy<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WOCTrainingAsiago" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XUOEW1BY4O4/Ui8kFt_CaFI/AAAAAAAAaZM/GWNC2ZLSkmE/s220/20130903_121628.jpg" title="Pictures from WOC training in Italy" /></a> Last week I spent on a training camp with the Norwegian National Team in Asiago in Italy, preparing for the <a href="http://www.woc2014.info/" target="_blank">World Orienteering Championships</a> held in july next summer.<br />
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In total I did 7 trainings in forest, 3 sprint trainings and one easy run to a peak in the mountains. The weather was great, the spirit in the team good and we had in total a really nice training week in the Italian mountains.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/kart/2009/host/pages/2009.11.15%20MOV%20Venezia%20Italy.htm" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/kart/2009/host/thumbnails/2009.11.15%20MOV%20Venezia%20Italy.jpg" title="Map from MNM Sprint" /></a>
I have not uploaded my maps to <a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/" target="_blank">DOMA</a> yet, but you can find most of the maps on <a href="http://www.siljeekrolljahren.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=529:forste-skritt-retning-vm-2014" target="_blank">Silje Ekroll Jahren's homepage</a>.<br />
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One of the days we spent in Venice, where the WOC Sprint Final will be arranged. As a second training that day I ran most of the Women's Elite course from the Venice Orienteering Meeting arranged in 2009. To the left you can see my competition map from the race. (The embargoed area for WOC is east of my map + the area north of the 23nd control.)<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WOCTrainingAsiago" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j4DYmzHebeg/Ui8kfRmuR6I/AAAAAAAAad0/AuBUswU_1KA/s220/20130905_145107.jpg" title="Pictures from WOC training in Italy" /></a> In my <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WOCTrainingAsiago" target="_blank">Picasa</a> you find pictures from the whole week in Italy. Most of them are from Venice.<br />
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At the moment I'm having some easy days, before the <a href="http://www.kolweb.no/nm-uka-2013/hjem/" target="_blank">Norwegian Championships on Kongsberg</a> starts on Thursday. Long distance, Middle Qual and Final, and Relay will be held 4 days in row, so it will be a though weekend.<br />
<br />Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-9951691518984751542013-09-06T07:57:00.000+02:002013-09-10T16:18:41.814+02:00MNM and Norwegian mountains<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/MNMRRos" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oCgzSoIUUBo/UhydId41BpI/AAAAAAAAZs4/ertzOU6LSFk/s220/20130823_190904.jpg" title="Pictures from MNM" /></a> In the end of August I spent one and a half week in the middle part of Norway. The first weekend I compeeted in the regional championship held a few hours drive south of Trondheim.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=391" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/391.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from MNM Sprint" /></a> Friday’s sprint was held in Røros, where I ran my <a href="http://okvaal.com/kart/2002/sommer/pages/2002-06-30%20World_Cup_sprint-finale%20Roros.htm" target="_blank">first WC race</a> (in 2002, finishing 6th). Unfortenately the race this year was not held in the historical centre (on the UNESCO list), but in a combination of a slope with forest and a desert (the biggest in North Europe). Not that type of terrain I prefer for a sprint, and also a too long course, but still a nice race. I did mainly a good perforformance, but lost the lead to the last control, and finished 3rd, 5 seconds behind Magne Dæhli.<br />
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<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=390" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/390.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from MNM Long" /></a> Saturday’s Long distance was held in a interesting area east of Os, with several different types of terrain, but tougher physical than it looks like because of undervegetation und rough ground. I did OK in the beginning, except a huge (2.30 min) mistake to the 7th control because I didn't trust my orienteering and stopped 30 m before the control. The last half of the course I was very tired, and did also several mistakes in the area from the 24th to the 28th control. Bjørn Ekeberg won, and I came 8th, far behind.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/MNMRRos" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gRELydBboXo/UhydhWdevYI/AAAAAAAAZx4/quqwOUZ0a9w/s220/20130825_114044.jpg" title="Pictures from MNM" /></a> Sunday I skipped the relay (held on yesterdays map, but in a partly different area), and did in stead a long run from Røros, throgh Møllmansdalen, and over the mountain to the arena of the race. I did also parts of a relay course as training, and was in totalt running 33 km in 3 h 30 min. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/MNMRRos" target="_blank">Pictures from MNM</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/Rondeslottet" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O6F1IcF3v2M/Uijcx7t_lII/AAAAAAAAaQ0/BoxvvEt_H64/s220/20130829_130045.jpg" title="Pictures from Rondeslottet" /></a> The first part of last week I spent in Trondheim, before I went to the mountains for some days. Wednesdays evening we drove to Rondane, and walked to Ronvassbu. Thuesday we hiked to the top of Rindeslottet (2179 m.a.s.l.). It was nice, and not too though. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/Rondeslottet" target="_blank">Pictures from Rondeslottet</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/SkagadLstind" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TopE3zeUAIg/Uij7FsxgPlI/AAAAAAAAaW8/FWN2zRgPyYk/s220/20130830_130106.jpg" title="Pictures from Skagadølstind" /></a> In the evening we drove to Turtagrø, and Friday we hoped to climb Store Skagadølstind, Norways third highest peak (2405 m.a.s.l.). The weather was nice and we got a great hike. But because you shold have climbing equipment, it was some ice one the rocks, and clouds on the skies we skipped trying to get to the highest peak, and turned after the North peak. The view was anyway great, as you can see on the <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/SkagadLstind" target="_blank">pictures from Skagadølstind</a>.<br />
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This week I'm on WOC 2014 training camp in Italy with the Norwegian team, and I will hopefully make an update in the beginning of next week.Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-88025086548029771892013-09-02T12:42:00.003+02:002013-09-10T16:18:49.009+02:00Colombia - New York <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/Colombia" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_8rXSsBLv_k/Ug_LRsDqBZI/AAAAAAAAY14/EvoLI2mQcLk/s220/2013-08-06%2018-29-09%20-%20IMG_5309.JPG" title="Pictures from Colombia" /></a>After World Games in Cali I stayed one extra week in Colombia to explore more of the country. I was traveling together with the four Czech runners the whole week, and also the Norwegian coach Petter Thoresen the first days.<br />
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It was difficult to decide what we should do since Colombia is a huge country, Cali is not the most touristic part of it, and we only had 6 days. I could have liked to go to some of the high mountains (more than 5000 m.a.s.l.), but it was a bit complicated and dangerous. It could also have been nice to go the the Caribbean coast, but then we needed to fly some hours North.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/Colombia" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-mOJpnBOOZx4/Ug_CaSmTflI/AAAAAAAAYvs/Zcqk7VKm63I/s220/2013-08-06%2010-41-00%20-%20DSC03577.JPG" title="Pictures from Colombia" /></a>The day after the relay and closing ceremony we decided to head West to the Pacific coast, and took a bus to Buenaventura. The plan was to continue directly with boat one hour North to a beach resort, since Buenaventura is seen on as one of the most dangerous cities in Colombia because most of the cocaine is shipped out from there. But the last boat had departed when we arrived, and we had to stay in Buenaventura for a night. That went fine, and we felt totally safe.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/Colombia" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bKJgcCsqgfs/Ug_N7npMtII/AAAAAAAAY4I/STnNeyFN6a4/s220/2013-08-07%2011-45-12%20-%20IMG_5354.JPG" title="Pictures from Colombia" /></a>
The next day we took the first boat to Juanchaco/Ladrilleros. It was a nice place, even if it's not the same standard as we have home, and I found it quite similar to Kenya and Zanzibar, where I was two years ago. We took it quite easy and enjoyed life. I tried wave surfing, that as expected was difficult. We also went for whale watching.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/Colombia" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4WmAoQPo2VY/Ug_i2OlZjyI/AAAAAAAAZE8/dTBtsERKmbw/s220/2013-08-09%2014-51-35%20-%20DSC03765.JPG" title="Pictures from Colombia" /></a>After two days we took the boat back to Buenaventura, and bus to Lake Calima, that is the best place for wind surfing in Colombia. I tried kite surfing, and learned how to handle the kite after two hours with a guide.<br />
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After two days with Lake Calima we headed back to Cali, and stayed there the last night. The city was now more quiet when during World Games. All people we meet in Colombia was very friendly and more open mined then I'm used to from home. But before I go back to South America next time I will try to learn some spanish, because that makes it much more easy to communicate with people. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/Colombia" target="_blank">Pictures from the holiday in Colombia</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/NewYork" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RgC185NE67Q/UiRqcOTKyvI/AAAAAAAAaK8/iL71CfR0nSs/s220/2013-08-13%2016-20-38%20-%2020130813_162038.jpg" title="Pictures from New York" /></a> On my way back to Europe I had a two day stop in New York City. I have never been there before, and found this a good time to take a stopover, since I anyway had to change flight. New York was as expected a fascinating city, with a lot of opportunities. I was staying on central Manhattan, and tried to see the most famous tourist attractions like Central Park, Empire State Building, Central Terminal, Rockefeller Center, the Statue of Liberty, Broadway, Times Square and Maddison Square Garden.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/NewYork" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lVp2p1AJHZE/UiRt9pZM-HI/AAAAAAAAaNA/q1jcrFDwROc/s220/Central%20Park%20%28part%201%29.jpg" title="Pictures from New York" /></a> I did also two long runs in Central Park. The first run was more sightseeing and I took a lot of pictures. During the last run I did a 10 km long orienteering course. I could of course spent more days in NY, but I will save that for next time I'm coming back, then hopefully not traveling alone. <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/NewYork" target="_blank">Pictures from New York</a>.Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-51890578885720643362013-08-20T00:05:00.000+02:002013-08-20T00:05:00.599+02:00World Games in Cali - Thoughts about terrains and general impressions<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WorldGamesColombia" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a2ZQ96tU6qA/UgRqGIAinUI/AAAAAAAAXc8/VFOHYLz3dSY/s220/2013-08-04%2022-57-53%20-%20IMG_5188.JPG" title="Pictures from World Games in Colombia" /></a> Yesterday I was writing about the <a href="http://okvaal.blogspot.com/2013/08/world-games-in-cali-races.html" target="_blank">World Games races</a> held in Cali in Colombia the first week of August. The races was not the success I had hoped for, but World Games was still a great memory for me. Today I will start with some thoughts about the maps/terrains
and than continue with some general impressions from the whole World Games in Cali. <b> </b><br />
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<b>Maps and courses</b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=388" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/388.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from World Games Middle, part 2/2" /></a> I have seen some people complaining about the courses in World Games, and also other international events held the previous years. The main goal with an international event is not necessarily to serve the runners as difficult courses as possible in a nice untouched forest, but to show up the sport. <br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WorldGamesColombia" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6laT5CcXFgY/UgRi-m3N2dI/AAAAAAAAXLo/Fot-zMAKd3w/s220/2013-08-04%2010-01-06%20-%20DSC03419.JPG" title="Pictures from World Games in Colombia" /></a> It's also very individual what type of terrain different runners prefer. Runners who only prefer to run in a specific type of terrain can stay home, or go to smaller races in terrains they like. But as an elite runner on international level you should be able to handle all type of terrains. I can admit that the terrains used for World Games was not the most interesting, but it was probably the best you could find in Cali, and it was still challenging and you needed to run fast, make good route choices and avoid doing mistakes.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WorldGamesColombia" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0JzRzUGisqM/UgRlsQUQPhI/AAAAAAAAXOg/uoQk_-tYeUc/s220/2013-08-04%2011-59-49%20-%20DSC03460.JPG" title="Pictures from World Games in Colombia" /></a> If we want orienteering to be a global sport we can't have all big events in for example Scandinavian forest. Someone will always think a course is too easy or too difficult, too long or too short, or the the terrain has too good runnability or are too bushy or stony. But if we want orienteering to grow as a sport we have to think positive and see opportunities, and not just complain about all that we don't like.<br />
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<b>Other sports</b><br />
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WorldGamesColombia" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5laFvY1rqkI/UgRhVeIdRBI/AAAAAAAAXHQ/TtYw0bfbNIE/s220/2013-08-02%2017-13-57%20-%2020130802_171357.jpg" title="Pictures from World Games in Colombia" /></a> During World Games we where also able to watch some of the other sports, such as trampoline and acrobatic gymnastics, canoe polo, rugby, korfball and beach handball.<br />
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We were eating most meals in a big tent where they served food for all athletes, and it was cool to watch the different type of body the athletes in different sports had.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WorldGamesColombia" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FB0zCFIxET0/UgRnN60a5XI/AAAAAAAAXSM/8f4m090WBV4/s220/2013-08-04%2015-36-51%20-%20DSC03509.JPG" title="Pictures from World Games in Colombia" /></a> Norway won bronze medal in the women's beach handball, and we were able to watch the finals together with them. Brazil won not surprisingly for both men and women.<br />
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<b>Closing Cermony</b><br />
<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WorldGamesColombia" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BQJO7iaIBms/UgRpgKh6x6I/AAAAAAAAXas/taL_gjg3fgw/s220/2013-08-04%2021-49-45%20-%2020130804_214945.jpg" title="Pictures from World Games in Colombia" /></a> Even if the orienteering competitions was the most imported of World Games, the closing ceremony is my best memory from Cali. <br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WorldGamesColombia" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-F0Q_IOHg7ow/UgRqbLlWNXI/AAAAAAAAXeE/nSIp9Se6qGg/s220/2013-08-05%2000-09-06%20-%20IMG_5205.JPG" title="Pictures from World Games in Colombia" /></a> It started with that all the athletes entered the big stadium with a capacity of 50.000 spectators, and after some speeched is became a great party, with a combination of performances by some of the biggest artists in Colombia, among them Carlos Vives, and dancing.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WorldGamesColombia" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-5VPlmu7rsD4/UgRiGcHWy_I/AAAAAAAAXJo/-6M9iEqCYAw/s220/2013-08-02%2021-46-07%20-%20DSC03377.JPG" title="Pictures from World Games in Colombia" /></a> After the 3 hours long closing ceremony, we were some athletes who manged to enter the party for the 3500 volunteers, before we continued to a salsa club. The locals was very friendly the whole week, and glad to try to teach us salsa and other Latin American dances.<br />
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After World Games I stayed one week longer in Colombia on holiday, and I will write some word about that later.Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-35852425165288898772013-08-19T00:02:00.000+02:002013-08-19T00:04:45.530+02:00World Games in Cali - The races<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WorldGamesColombia" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TWLnN_HmkWE/UgRoZYSh7BI/AAAAAAAAXWk/f_FalhGTxAo/s220/2013-08-04%2020-17-01%20-%20IMG_5125.JPG" title="Pictures from World Games in Colombia" /></a> The first week in August I participated in <a href="http://www.worldgames2013.com.co/en/" target="_blank">World Games arranged in Cali in Colombia</a>. Before the event I was writing about what World Games is:<br />
<a href="http://okvaal.blogspot.com/2013/07/on-my-way-to-world-games-in-colombia.html" target="_blank">- On my way to World Games in Colombia</a><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.blogspot.com/2013/08/miami-cali.html" target="_blank">- Miami - Cali </a><br />
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In this post I will write about each of the races, and tomorrow I will continue with some thoughts about the maps/terrains and some general impressions from the whole World Games in Cali.<br />
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<b>Sprint - DSQ</b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=386" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/386.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from World Games Sprint" /></a> The<b> </b>first race was the Sprint, that was held in a mix of park and street area. It was not any big challenges, and mainly to choose right or left, and run as fast as possible. I was not feeling so fresh as I had hoped, and lost some time because of my running speed the whole course.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WorldGamesColombia" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6WhxPhcMv2M/UgRdpZxlrKI/AAAAAAAAXF4/h8L87Y2CM-k/s220/2013-08-02%2012-19-51%20-%20DSC03331.JPG" title="Pictures from World Games in Colombia" /></a> At the 18th control I held the 11th position. But to the 19th control I had a bad direction, came too much to the right and lost 20 seconds. On the last control I did not get any electronically punching, even if the spectators could see that I punched normally with my SI card, and I was disqualified from a possible 18th position. This is the first time I have been disqualified for a missing punch, even if it has been a problem with Sport Ident for many years, and I' can just be glad it has not happed to me before and that it was not a top performance I was disqualified from this time. Matthias Kyburz and Annika Billstam won, while Anne M. Hausken Nordberg won a silver medal to Norway. <a href="http://www.obasen.nu/winsplits/online/en/default.asp?page=table&databaseId=26805&categoryId=0" target="_blank">Results, splits</a> and <a href="http://traclive.dk/events/event_20130730_WorldGames/index.php?raceid=05dfe290-dd10-0130-b72f-10bf48d758ce" target="_blank">GPS tracking</a>. <br />
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<b>Middle - 13th place </b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=387" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/387.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from World Games Middle, part 1/2" /></a> The Middle distance was held in a forest area along a river, and nobody knew exactly what we could expect before the race. The forest was mainly quite dense, and it was smart to use the paths as much as possible, even if it was OK to run through the forest some places.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WorldGamesColombia" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-XvXOA_xt7TY/UgRh1vtnBnI/AAAAAAAAXIg/URGLnr86BQs/s220/2013-08-02%2018-23-10%20-%20DSC03360.JPG" title="Pictures from World Games in Colombia" /></a>I was running pretty well the first half of the race, and at the map exchange I held the 7th position, 45 sec behind Matthias Kyburz. But in the end I did five 10 - 30 seconds mistakes, and ended up in 13th position. Kyburz won clearly, but it was positive to see that I was not more than one minute from the silver medal. <a href="http://www.obasen.nu/winsplits/online/en/default.asp?page=table&databaseId=26813&categoryId=0" target="_blank">Results, splits</a> and <a href="http://traclive.dk/events/event_20130803_WorldGames/index.php?raceid=03bcd980-de18-0130-bc0e-10bf48d758ce" target="_blank">GPS tracking</a>. <br />
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<b>Relay - DSQ</b><br />
<a href="http://okvaal.com/maps/show_map.php?user=oystein&map=389" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://okvaal.com/maps/map_images/389.thumbnail.jpg" title="Map from World Games Relay, part 1/2" /></a> The Mixed Sprint Relay was held in partly the same area as the Middle, but had also a part with more parkland. Norway had a strong team, and was in my opinion among five teams who had a good chance to win a medal.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WorldGamesColombia" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0LN3be9vbK0/UgRlPPZ2KPI/AAAAAAAAXNY/394FxLUqR6U/s220/2013-08-04%2011-33-44%20-%2020130804_113345.jpg" title="Pictures from World Games in Colombia" /></a> Carl Kaas and Mari Fasting sent me out on the 3rd leg in 5th position, 1 min behind the leading group. I did an OK performance, except to the 6th control, where I according to the <a href="http://traclive.dk/events/event_20130804_WorldGames/index.php?raceid=64937b30-dee5-0130-bed8-10bf48d758ce" target="_blank">GPS tracking</a> lost 40 seconds since I passed my control with a few meters and visited an other forking before I went back to my control. I don't like to complain about forkings, but as you can see in the <a href="http://traclive.dk/events/event_20130804_WorldGames/index.php?raceid=64937b30-dee5-0130-bed8-10bf48d758ce" target="_blank">GPS tracking</a> it's quite big differences in length, and unfortunately I had the longest most places. M. Kyburz was able to give Switzerland a huge lead, but we were still in 5th position, and the other team was within one minute in front of us.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WorldGamesColombia" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Z7u2j6JP3xY/UgRlYcHH8qI/AAAAAAAAXNw/rF1N6Wg1k7g/s220/2013-08-04%2011-49-28%20-%20DSC03448.JPG" title="Pictures from World Games in Colombia" /></a> Anne M. Hausken Nordberg did a good last leg, and finished as 2nd runner, but unfortunately we were disqualified since Mari had visited a wrong control. It was the 6th control, the same as I missed, and also Sweden, Great Britan and Czech Republic was disqualified for exactly the same! So it went out to be easier then expected to win a medal, and Austria was definitively the most happy team, winning the bronze, their first ever relay medal in an international championship. <a href="http://wg2013.orienteering.org/result-relay.html" target="_blank">Results</a> and <a href="http://traclive.dk/events/event_20130804_WorldGames/index.php?raceid=64937b30-dee5-0130-bed8-10bf48d758ce" target="_blank">GPS tracking</a>. <br />
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<a href="http://wg2013.orienteering.org/" target="_blank">IOF's World Games page has results, splits and GPS tracking</a> from all the races. In my Picasa album you can find more than <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WorldGamesColombia" target="_blank">250 pictures from the whole World Games week in Cali</a>.Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-13245658423954644062013-08-02T04:15:00.003+02:002013-08-02T04:24:25.076+02:00Miami - Cali<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/Miami" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qnrXXT1oF5k/UfrYXPO9fyI/AAAAAAAAV4M/zSQ4EKzo40s/s220/2013-07-30%2013-04-29%20-%2020130730_130430.jpg" title="Pictures from Miami" /></a> On my way to <a href="http://okvaal.blogspot.com/2013/07/on-my-way-to-world-games-in-colombia.html" target="_blank">World Games in Colombia</a> I decided to take a two days long stop in Miami. Even if I have been traveling quite much in my life I have never been in North or South America, and I found this a good time to visit USA, since it would split up the long travel and at the same time I would get some more days with acclimatization to the new time zone and climate with high density.<br />
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I was staying at Miami Beach, and took it quite easy. I did some shorter runs, relaxed on the beach and visited some shops and restaurants in the city. My hotel was in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Beach_Architectural_District" target="_blank">Art Deco District</a>, as you can see on the buildings on some of <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/Miami" target="_blank">my pictures</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WorldGamesColombia" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MEAviwodeTo/Ufrcms7nvnI/AAAAAAAAV7U/qyp8-Fbw4FY/s220/2013-07-31%2014-54-40%20-%20DSC03274.JPG" title="Pictures from World Games in Colombia" /></a> Tuesday my traveled continued to Cali in Colombia, and I met the others from the <a href="http://runners.worldofo.com/teams/WorldGames2013/NOR/" target="_blank">Norwegian World Games team</a>. Wednesday we did a short run from the hotel (<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/WorldGamesColombia#5907275133956480642" target="_blank">highest building in town</a>) and relax a bit. Before dinner we watched some other sport, as you can see on <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WorldGamesColombia" target="_blank">my pictures</a>. The security is taken very serious here, with a lot of police men everywhere, but all local people we have meet have been really friendly to us.<br />
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Today we have been on the Model Event. It was close to the area for tomorrows sprint race, but no very interesting, as you can see on <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/WorldGamesColombia#5907281036629140962" target="_blank">the map</a>. Model Events is often quite boring, since they save the best areas for the races, but shows how the map is drawn.<br />
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<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/kvaal.osterbo/WorldGamesColombia" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-J6N6Kzreie8/Ufrfcj1jpwI/AAAAAAAAV-I/a_is1JBLS-o/s220/2013-08-01%2010-21-06%20-%20DSC03309.JPG" title="Pictures from World Games in Colombia" /></a> You can follow the events live with video streaming and GPS tracking on <a href="http://wg2013.orienteering.org/" target="_blank">IOF's World Games page</a>. The sprint starts 17.00 CET on Friday.<br />
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Last week I answered some <a href="http://orienteering.org/11-days-to-the-world-games-who-will-be-the-big-winner-in-cali/" target="_blank">questions for the IOF site</a>, and today I was <a href="http://orienteering.org/live-athlete-interviews-on-the-world-games-chat-today/" target="_blank">answering questions</a> in the <a href="http://orienteering.org/the-world-games-chat/" target="_blank">IOF live chat</a> together with Matthias Kyburz and Maja AlmØystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2735060689213352961.post-75574206583913730972013-07-30T04:29:00.000+02:002013-08-02T04:25:22.122+02:00On my way to World Games in Colombia<a href="http://worldgames2013.com.co/en/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="http://www.theworldgames.org/images/shortcuts/shortcut-cali2013-official-website.png" title="World Games 2013" /></a>
The coming weekend I'm going to compete in <a href="http://www.theworldgames.org/" target="_blank">World Games</a> in Cali in Colombia. World Games is a huge event with in total 4500 participants from 101 different nations competing in 31 different sports. It’s a sort of Olympic Games for Non Olympic Sports. <br />
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Together with the World Champs held in Finland some weeks ago World Games is the highlight of the season, and something I have been looking forward to for a long time. Since it's only arrange every 4th year, and that orienteering is part of such an huge event, I find it very special.<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/WorldGamesTaiwan" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Pyb0Cyswk0Y/UfD1L3jtiZI/AAAAAAAAVlE/XO5PRmSpubI/s220/DSC07329.JPG" title="Pictures from World Games 2005" /></a>
The program is as following:<br />
<ul>
<li>Friday 2nd August: Sprint</li>
<li>Saturday 3rd August: Middle distance</li>
<li>Sunday 4th August: Mixed Relay</li>
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<a href="http://www.orientering.no/nyheter/Sider/Jakter%20medalje%20i%20Colombia.aspx" target="_blank">Jakter medalje i Colombia</a>, orientering.no <br />
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I have competed in World Games two times earlier, and it was a great experience both times. <br />
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<a href="http://www.okvaal.com/kart/2005/sommer/pages/2005.07.16%20World%20Games%20Middle%20Duisburg.htm" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="http://www.okvaal.com/kart/2005/sommer/thumbnails/2005.07.16%20World%20Games%20Middle%20Duisburg.jpg" title="Map from World Games 2005" /></a>
World Games 2005 was held in Duisburg in Germany. It went really well for me and I finished 3rd in the Middle distance, beaten by Thierry Gueorgiou and Daniel Hubmann. In the relay I finished first on the first leg. <br />
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<a href="http://www.okvaal.com/bilder/2005/WG/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="http://www.okvaal.com/bilder/2005/WG/thumbnails/IMGP3001.jpg" title="Pictures from World Games 2005" /></a>
On my <a href="http://okvaal.com/2005.html" target="_blank">old homepage</a> you can read more and find links to all the <a href="http://www.okvaal.com/kart/2005/sommer/pages/2005.07.16%20World%20Games%20Middle%20Duisburg.htm" target="_blank">maps</a>. As you can se on the <a href="http://www.okvaal.com/bilder/2005/WG/" target="_blank">pictures</a> we were also on the Opening Ceremony and watching some other sports.<br />
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<a href="http://www.okvaal.com/kart/2009/sommer/pages/2009.07.17%20World%20Games%20Sprint%20Kaohsiung%20Taiwan.htm" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="http://www.okvaal.com/kart/2009/sommer/thumbnails/2009.07.17%20World%20Games%20Sprint%20Kaohsiung%20Taiwan.jpg" title="Map from World Games 2005" /></a>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Games_2009" target="_blank">World Games 2009</a> was arranged in Kaohsiung in Taiwan. The Opening Ceremony was held in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Games_Stadium" target="_blank">new stadium build for the event</a>, with a capacity of 55,000 people, and involved 4,000 performers<br />
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In the Sprint I got a 4th place, in the Middle distance I came 6th, and in the Relay I won a bronze medal together with Lars Skjeset, Mari Fasting and Elise Egseth (which also won bronze in the sprint).<br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/WorldGamesTaiwan" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img align="right" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-z1fZkwPprEo/UfD2X3OYW-I/AAAAAAAAVuU/DQmveeht0uU/s220/IMG_5110.JPG" title="Pictures from World Games 2005" /></a>
On my <a href="http://okvaal.com/news.php" target="_blank">old homepage</a> you can find news with maps from the <a href="http://okvaal.com/news.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1247836652&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&" target="_blank">Sprint</a>, <a href="http://okvaal.com/news.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1247924897&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&" target="_blank">Middle</a> and <a href="http://okvaal.com/news.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1248004035&archive=&start_from=&ucat=&" target="_blank">Relay</a>. Last week I also finally managed to upload my <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/115696214252270959121/WorldGamesTaiwan" target="_blank">pictures from WG 2009</a> to Picasa.<br />
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At the moment I'm in Miami, where I have a one and a half day stop on my way to Colombia. I will try to update my blog with short reports from the races the coming weekend. Øystein Kvaal Østerbøhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05115024749220416317noreply@blogger.com0