And now we've reached the end of another year here in Uppsala. And what an amazing year it has been - both orienteering and otherwise for me. Although I feel like I had my fair share of ups and downs this year in orienteering, I actually think it was my best year since 2010. I tend to remember only the bad things (especially now, sitting here injured for the first time ever and feeling like a big slug). So here is why this year was awesome - yep, a list of my awesome year :)
Tenerife! This was one of the few vacations I've taken with only Ross and with no orienteering (but lots of running!) It was awesome.
|
The off-limits (due to snow) Teide in the background. |
In the spring I set a new 5km PR, 18.10 at Blodomloppet.
|
The IESU work team |
I competed in all the Silva League races, which meant lots of traveling to new places in Sweden and running on new maps.
|
Silva League in Småland. Photo by Matija |
10mila I was on team two, and I ran second leg. Before running, I was super nervous, so I didn't eat a lot for dinner the previous night or breakfast. This led to a very upset stomach for another 24 hours and puking on the van ride home (not in the van!). I was a bit hesitant in the beginning of the race, getting pulled a bit by others, but then found my own stride. I remember running uphill at one point with no one in front of me, but turning around and seeing a never-ending steam of women behind me. Team two did an awesome job!
|
Linné Team 2! |
|
Handing off to Elisa. Photo by Ken Walker |
Since WOC was in Italy, I traveled down to Treviso in the spring where I did some sprint training and spent lots of time exploring that adorable city.
I went to Venice three separate times this year, mostly for training but also snuck in some site-seeing with Cristina and Melissa the first time.
Jukola was far north this year. Our flight was delayed and we took a long team-bonding bus ride north. I ran first leg on team 2, and I had an awesome starting spot, since team 2 did so well last year. I had a really good race, spiking my controls and staying ahead of most of the pack.
|
Oh, Finnish, you funny language you. |
Ross and I were invited by the Luis family to spend a week with them in Provence, France. I cannot say thank you enough for having us. It was an amazing week, and those hill intervals that Cristina and I ran in the heat I think fine tuned my race-mind and race-legs like nothing else could have.
|
If you are ever here, buy ALL of their cookies! |
|
sunshine and views |
At World Orienteering Championships, after a fairly panic-y qualifier race, I squeaked into the WOC sprint final. Although I've made finals before, last year at WOC was hard for me, and it felt so good to redeem myself. My final was a solid race, but not as awesome as you want your WOC race to be, but I got to sit on the top-three victory couch, which has been a life-long goal.
|
Over the bridges of Venice. Photo by Ken Walker |
|
Victory couch! Photo by Ken Walker |
I then got to run the lead leg on our 4 person sprint relay team, which is the newest discipline at WOC. I was so nervous before the race I had a bit of trouble breathing, but it was awesome. Crowded, fast, twisty and I finished my leg in 10th.
|
Finishing my leg in sprint relay. Photo by Ken Walker |
My forest relay might as well make it's way in here too. I got very lost in the beginning and came through the arena in absolute last place. I can still feel how frustrated, embarrassed, disappointed, and low I felt running through the arena. And I cannot describe how important it was to hear my family, friends and teammates cheering for me. I didn't feel that I pushed extra hard in the end, but looking at splits I kept pace with the lead pack, and I tagged off to Alex, our second runner, in 17th place. It means a lot to me that everyone still supported me, and that I was able to mentally pull off a solid end of a race that started out as one of the most horrible of the year.
|
Tagging off to Alex, who had an awesome leg. Photo by Ken Walker |
Then the traveling! Traveling with Mom and Dad was amazing. We stayed in beautiful places and went hiking running, mountain biking and siteseeing. Northern Italy is beautiful.
|
Mountain biking in the Dolomites |
|
Trying on local fashion |
|
Villa Carlotta |
|
Sunset over Lake Como |
|
Dinner on the porch in Bellagio |
|
View down to Bellagio |
Swiss O week continued the awesomeness. Ross and I stayed with Cristina and Melissa in Zermatt. I had three awesome races at the beginning of the week, and enjoyed that elusive feeling of full speed, no mistakes.
|
Look at the view! (This happened a lot) |
|
But we also had days like this! |
|
Running in the shadow of Zermatt |
|
Hanging around with my besties. |
At the middle distance Swedish championships I ran another smart, but not fast, race. I relished in that feeling after the race, assuring everyone that I had a good race for me, but of course I wasn't in the final. I had a slow heat though, and I made it to my first Swedish Champs final! I swear, these things are harder to get into than WOC finals. I ran a fine middle race in the final, despite some early mistakes. I was really just proud to be there!
Swedish relay championships were another opportunity for me to run first leg again this year and use the speed that I worked so hard to build this year. I cut too sharply in front of someone near the end of the race and they stepped on my shoe, pulling it off. I lost a bit of time trying to get it back on again, but then got to run hard to try to catch back up again!
|
SM Relay. Photo by Lars Rönnols |
The season finished off with North Americans. I had some strange stomach bug for half of the weekend, but the NAOC long is the race I am most proud of. Besides some wandering to #2 I ran a really good race. A race to be proud of. And it's wonderful to be rewarded with a gold medal and a earned spot at the WOC Long this summer in Scotland.
|
The Björn Kjellström trophy, with the female gold medalists from the weekend. |
To top it all off, even better than all those awesome races, I got to marry the most wonderful, kind and understanding person ever.
|
photo by Chris Joyce, our awesome photographer |
2014, I'm going to miss you. As one can tell from reading this, I love racing and traveling.
I love competing. I love feeling fast and strong and focused in the forest.
But more than all that, I love Ross :)
2015, you have a lot to live up to. Looking forward to it!
1 comment:
Absolutely spectacular, thanks for sharing, Sam. It is very cool to be a vicarious part of your adventures.
Post a Comment