2009 - A Fantastic Year

2009 was a great year. Lets start with:

Biking
31 bike rides
1295 km
56 hours
141 average heart rate
Vätternrunda n

My goal was to to 1000km before Vätternrundan. I basically managed to do that. I have a big problem when it comes to running and biking in April and May. Basically I need to do both, which is not an easy task. 56 hours is a good amount of time on the bike for 2009. Great!

Running
146 runs
1836 km
173 hours
161 average heart rate
2 marathons (Stockholm and Växjö)
Lidingöploppet
85.22 % ELM ratio

An intresting year running wise. 2008 was the year when I did the Svenska Klassiker, hence a lot of different stuff than only running. 2009 was to be a year with "only" bike riding and running. It started out good. Had a good winter season running wise and when April came I managed to squeeze in both bike riding and running.

Stockholm Marathon
It was a tough one. It was hot and the second lap was a complete struggle. I was very happy to make a 4:00:49 Stockholm Marathon. The problem this year in the race were my legs. Totally dead. I now think that it has to do with the bike riding. For some reason the legs are just dead. Don't know why.

Vätternrundan
Terrible weather, a fantastic ride. Me, Ida and Mr Mizuno. We did it in 12 h 12 min. A great success for all of us. Especially for Ida who had a goal of 15 hours. Vätternrundan is something we will do again and again and again. Of course we have signed up for 2010.

Vacation period
Problems! After just one week of vacation I get a strange pain in the inner right knee. Tried to run once a week but the pain was just too strong. Couldn't run at all during 6 weeks. This was just a terrible period. The question was if I would be able to do Lidingöloppet or not. Had a good training session with Mr 3:19:57 in Ursvik two weeks before Lidingö. I did the extreme 15km + 5k + 5k. Felt good and decided to go for it.

Lidingöloppet
Great race. Just love this one. This time in appr 2:57. Mr Mizuno did it in 2:58, close call this time. Lidingö is probably the race I like the most of all the races I have done.

Växjö Marathon
A very tough one. 4:09. Walked and ran the last 10k. Started out behind Mr Legend during the first 29km. Felt ok. After 29k I said goodbye to him and was on my own. The last 13 k were awful. Anyway. Managed to do it and this was the start of a great training period.

Oct - Dec
Just a perfect training period. Have done a lot of training in November and December. A lot of good long runs.Invented the concept of Secret Long Run. Mr Legend and Mr 3:19:57 helped a lot in inspiring to big runs. This will continue during 2010.

Goals 2010
Vällingby Marathon April 17 (this is still not decided. Might do it, might not do it)
Lidingö Ultra May 8
Stockholm Marathon June 5
Vätternrundan June 19
Lidingöloppet September 27
Växjö Marathon October 18

Will try to run somewhere between 2000-2500km

Will not compete with Mr Legend or Mr 3:19:57. Will run together with them, not against them.

Will not have any specific time targets for 2010.

Will not get injured 2010. This means, no fast up ramping when it comes to cruise intervals. I will do intervals but I will ramp up slowly.

El Maco