This site is about my experiences running, trail running, rogaining, orienteering, hiking, and exploring in Finland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbGGDkwXoPI&t= March 1, 2020 - Introducing my new website and YouTube channel. More content coming soon... I’m launching this website/blog to promote all forms of exploring Finland on foot: Running, Trail Running, Rogaining, and Orienteering. I’m also using this to chronicle and share my own adventures here. During my four years in Finland I have spent... Continue Reading →
Just over a week ago on July 10, 2021 I ran the Beaverhead 100km in Salmon Idaho. Results are here. I did this race once before in 2017 and the 55km version in 2015. This year I beat my 2017 time by 40 minutes although the course is now 2 kilometers shorter. As I posted... Continue Reading →
https://us.humankinetics.com/products/art-of-running-faster-pdf-the I read the hard copy of this book, The Art of Running Faster, by Julian Goater and Don Melvin (2012). Apparently you can buy the ebook or a PDF version online at the website in the image caption above. Actually, I didn't read every chapter, so I feel it would be unethical for me... Continue Reading →
Photo: Jyrki Kukko Here we are again. This report covers my 5th NUTS Karhunkierros 100 miler finish in northern Finland. Before reading further, I suggest having a look at this short video (2 min) from the race organizers this year to get a feel for the terrain on which I have spent many, many hours.... Continue Reading →
https://www.uphillathlete.com/product/uphill-athlete-athlete-book-ship-in-usa/ Training for the uphill athlete: A manual for mountain runners and ski mountaineers. Publish in 2019 by Patagonia works. Written by Steve House, Scott Johnson, and Kílian Jornet. This is the second training book I am reviewing this year (2021). What can I say? My massive readership of at least three demands my work!... Continue Reading →
This event, the Markkasen Maraton, takes its inspiration from the notoriously difficult Barkley Marathons race in the USA, but it is not trying to copy it exactly. The organizers brainstormed what a Finnish version might look like, and they came up with this as an idea for one loop of the real event, which has... Continue Reading →
By Jason Koop with Jim Rutberg 2016 CTS https://trainright.com/ultrarunning/ "What does success look like to you?" asks Jason Koop, the author, in his book, nay manual, nay authoritative treatise on ultrarunning published several years ago. My question is "where has this book been all my (running) life?" I only learned of this book in March... Continue Reading →
Planning before a 24 hr Rogaining with Matti V. My experience is certainly limited, but I have participated in more than 20 Rogaining events of different lengths, ranging from 2 to 24 hours. If you are unfamiliar with Rogaining, please read my previous entry here. This post discusses the physical and mental skills needed in... Continue Reading →
Photo: Jen Ray . That's me with Jouni N. and Esa L. Rogaining is a team sport (2-5 people) involving running and navigation that was invented by some guys in Australia and has now become popular in a few parts of the world. It should be much more popular because it is so fun (and... Continue Reading →
This is what 5,000 meters of vertical gain looks like in Turku, Finland I like to challenge myself in December. In a previous year I did a pushup challenge. This December I signed up for a running challenge organized by Aravaipa Running (Jamil Khoury of the Barkleys Marathons) in Arizona, USA to see who could... Continue Reading →
Bridget drove me and my loads of stuff to the event in Espoo. Photo: Bridget On October 17, 2020 I participated in Big's Backyard satellite race. This post will provide a bit of background of the event followed by some notes and comments. This is more of a post-mission/operation debriefing than a race report. But... Continue Reading →
