Östersund & new coaches

Hejjjj! Here we are, unfortunately back in rainy Finland.. Where are the gorgeous views over Storsjön, warm weathers and smily people? It's all in Östersund, and it will always be!:)) One week in Sweden passed absolutely too quickly, wishing it would last forever:D

The trip started from Vuokatti as we drove through Finland to Vaasa where we took the "pizzaboat".:D It was nice to get to know our new coach (and the only one in finnish biathlon association) from Norway!:) Kristian happened to be a nice, professional and co-operating coach. And for my side it was really easy to discuss on the things as we both speak svenska!:)) The trainingweek was tough, including intervalls or hard powertraining every day. Glad to have sore (new?:D)muscles, but for the competitions at the weekend it wasn't so excellent. :D Anyways our big team from Finland, juniorteam+ a couple of B-team+ 50% from A-team(=Mari).. first 5 days training and then rollerski biathlon Ibu- cup, sprint and pursuit! Me like^^'

In sprint I managed to shoot quite well 0+1, but how lazy I was on the track!! oh shame on me.. Anyways, I finished something like one week after the winner, Helena Ekholm.. (One mention, I managed to shoot quicker and better on the first prone!;)) LOL. so Back to the pursuit where my skiing was getting a bit sharper. However, my shooting got a bit worse and when gathering 6 penalties I didn't get any chance against top 10^^ BUT, Grattis till Bettan, dagens vinnare!!

Hard work pays off!!:))

Congrats to our finnish junior boys, as they managed to reach top 6!! Okey, the norwegian gangsters didn't get a chance to compete equally as the organizers didn't let them start in the top (outside Ibu-cup!) To beat 2 minutes in sprint, then start 6 minutes after the best no-norwegian in pursuit. Ridiculous:D



Luckily it's still 3 months to go before first snowraces!! So after 24-hours-trip back home, staying the night in Umeå, getting bored on the pizzaboat and driving all the way through Finland back home to chilly Joensuu.. So tired!!! And It didn't really help my physical condition that we have an austrian coach, Joe, here this week! But after 7 hours sleep I was back at the stadium to meet (again a new) coach with a new trainingsystem! But without any fear..!!:)

This week went after all quite well, the others having a lot of intervalls and tough training this week. I had to skip some of them, taking rest after the hard week in Östersund.. Well, Joe is also nice (as well as Kristian). ANd here we are.. It's quite tough situation now and the question is what's gonna happen now ;to continue with the familiar russian system (but no coaches on the range^/), move to Vuokatti and train with norske Kristian or begin with austrian system until the next olympic games.. (cause that's the goal for me and for everybody I think!) Interesting times indeed. I'll write about this issue later then, when I know something new!:))

Today we had rollerski race here in Kontiolahti. +8 grades and rain in the night.. After such a feeling during the week I managed to take in everything I had left^, shooting 0+0 and hard last loop, I got a half minute gap to Sarianna (2nd). (and yes, Kaisa Varis was on the startline as well fyyy##¤%&¤%¤#!!!, luckily I beat her with 2 min..)
So tomorrow's the teammeetingday. We'll be wiser then:))
Now off to run a bit and waiting for next easy week and some UNIVERSITYstuff! Grejt!;))
Believe or not I'll be there, at least during the lunchtime.

ps. tackar Camp Södergren! Väldigt fint å bo där uppe!!.. extra poäng att svenska herrlaget med Tobbe, Ferry med mera bodde strax ovanför oss :DD kuuul!


xox Lara

Running away...

Jippiii..!
We had the first and the last cross-biathlon races in Lahti last weekend!
So from this point it's time to concentrate more and more to skiing..:p Anyways briefly the results and feelings from the weekend... Nice and extremely hot!! Three races in a row and the temperature (still) in the shadow like +34c!

Not really my favouriteweather but anyways, we survived... Drinking water, swimming, shower... you name it!:D On friday we had sprint competition in the evening. I was a bit lazy on the track, nor did my standing shooting astonish (3 penalties)! so the tight race after our outstanding Kaisa (with 6 penalties), I finished 8th. bad! But next day the individual race and very hot weather.. I tried not to die... and finished 3rd!!:)) the best woman shooter of the day with 3 penalties and not bad running! I think it's okey result with this huge amount of runningraces behind (none!:D)..
So after the race we had a nice relaxing evening at the city! Unfortunately our coaches didn't like the idea being a bit out.. And me driving the big car. So quilty!:D

Anyways, on Sunday it was the relay day!! Our team; me, Sarianna, and Piia finished 2nd after Hämeenlinna's team..:) And to mention our superior boys won their juniorboys' relay! including my little brother (the fastest runner in men category btw!) and also the "youngsters" suprised with golden medals!:) so good day for Kontiolahti sport club!!

So that's it!! Time for packing and enjoying the last (maybe) warm nights and days of the summer! Today we still had +29c over here!!... wondering when it will get any colder..:D

Next goal is anyways Östersund!:) First I head to our summercottage to enjoy tomorrow's heat.. then I drive to Vuokatti!.) From there we start with our new norwegian coach, drive minibuses, taking ship to Sweden... So here we come, Östersund!:)) I've really been missing it and of course the friends over there.
So one week's trainingcamp and then the IBU-cup rollerskiraces!.) Nice to see where we stand at this time of the season..

So off we go.. Dunno if I come back after all the crab that we have had here, coachsituation and blaaaah.. Well, I will.. To meet an austrian coach who will be here one week to check our trainings and giving advice. Maybe fixing a studentplace for me in Obertilliach, or somewhere there *gg*

så vi ses!!! KRAMAR

7th time, back in Otepää!!

Tere!
Tons of sweat. ..That's how I could describe our 2,5 weeks trainingcamp in Otepää, Estonia! Temperature didn't go under +22c, not even during the nights. so hot!! If I had holidays it would have been fun and nice B) , but as a sportler it was a bit tuffer.. even too hot! Sometimes my cheeks white I wished I was swimming already in the lake.. eh.

Liquids, liquids.. and shelter! That's what we did between the trainings. Otherwise we didn't need shirts to wear in the trainings, nor the others.^^' that made landscapes even better, though.. and you know what I mean!:P At the same time there were both russian biathlon teams, ukraine team, estonian team, some other russian teams etc..
Sometimes it brought some problems how to get some shootingplaces, as the priority lay on the a-teams... Anyways, I must consider that AGAIN Otepää trainingcamp was the highpoint of the summer and summertraining. I feel comfortable there, and I think the surrounding and trainingconditions are so perfect! And living next to shooting range... both thumbs up:)))

This time we didn't get the good advice from our headcoach Anatoly, as he was so eagerly working with rus a-team. Our two "advicers" here couldn't fill A's place, unfortunately. One of them (fater of two boys in the team) could organize trainingfacilities and so on, otherwise his knowledge about the coaching couldn't improve the quality of the trainings!. What comes to this new, young x-c coach.. He flew to some own races to Lappland during the camp, returned back in a high fewer and after that he was only chilling the rest of the camp. Great, isn't it?:D Unfortunately our youngest got sick (maybe due to this "new coach) during the second week, and also my roommate Sarkku just in the end of the camp. In this heat fever and throwing out aren't nice..^//

so Help help.. It doesn't seem so bright over here. But living with the facts... AND luckily we have done the same kind of program already 4 years (okey for me only two cause of my sweden year:)) so we already know how it should be done...! I hope that the things will be better during the autumn and this was only hesitated conclusion about the new system..

So 7th time in Otepää, not the best but otherwise as precious as the previous years!:) And after three years the Estonian Rally event entered the city, filling the streets during the first weekend. and also blocking the streets and preventing us from rollerskiing on the new shootingrange area! damn. Somehow I managed to get us VIP-tickets, trying the rallycar.. and you name it!:D hilarious:)) and not forgetting to mention my friends from Saalfelden!! Dankeeee, war echt supa!:)


Anyways we got this all through and came back home, only to feel the same heat!
Now it's been time to chill out, celebrate my birthday (yes, I'm one year wiser..:D) and then welcome August and the new challenges.

Next stop Lahti and Finnish Champs in cross-biathlon. Then I'll head to dear Östersund! 8 days trainingcamp and the IBU-rollerski cup.. that's the plan and that's what I'm eagerly waiting for!:)) let's check the situation..

Now time for European Champs and Barcelona in my sight! ..Thorkildsen.. *gg* :P

ps. I got now a new bike after the accident!!! :) yeee