Skövde Ultrafestival 2015

Well, I've already decided to run this ultra race (please check link) in my hometown of Skövde. On the sports ground where it all began 46 years ago.

Skövde IP
(the running track in my hometown Skövde)

It feels good in my body and I feel fine mentally. No major problems then at all.

I come not to be completely alone as a runner this time which feels great. When I ran around the Great Lake, the lake which is right next to where I live, I was the only one who ran and all the others who were cheering.

When I ran around a lake there was those new views all the time. This time I will run a lap-race at a track. Round and round and round.. ;-)

If you disconnect the thoughts that have been with that one becomes sick to do so, there are of course lots of positive things to run on this way. You get the energy in the form of sports drinks and other energy each lap (400m) eg.

Once again. Why? Why am I doing this crazy runnings? Well, I can't tell why. Not in words! It's a feeling I do not understand. I just do it to be "whole" I guess. I just can say I LOVE to run! That's it! It's not important why!

So therefore my friends, I will not discuss why I'm running anymore. I can't tell anyway :-)

A climbing runner :-)
Don't forget to have fun when out there running!

Back from Stockholm, the capital of Sweden.
A wonderful city but I think I like the mountains a bit more ;-)

All meetings with people, animals and nature is clearly one reason why I run. Perhaps everything.

Please take care and remember to say Hello! and smile to the one You meet out there!

Easy, Light and Smooth (ELS)
/Flexirun

Snow and ice..

.. doesn't stop me from running!

I run despite cold, snow and ice. Some wonder if it can really be good to run so far in the cold, which can sometimes prevail here where I live.

It can always be debated, but my opinion is that it is perfectly possible just to dress in several layers and to keep the speed down a bit. One should also cover the nose and mouth with a scarf or a so-called heat exchangers.

Yes, now is the decision rooted in my brain. This is the 48-hour ultra race I will give to me on August 31, 2015, starting 12 am.
It's the very same track where all started 1969. I was 8 years old and really loved the time running there 2-3 times a week.

I just have to say that I got the feeling that the circle begins to close. No, I will not stop running after the race but emotionally, I will reach a new dimension I think. Feels strange, exciting and fun!

Elton! My little running friend.

Some days up here are really nice!

Well, more ice than snow this strange winter.
Climate-change..

Well, from now on there will be more ELS-running. The plan is to run two times a week to work. That will do about 58-59 km (36 miles) in just two days. Then there is 3-4 more days to run so I might rest 1-2 days. It's important not to forget the rest.

Take care, smile and try to say Hello! out there my friends!

Easy, Light and Smooth! #ELS
/Flexirun

The movement is started!

Well, the movement has been going on 45, soon 46 years. But I have a goal again, which feels really good! Normally I do not compete to motivate me to run. I have already passed my time targets.

Nowadays it's mainly inspiration as well as push the limits without the need to bring the world record or first places. A smile from someone can make me motivated :-)

My favorite mug!
The wolf symbolize both physical and mental strength for me.
In addition, the tactical specialists and highly social individuals.

I guess a lot of friends out there knows I normally run with my dog Elton. When he was younger he use to run up to 12 miles with me. Now he is ten years and runs only with me when I heat up or jogs down. Besides my family, Elton is a great motivator and because he has to do some walk a lot I do take the opportunity to run a bit ;-)

Me and my dog Elton.
A great friend!

Mohammad from Syria.
Great guy with ambitions :-)

Mohammad is from Syria. He is a refugee from the war and usually run with me every Wednesday when I'm at the refugee camp and, yes, running with the refugees from different countries like Syria, Irak, Ukraine, Eritrea etc.

Julia, Shahin and her friends offered us refreshments after a Wednesday running.

Once again, thank you! :-)

To see the joy in their eyes when we run is absolutely unbeatable. We've fixed running clothes, shoes, etc. and then we run for about an hour.

The running is pretty much a side issue. The thing is simply humanitarian! To sit and wait for a decision to be allowed to stay in Sweden or not can probably make anyone feel bad, I think. Instead, they now meet a number of Swedes, work out in our language and talk to him. As said. To smile a little and dare to say hello! usually make someone's day;-)

On one of my evening runs, I met a little cute pony.
We took a Selfie so he/she certainly had something to tell the the others in the stables later.

The beautiful Castella (defence tower from about 1172 a.c.)
I see it almost everyday on my runnings.

Flexirun (me) on the run.
Remember it was a perfect day with sun and sparkling snow!

Elton rests in shape :-D 

From todays run.
Windy, snowy, ice, -8°C, 12 km alone out there.
It was a kind of wonderful day :-)

Ok, take care of you, be nice, smile and say hello! to those you meet!

Easy, Light and Smoot! (ELS)

/Flexirun

At last came the snow and cold!

Well, there has been some snow and a bit chilly for a while, but not as it use to be. Sometimes I wonder if there are so-called climate change, which is why we have a little worse winters up here than usual..

2 dm of snow just over night :-)

One fine running up here in north!

I am now completely healthy! No pain and the cold has settled. I really hope for a nice winter, a fine spring and a great summer! I do hope I will feel good so my 48h run will go right in August.

Amazing how one can exercise the body to fix races like that! The body and soul are awesome! What other words can else be used?

Never forget that the will can move mountains! The choice is yours!

My new winter shoes.
Asics Fuji Setsu
"Setsu" means "snow" in japanese by the way ;-)

I have not been able to run as usual because of some infection in the body, and not able to go full speed. This does not bother me as much as it is about all the time listening to your body, do not worry and instead train at the right level and regularly. If you have a dog the problem normally is solved because he/she must come out lot of times everyday ;-)

My running-group at Saturdays.
Yes, it's mostly #ELS :-)

Even if sick one have a choice to say Hello! and smile to the one you meet out there! Being happy is not a crime and not yet coated with taxes. remember that!

Ok, then we are well and clenched and ensures that the path to the target will be a really fun ride. The goal is nothing the road is all!

A happy Flexirun when out there running!

Take care and care about others!

Easy, Light and Smooth!
/Flexirun

New year and new races...

...is now on!

I really do love to run. I can not deny that! Well, it is not only the run, in itself, but also everything around it I guess. The nature, all those social meetings, new people and beautiful places you might see.
As you might imagine is running for me so much more than just the left, right, left..

From one of my runs.
See, the sunset is almost there.. 14:36!

Where I live, the sun is almost never up there in winter. Just a few hours then it goes down and everything gets dark.
As you may now understand it's the inverse relationship in the summer. When the sun almost never goes down! :-)

Well, I'm not a fan but their snowmobile trails are great to run in!

 I have a lot of woods to run in around here and I just.. LOVE IT! It is so peaceful. Almost like balm for the soul. Sometimes I see moose, deer, reindeer, foxes, eagles. And, if your lucky, lynx or bear.
Guess they have seen me more often than I have seen them ;-)

The great forrest. Well, some places have no trees though but it's nice views.

Below a clip from the gym where I use to do some exercises. I rather run outside but warmup is ok.

Never forget to do warmup before do running or exercise. Otherwise you might get hurt. Easy, Light and Smooth even here!

Also remember elite distance runners do warm up. I just read the kenyans do about 90% of the running in a very slow pace.. #ELS ;-)

Ok, friends! That's all from me and Sweden. Always say Hello! and smile! Try it, like it!

Easy, Light and Smooth!
/Flexirun

Christmas done and..

..waiting for New Year to come.

Well, there´s nothing we can do about it. The time it goes no matter what we think and try to do about it. Only thing we can do is to fill it in the very best way we can!

Trying to be happy and make everyone else happy. People like animals! Being able to greet everyone and smile and inspire can be some of the greatest gifts you can have. And the easiest!

Most of you will be aware that I compete very little nowadays. I find more satisfaction in just running and sometimes help other runners to reach their specific goals. Or just giving a bit of inspiration and joy. I shudder when I see the happiness of those who reach their goals. It gives me, also, the same euphoria. Perhaps I have found a whole new level of running. To constantly find myself in the so-called "runners high" :-)

Yesterday, I went and my two daughters, Ingrid and Juliet, at the health club. Ingrid got to be the PT and Julia took care of pep talk. We started by warming up with running on the treadmill for 15 minutes.
After that we drove five strength exercises that would be repeated three times. Actually, it was now time for stretching but instead I gave myself a challenge to the gym had. 100 "burpies"! Among the hardest thing to do and you get tired after about 20 pieces. I fixed them on 6 min 31 sec. Totally sick hassle!

Julia on the treadmill warming up.
She has a nice stride!

 

Me doing those burpies...

Well, not THAT bad for a 53 old runner ;-

Me, Julia and Ingrid at the gym MÅVA.

Some nice winer-pictures from where I live.

Well, today there was a lot of people out there when I was running. I think they all waved, smiled and said hello to me. Yes, I did smile back! :-)

Easy, Light and Smooth!
/Flexirun

Second Sunday of Advent..

.. and  I've been running both Saturday and Sunday. It felt rather ok I'll say! Little cold left but ok.

Of course, I'm sad sometimes but rarely!

This Friday there came a package to me. I will try a new brand of shoes. Ultrafriends told me to try Hoka. They really was great I must say. First time I ran in them it felt good but after 6 mile I felt something in my left foot.  A tendon seams! Well, full of experience I just change the insole to one fit my feet and it was just perfect ;-)

As you all probably noticed, I am quite positive and full of expectation and longing for the fall of 2014. That's when I should run, not only in 42h, but in 6 more hours!
It is an ultra festival in my hometown where I was eight years old and started running :-)

I'll let You all now about it! Endurance, strength, rest, and energy intake are the four cornerstones of my strategy. The hardest is to take in energy I think.

Hoka One One Rapa Nui 2.
A very nice shoe which I got in LOVE with after 5 min.

Elton and me in town.
To much people so we went down to the lake
watch the birds instead..

Well, at MÅVA, I lift weights twice a week from now on, to build more muscle volume. Some wonder then if I do not "get more lag on" then. The reason is primarily to increase the ability to store the amount of glycogen in the muscles and thus increasing energy stores more.

So I'm sure it will be a fantastic, exciting and a little mixed emotions this coming year of 2015 ;-)

Ok, friends. A snail!
Guess what's the meaning of that is?

Easy, Light and Smooth!

Never forget to say Hello! and smile. It's much easier than you could ever believe:-)

Easy, Light and Smooth!

/Flexirun