This morning I took the train to Tjörnarp. Tested to have everything with me, in a dry bag I had put socks and a long sleeve shirt and put the bag in my ultra backpack.

The temperature was around 0oC (32F) and windy so I was not sure if my Tierra Windstopper would be enough to keep me warm or if I should have my red Haglöfs jacket instead but decided that the Tierra would be fine. When I would start running I will be warm.

When I got off the train I saw snow to my big surprise, it was green in Lund and Tjörnarp is about 40K (24.84 miles)  from Lund. I was going to run in my Fellraiser, it could have been wise to run with metal studs but those trail shoes are new and I didn’t think it would be wise to run 40K with them the first time.

Lars a Coach K Runners buddy of mine happen to be in the woods so we ran around 10K together

During the run Lars and I discussed the ultra races we are going to run and what to bring etc and how to prepare, GPS pulse watches, ultra backpacks, reflections from Tjörnarparen – the ultra race Lars arranged in December.

It didn’t take long before I had wet my trail shoes. Running in snow in terrain was a new experience to me, this was my first time and it was tough. The plan was to run 40K and I was not sure I would do that. That decision would be made during the day.

I said hello to all the hunters that were out and they were the friendly ones 🙂

Lars scared me several times when he told me that here has the wild boars (vildsvin) been. Wild boars are not the animals I want to meet in the woods, they can cause severe damage to my body.

I noticed that I was not so focused the first 10K but more focused when I ran by myself, this is what happens when you run with someone. I missed the loop for example. Lars told me that on your way back you can just follow the feet 🙂 so true.

There were a couple of things I was going to test today

1) My own ultra backpack

2) Testing drinking from the hydration pack

3) Following the route with higher zoom

And then I was going to help Lars taking down the markers after the first fuel station.

So I have to say that I am glad that this train station exist, now I can get there and just start running but if you come 30 min before the train arrives it will be cold to sit outside and wait but Tjörnarp Livs was the Life saver today. I changed my really wet socks but since the trail shoes were wet the dry socks did not stay dry very long 🙂

I ran from Tjörnarp to Frostavallen’s parking lot and back. A guy at Frostavallen asked me if I was running the yellow loop from Tjörnarp 🙂 and I told him yes. Interesting that he knew about this race, I guess he asked me this because I was taking down the markers.

Some walking was needed today and we had to run an alternative way at one part where it was too much weak ice and water.

I still could follow the markers and get around by myself the main part of the route.

Total distance: 20.39 miles (32.82K), total time: 4.41 h

I got so excited to be back in the woods so I forgot to choose the sport mode – following route so I registered the first run and saved it and then following the route so I got two runs registered. I felt that I needed to have a backup just in case I would be tired and got off course.

Average speed on the first run was 7.52 min/k, max speed: 6.13 min/k, distance: 6.83K
Average speed on the second run was 8.38 min/k, max speed: 5.37 min/k, distance: 26.41K

It was so refreshing to be back in the woods and I am stiff but satisfied.

Stretching afterwards: Yoga positions – The Dog and the Dove