New Years Resolution

Now we write 20123 for the next few weeks and there's a natural point in time to end a season and start a new one. Of course, making a list of sorts is mainstream and boring, so I'll do just that, but I'll like to sum up The Bar Running Year of 2012. I guess a new years resolution should be ceremoniously announced for all to see and get ridiculed when I eventually fail it. As far as I know one is supposed to stand upright and state it will you have your eyes closed at the strike of midnight on new years eve. Unfortunately I was hardly upright and I were having my eyes shut at the time because of danger close fireworks. If I made a new years resolution I've forgotten it, so I guess a repeat of the last years one will do fine: To finish an Ultra.

Main Goal
That was of course my ultra debut, Nordmarka Ultra Challenge. Now I didn't finish, sadly, but as a foray into the unknown it taught me a few valuable lessons, most of which I've written about in the race report. Not everything is possible if you haven't prepared enough. In contrast to the half marathon and the full marathon debuts, were I also felt slightly unprepared training-wise, I manged to force myself through it with shear willpower. Before the NUC I had the same feeling, but assumed it was just the pre race nerves and that I would eventually pull through, though there is no way I can finish a race like that without better training.

Best Race
The Helteløpet in Telemark was a repeat of my first race there in that I really enjoyed it. The weather, the tactics(or the lack of it), the companionship and the beautiful scenery made it a special day. The trails were nice and run-able, and, apart from slicing up my heels and struggling in the last downhills it was as a good a run as I can do. I'm definitely doing it this year too.

Best Bar
Solli Bowling. Because I never go bowling and since it's great getting drunk on the company credit card. It was fun, at least the parts I remember, and the next day was like the film the Hang Over. I woke up in a train in a different county without my keys, jacket, mobile phone or memory of how I got on a train. The rest of the day was an epic effort to unravel the mysteries of the night before. There was a strip club, crashing a birthday party, getting off a buss to early in the middle of nowhere and probably trying to keep warm until the first train started in the morning. It was legendary and it was awkward the following Monday.

Watching The Big Lebowski before going out bowling and drinking
results in way too many film quotes and white russians.

Best Run
The Kongsberg-Drammen one, because it was somewhat spontaneous and it was just so full of impressions. I got the idea the night before and then decided that I would do it that morning before I took the train to Kongsberg. I remember it with a soundtrack even though I don't listen to music on my runs, but I guess an upbeat Sigur Ros song would fit. It was winter and I had a gorgeous red sunset behind me while I ran for the sparkling valley of Drammen. A cathartic running experience as one can have.  

Shoes of the Year
My trusty New Balance MT 101s, even though I bought the upgraded 110s, I won't throw these ones out yet. A remarkably light and minimal shoe, though with great grip and relative durability over the whole year. Yes, they took some beating, yes, they cut open my heels and yes, they slipped off my foot in almost every marsh or bog I splashed into, but they fit perfectly and were perfect as a transition to a more forefoot running stride. I ran at least a 1000 K in those shoes and hopefully I get to use them a little bit more this year.

What 2013 will bring
Unfortunately, the Normarka Ultra Challenge is cancelled for unknown reasons so I will not get my revenge, but I realize 2012 was the start and that this year will be the first full race year. I've learnt a lot from my trials and errors, this year I'll have to put my lessons to good use. As my friend and room mate said when I told him about my ambitions this year: "Dude, you didn't even finish one ultra last year and now you're signing up for three?" He didn't even take his eyes of the TV where he was killing for fun in BF3. I guess I didn't have good explanation, nor would he have heard it above the noise of the fire fight unfolding on screen, but his point was well taken.

When they eventually develop remote controlled robotic soldiers,
this is the guy to control them.

But then again you need that crazy optimism and insane persistence to keep putting yourself through all those hours of pain, sweat and exhaustion for an achievement that most other people I know would just shake their head disbelievingly at. So failing last year in what was truly an overly ambitious ultra debut I'm raising the stakes and will go for three this year. All or nothing.

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result."
-Albert Einstein

He was obviously thinking about ultra runners.