Flashback Friday

Sofi just sent me this flashback to Christmas Eve 1998 in Gaeta, Italy. 

Seaside

This morning, Elin joined me for a 32 km run down to the Gulf of Bothnia and back. While the forecast had suggested rain, it turned out to be clear blue skies and perfect conditions for road running. With Mörbylångaleden (hopefully) coming up in less than two weeks from now, this will be the last harder effort before my FKT attempt. As anticipated, the Hoka Mach 4 performed admirably and has definitely become my go-to shoe for long runs on asphalt.

Heretuanga

"Heretuanga” is a leavy suburb to Wellington on the North Island of New Zealand. In the Māori language, “tuanga” means “to be at home” and, on a day like this, Umeå is not particularly easy to love as one’s home. But at least I made it through the snow to Avion for a Covid-antibody test (which turned out negative) and the gym for a record of 27 km of indoor rowing this month. Back home, I was in dire need for some escapism so I made a sage and asparagus pasta with feta to go with a glass of Albariño from those beloved distant shores. Realizing that I was ready to leave any minute, the Umeå sky suddenly cleared in true April fashion. 

Local legend

A year ago, Strava introduced something called “local legend”, as in the person who has the most efforts on a segment over the last three months. In the beginning, this was just available in the US and the UK but now the time has come to Sweden and Tomtebo where I, big surprise, am the local legend of most segments, at least the ones that are part of my daily school commutes with the Thule Cougar.

Green screening

After much anticipation, the university vice-chancellor just announced his decision for the autumn semester, or rather the first month of it. Given the unpredictable nature of the pandemic and the constantly shifting news about the future rate of vaccinations, I am not envious of him. In the end, I guess his decision was the only possible one, as in that we should expect a gradual return to campus teaching but that much should remain online for the time being. For me, practically, this means that I once more will have to spend endless hours in front of the green screen rather than in lecture halls.

35 years

Today, 35 years have passed since the Chernobyl disaster. Though dramatized and distorted by HBO, reality was still serious, including the death of 31 people due to acute radiation sickness. In October 2016, Jon and I travelled to Chernobyl, a trip that I will always remember. Looking through my photos, it was almost like time travelling back to the Soviet Union. While the trip may have convinced me about the irrational standards by which nuclear safety is evaluated compared to basically any other technology,  I also understood more of the psychological roots of that irrationality and the political difficulties of ever making nuclear broadly accepted as a solution to climate change.

Elevation gain

While I normally prefer to run early in the day, the “livspussel” (how I hate this term) is what it is with Anna working full days every weeekend to wrap up her PhD so I had to save “Höjdaren” until after dinner time. Like back in November when I did the Tasmanian “Point to Pinnacle” challenge, elevation never comes easy in Umeå. As such, and despite all the snow that has been falling over the last days, I took my Hoka Torrent 2 over to “Bränteverest” for 300+ meters of climb in the hail, earning me a “wolf” in this last of the virtual races organized by Salming Idre Fjällmarton. As I reached the top on my last repeat, the sun came out, making the whole thing feel at least somewhat worthwhile.

66 North

There is an Icelandic brand called “66 North” that makes running and outdoor clothes suitable for life in the High North. After many weeks with beautiful spring weather, the snow has been swirling down with heavy northerly winds all afternoon here at the 63rd parallel, making me dream of one of their orange Staðarfell jackets. Even without one, I decided to once again extend my school pick-up run via Anumark in order to prove that I am not a “fair weather runner”. Though quite horrible to tell the truth, I was at least able to fuel up well before-hand with pancakes, maple and strawberries.

Last night, I gave another online talk, this time to the Swedish Ecomodernist Association (yes, there is really such a thing). Considering how used I am to talk to audiences that strongly disagree with me, this was a real treat, a bit like being back at the Breakthrough Dialogue.

Postponed

Catching the last sunshine before the sky turns grey, I extended my school run via Anumark this afternoon for a total of 21 km today. To my surprise, the dirt roads were all dry and I was able to keep a “steasy” pace of 5:10 min/km despite the headwinds.

As for running-related things, I am afraid that I have had to postpone my 83k solo trail run on Öland until mid-May while waiting for Anna’s dad to get vaccinated so he can help out with the kids while I am away.

Audiatur et altera pars

Walking down to the bike shop with Anna’s bike as it had a flat tire and needed some general repairs after the long winter, I finally had a chance to call my friend Gabriel in Warsaw and catch up on the latest from Poland and discuss the situation at the Ukrainian border. As my dad pointed out earlier today, there are always so many stories to every story, including how Kyiv, as an “asymmetric sanction” of sorts, has been blocking the water supplies to the occupied Crimean Peninsula with devastating effects for the local agriculture. While the 2014 war was clearly in breach of the Budapest Memorandum, one also has to understand the historic symbolism of Crimea to Russia and why possible Ukrainian NATO membership was simply a bridge too far. On the other hand, it is important to not stop there but also ask the deeper question of why we ended up with this antagonistic logic in the first place rather than with a future in which Russia would have been invited to join the EU?

Once downtown, I sat down at Espresso House for a flat white and some scones, answering a steady stream of amazing and supportive e-mails after yesterday’s online lecture. Hopefully, once the pandemic is under control, I will be able to travel to India again as I now have a number of kind invitations.

Energized

This afternoon, I gave my lecture with the Nordic Centre in India on Zoom and it was a blast. While much academic life is slow and fairly lonely, this was truly action-packed and full of positive energy, reminding me of how much I loved the pre-Covid world of human interaction and global thinking. Hopefully, I will be able to take some of that energy into my writing in the coming weeks. 

Multisport

This morning, I finally took Stålhästen down to the Baltic in Holmsund, completing the 30 km river delta loop in just over one hour. Once back home, I switched to running shorts and packed the kids into the Thule Cougar for my usual morning run to the school in Innertavle. While running I realized the obvious, that later in spring I need to add some swimming as well. I mean, what better way to start a week than with a triathlon?

Mango balsamico

As Anna got back from a long day at work, I made an avocado and lentils salad with a mango balsamico vinaigrette for dinner as spring is definitely in the air. Earlier in the afternoon sunshine, I was able to thoroughly clean “Stålhästen” after my mud adventure and put on some new oil on the chain while only wearing a t-shirt.

Strava is really all seasons at once right now with people doing everything from cross-country skiing to kayak paddling. For tomorrow, I am planning a long run as I still need 21 km to reach my weekly running goal but I have to admit that I am more tempted to take Stålhästen out for another ride.

Speeding up

At half past six this morning, I took Stålhästen out for a quick ride down to Holmsjön and back. The feeling was even better than I had imagined. Flying above the asphalt at an average speed of 26 km/h, there was such an immediacy to the whole experience with the single-speed drivetrain and the cold blue skies above. Back home, I opened my bag with chocolate chip cookies from Stockholm, excited about what the spring may hold. Right now it is time to clean the house though.

Two studs

This morning, while I was reading a methodology paper written by my PhD student, the kids were busy playing “Covid” with the Duplo, ensuring that all the figures kept “two studs” distance and got their PCR tests before travelling.

As for travelling, I am “off” to India on Tuesday to teach at a summer school. Unlike back in 2015 though, there will be no wild urban hikes or pool drinks at The Oberoi but just a Zoom session with 130+ students. Even if I am the one giving the lecture, I am honestly more interested in hearing their reactions and questions.

A Grand Day Out

Taking a morning train, I got down to Örnsköldsvik and the friendliest of bike shops around 9 a.m. Everyone was joking about the madness of riding the bike back to Umeå but after the first couple of hours, I felt confident that I would do it as I was able to keep an average speed of 25 km/h, stopping in small villages for cinnamon buns and fluids. However, at the ICA store in Flärke, there was something with the way that the owner assured me that the remaining 20 km down to Nordmaling would be smooth sailing on dry asphalt that did not feel quite right (up here, it can be somewhat of a sport to make fun of “sörlänningar” and their crazy ideas). And, it only took a few kilometres before the road had turned into mud and steep icy slopes, forcing me to dismount and walk. To be honest, I do not think I have seen as much mud since South Devon Ultra last year.

Then, finally, 65 km into my ride, I was back on asphalt, coasting down towards Nordmaling and a long overdue lunch. Once there, I realized I still had 70 km to go, which would mean that I would not be home before 6 pm at the earliest. Considering that I was all soaked in mud, I decided to be rational and take the train and let 75 km suffice for my first adventure with “Stålhästen”.

Mach 4

I do not know what promises are worth any longer. But after watching a number of extremely positive Youtube reviews, I did what I had promised myself not to do, namely to buy another pair of running shoes. In this case, a pair of Hoka One One Mach 4, branded as a daily long-distance trainer suitable for up-tempo runs or, in other words, exactly what I need to keep up with Elin as the river run season begins in earnest.

With this confession behind me, I am getting ready for tomorrow’s big bike adventure, my first ever “Gran Fondo” in Strava, as I plan to take my new blue Stålhästen back to Umeå. Although I am uncertain if sashimi really counts as carb loading, few things can go wrong with the house sauvignon blanc from N.Z.

Birds singing

After two days of utter misery in the snow, the birds are singing again and spring is definitely on its way. Yesterday, I had one of my most productive days in a long time as I, not only, managed to submit the book review to Oxford University Press but also get my abstract for a new book chapter on N-DAC (nuclear-powered direct air capture) accepted with Palgrave Macmillan. As such, I allowed myself another 5k of rowing at the gym this morning before returning home to write a bit on my article about “learning in the Anthropocene”.

Salsiccia al Finocchio

Yesterday, I got a beautiful view of the city and the river as Skallagrim Viking made its final approach into Umeå Airport. This morning however, the blue skies had been replaced by heavy snowfall. Thrown right back into winter, I made a warming Italian lunch based on a recipe by Per Morberg. 

Otherwise, l just accepted reviewing another book for Oxford University Press. With a possible new book chapter of my own to be written for an edited volume with Palgrave Macmillan it suddenly looks like the coming months will be quite busy.

Stockholm City

Far from Jakarta, it was time for another city run this morning. Racing on wooden decks along the waterfront, I was reminded again of what a great all-round shoe that the Hoka Torrent 2 is as I took in the beautiful views at sunrise.

Now waiting for the airport bus to Arlanda for some article writing, I can look back on two perfect days away. While the Covid-situation had me a bit stressed at times, I feel really refreshed and ready to take on tomorrow’s snowstorm with the Thule Cougar.

Trail run to the sea

Waking up shortly before 6 am with a slight headache from last night (as tradition has it), I set off along the trails leading out to Saltsjöbaden. After months with deep snow in Umeå, it was such a liberating feeling to be able to run freely in the forest, jumping over old logs and getting soaked in mud. After 14 or so kilometres, I made it out to the sea and “Solsidan” where the richest of the rich struggle to park their three Teslas.

To my surprise, parts of the trail were pretty technical with slippery rocks, almost reminding me of Höga Kusten 43k back in September. Other parts were very runnable and fast so on average I got a perfect first trail run of the season. Afterwards, Ally and I took the subway up to the university for lunch at “Bergianska trädgården” which had an absolutely lovely orangery and blooming gardens to explore.

Pandemic surprises

Both in the terminal in Umeå and aboard the flight, but also at Arlanda, everyone was wearing face masks so I was quite surprised to find that I was just about the only person doing so in downtown Stockholm this afternoon, including on the subway.

Often, when people abroad suggest that the Swedish response to Covid-19 has been so completely different from the rest of the world, I try to balance the picture and, for instance, mention the fact that we have not had a single meeting at the department for over a year now. Still, the degree to which people seemed to disregard all advice was quite stunning. On the other hand, the fact that I am making this “non-essential” trip in the first place put me in no position to throw any stones.

Coastal adventures

Cold blue skies but, as the sun climbs higher up, its rays always take me back to America and the Jersey Shore. Though only a spring more than a decade ago, I am still there on the sand dunes, looking out over the Atlantic.

Slightly surreal after five months on the ground, I just checked in for SK2027 tomorrow that will take me down to Stockholm and some very different coastal adventures as I plan to finally run all the way out to Solsidan and Saltsjöbaden in my Hoka Torrents.

More training for Ö-vik

Cross-training

Tuesday morning and I am two days into my non-runstreak. Having bought a new “Stålhästen” bike that will be delivered to Örnsköldsvik in a couple of weeks from now, I thought I would do some cross-training and ride down to the airport. While probably unrealistic, the plan is to ride the new bike all the way back home to Umeå which is a distance of 131 km according to Google Maps.

As a kid, I basically grew up on my bike, always one wrong turn away from death. On the weekends, I also remember long rides with my parents on Öland. But beyond that, I never been much of a cyclist, seeing my bike just as a mean of everyday transportation. However, as with many things in my life, Strava has had a bad influence on me and now I have started dreaming of fast rides out to the Baltic and one day perhaps even doing “Vätternrundan”. Nevertheless, I have been reluctant to become one of those slightly tragic 40+ men who spend thousands of euros on bikes (even if bikes are still way better than sport cars). As such, a Stålhästen Sport single-speed for 3,995 SEK felt like the perfect compromise.

Grüner

More than a decade after the hype, Systembolaget started selling Grüner Veltliner in half bottles some time ago. Making some shrimp pasta with vinegar and haricot verts, I opened one to celebrate the fact that I have made it through another intensive day with the kids :-)

As I mentioned the other day, Ukraine is back in the news as tensions escalate along its border with Russia. At least, high-level negotiations are now underway between the US and Russia, it is just sad to see that we have not come further in 2021. As for alternative futures, I am very tempted to sign up for Apple TV in order to watch “For All Mankind” which is now in its second season. In the series, the space race never ended in the 1970s, leading to a future in which the Cold War still raged on but more resources were allocated to outward exploration rather than the fighting of endless wars in Afghanistan and Vietnam.

Fastest Known Time

Last night I made a terrifying discovery. The Fastest Known Time or FKT for the 83 km long Mörbylångaleden is 9 hours and 58 minutes (i.e. an average pace of 7:13 min/km). To qualify for the FKT you need to run entirely unsupported, meaning you cannot buy food or drinks along the trail (the only exception being public water taps).

While Elin and I failed spectacularly with our FKT attempt last spring, this one could well be within reach. Even if I had originally planned to stop a lot for sandwiches, fruit and ice cream along the route, I also know that every time I stop, the muscles in my legs will stiffen and it will be harder to get going again. As such, maintaining a steady pace of 6 min/km with as few interruptions as possible may in fact be the optimal race strategy, even if it means that I might have to walk a bit towards the end.  Still hydration remains paramount. If I discover that I cannot get enough fluids without having to buy them, I will obviously forego the FKT attempt and prioritize finishing.

For the moment however, I have just put my second 120+ km week behind me and will now embark on a five-day non-runstreak. When I resume, I hope to be in Stockholm and be able to go for some trail running in Nacka. Looking back on the last four weeks, it feels like I have got some solid training done with a record number of 80 activities so resting a bit is probably a good idea.

Maple and salmon

In despair, I discovered that COOP was out of Canadian maple the other week. Luckily, a new shipment just made it across the Atlantic. Returning from a long run with Elin, I made a delicious sandwich with Danish rye bread, cream cheese, salmon, and, yes, maple.

Otherwise, there are new worrying news about the Russian military build-up in Kaliningrad and near the Ukrainian border, ostensibly motivated by “NATO aggression”. Clearly, the lack of imagination on both sides is as frustrating as ever. Just imagine what kind of cultural and social integration with Russia that Western Europe could have been able to achieve for a fraction of the cost that we currently spend on defence. There were so many chances to turn the development around, still the military and psychological need for an “enemy” always seemed to cloud our thinking. Given Russia’s nuclear arsenal, outright conflict is simply not an option and, while cooler heads have always prevailed in the past, that is no guarantee for the future.

Rabl

Breaking with tradition, I went for Riesling rather than Grüner Veltliner but I am still firmly in Niederösterreich. Exactly a year ago, I called my father to tell him that I was about to quit my job at the university and instead aim for a career as a professional runner. He took me entirely seriously, arguing that I should keep my job as it still gave me plenty of time to run. I do not know who was the April’s Fool by the time our phone conversation was over :-)

As the Swedish middle class engages in ever more extreme forms of culinary brinkmanship, I should not have been surprised when finding gravlax cured in absinthe at COOP. Apparently, I could not resist buying some. Together with potatoes, manchego cheese and Danish rye bread it certainly felt like a good way to kick off the Easter holidays.