Konsten att springa
Jag brukar säga att det är cirka 10 saker som behöver falla på plats för att löpningen skall bli en konst, en skönhetsupplevelse och vacker att titta på. När jag träffar mina löpcoachingklienter för första gången försöker jag visa och förklara dessa 10 saker. Att försöka införliva alla dessa i sin löpstil är emellertid ett arbete som kräver tid, tålamod, engagemang och uppmärksamhet inte minst. De allra flesta upplever att det känns konstigt och ovant att förändra hållningen eller armpendlingen eller kroppslutningen eller steglängden eller ens att tänka på hur vi springer när vi springer. Jag försöker förklara att vi inte skall tänka så mycket utan snarare känna efter, och använda de ca 10 olika saker vi kan ‘checka-av’ som finjusteringar. Vi skall alltså inte slå knut på oss.
Mitt råd är att låta det ta tid. När jag själv började förändra min löpteknik började jag med att prova att sträcka på mig och öppna upp bröstet. Först efter ett par veckor var jag reda för att börja med att få fram höften och det tog ytterligare några veckor innan jag fick kläm på benrörelserna och fotisättningen. Då hade jag sprungit i cirka 10 år och fullföljt flera långa lopp: Lidingöloppet på 2 tim, Marathon på 2,52, Göteborgsvarvet på 1,18. Men jag var fortfarande inte medveten om vad jag höll på med, hur jag rörde mig och varför. Visst, jag hade haft flera starka löpupplevelser, bland annat avslutat två Göteborgsvarv med ‘runners high’, den euforiska löpkänslan av lätthet som jag önskar att fler kunde få uppleva. Men efter jag börjat experimentera med min löpteknik insåg jag efter ett tag att jag kunde hitta den euforiska löpkänslan nästan varje gång jag gav mig ut på en löptur. Och då talar jag om asfaltslöpning, som aldrig tidigare fått min inre löpare att dra på smilbanden. Plötsligt “flöt” jag, och trots att det var vinter med is på vägen och jag var långt ifrån någon toppform noterade jag tider på vissa sträckor som var i närheten av mina personliga fartrekord. Onekligen ett kvitto på att jag var på rätt väg. Sedan dess har jag fortsatt vara uppmärksam på hur jag springer. På senare år har jag lyckats korta ned steget ytterligare och springa med mjukare knän. Arbetet fortsätter. Varje steg räknas. I synnerhet om du vet vad du håller på med. Och varför.
Sunset running
This photo is from a lovely evening run recently on one of my favorite ridges in Göteborg. Time: approx 10pm. Friday June 21 we celebrate midsummer night. Photo & Runner: Fredrik Ölmqvist
Mountain running in Stubaital, Austria
I love to run on high alpine trails. This picture is from last week’s running holiday in Stubaital, Austria. Photo & runner: Fredrik Ölmqvist
Innovative running gear story
Here are some pics from a story about innovative running gear I did for Swedish outdoor magazine Utemagasinet. Photos: Ola Kjelbye. Models: Moa Nilsson & me. The story was published in two parts in march and may. Featured brands include: Arcteryx, Ashmei, Gore running, Compressport, Bridgedale, Salomon, Smartwool, Icebreaker, Mountain Hardware, Black Diamond, Drymax, UltraAspire among others… And here is a link to my story about epic running for Redbull.com/adventure.
Epic running into the unknown
In the world of running there are some people who explore running further than just completing a badass ultra marathon. No, were talking about true epic running that might last for a week or even a month. There is no loop, or even a point B. You just run, and you don’t turn back. There is no one waiting for you. You’re all alone and you will have to deal with with what nature and your mind throws at you.
– Being alone is a good way to learn, says runner/philosopher Markus Torgeby, who learnt to conquer his fear of darkness while living as a hermit in a tipi (’kåta’ in swedish) deep into the forest in northern Sweden for four years.
– Running alone in the wilderness evokes strong emotions, says Swedish runner Markus Torgeby when asked to share some thoughts about his project: running the whole Swedish mountain range, approx. 1300Km from north to south.
– Running the mountains forces me to think bigger and plan ahead, since things can go bad. Being all by yourself, carrying only the necessary, far away from roads or settlements you need to trust your instincts and your abilities.
When Markus attempted his hardcore running safari in 2013 he had to stop after 750 kilometres with oedema and inflammation in both feet, and a stress injury. The summer of 2014 he will make another attempt.
– I want to find out if it’s possible.
This summer Janne Marin, a finish ultra runner I met at Tor des Géants 2011, will try to set a speed record on Kungsleden, a famous Swedish trekking route. But it proves difficult to find any registered speed record for the route.
Epic running
In 1999 while covering Marathon Des Sables I stumbled across ”The Butcher from Fez”; not your typical trail runner if you say so. The butcher was a 70-year old morrocan with silver grey hair, sporting green plastic sandals, a skiing hat, Ray Ban sunglasses and a white robe. With several MDS-finishes under his belt he appearently also had once run from his hometown to the Vatican. That was one of my first assignments for the big running magazine, and one that opened my eyes for “epic running” or “adventure running”. While preparing for the KIMM in 2003 I read about The Bob Graham Round of Fells. And at the Jungle Marathon 2004 I met Kevin Lin, Ray Zahab and Charlie Engle, who later ran across the Sahara, with support crew and media updates from the Atlantic coast to the Nile.
Jez Bragg runs along the Orati Beach in the his 50 days traverse of the Te Araroa trail in New Zeland on February 2nd 2013.
FKT’s
In the world of trail running setting new FKT’s (Fastest Known Time) is a growing phenomena. Here is a link to Adam Chase’s article “Records not Races – Is the pursuit of Fastest Known Times the future of competition?”, published Feb 2013. I have written a piece about it too, due to be published this summer.
If you’re interested in the history of FKT’s you might want to check-up Dave Horton and Ted ”Cave Dog” Keizer and their long list of FKT’s. While their mainly unsponsored feats largely passed unnoticed a decade ago, the situation is different today when professional trail running personalities have become “marketing tools”, and we are fed with elaborate reports and beautiful youtube clips of fresh FKT’s set by a squad of top ultra runners like Kilian Jornet, Jez Bragg, Ryan Sandes, Dakota Jones, Anton Krupicka and Elisabeth Hawker. But this time the lone trail runner is accompanied by a film crew in a helicopter and a chasing media van. Focusing on solo running adventures is only a natural step, since most race formats per definition are void of the alluring unknown or a deeper, more authentic running experience. But the question is: will the true adventure ever be televised?
Feeling the trail
Feel the trail!
Some trails I know well. The quick bends. The sudden drops. I know what kind of pressure I need to have on the foot, which need of traction and where it’s slippery when wet. I know how to curve my body in the air to enable a seamless stride in a particularly technical section. These trails have become like old friends. Re-visiting my old trails I’m filled with memories like: that’s where I sprained the ankle, or that’s where I met the badger and that’s where I saw the Nature Man, un-dressed like aboriginal jungle men, wearing only a string, one warm spring afternoon. I know where to find chanterells and blueberries along the trail, and where I slept in lee from a rock, a sunny winter morning some years ago.
There are many places along the trails where I use to stop and rest. How I love to stop running and just listening. Like yesterday, when it began raining. Listening to the sound of million tiny crashes, it can blow my mind away. Running trails like that is like caressing. Not having run an semi-untrailed ridgeline for a few weeks I sometimes lose the line, which reminds me that there are many possible lines. And recently I have been re-discovering forgotten trails, marvellous trails, which in turn shows me new trails, which is a bliss. And the moose is back, standing on the trail, staring at me, protecting her calves.
Directly into the bathtub. My muddy Inov-8 Roclite 243′s deserves some pampering after a great run.
Today I’m sore, after yesterday’s 2,5H tough trailrun. My body tells me it’s a rest day, and that I might should keep using my Full Leg Compression sleeves. The race Kullamannen Ultra is getting closer: May 11, approx 50 K with +2000m. I’m not there yet, so every day is crucial. Out of my big box of shoes I’m leaning at Pearl Izumi Trail N1 or why not the Montrail Bajada’s? The Salomon Sense Ultra’s will be too hard – I will need more cushioning. One of my favourite shoes this spring is Inov-8 Roclite 243, flexible and thin with lovely ground feel with 3 mm drop. But it’s too thin for the upcoming ultra. For me at least.
With the mercury rising after a long winter it’s finally possible to run in shorts and T-shirt. But I’m already worrying about those tics…
Ultra strong runner Fernanda Maciel from Brasil prefer running with calf sleeves from CompresSport.
Coaching- wise I did a mindful running clinic with a large group from Fysiken the past monday. I’m scheduled to lead a ’natural running’ clinic with Clarion Hotel & New Balance. I will also lead a ’natural running’ clinic with clients of running specialists Löp&Sko Kliniken.
Journo-wise the rewiew with the 9 remaining trail shoes will be featured in next issue of Utemagasinet, together with my picks of innovative running gear. Hot picks include Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer Jacket (47g).
Here is a suggestion for Göteborg residents. Check out TNF ultra runner Fernanda Maciel talking about her running at TNF store in Arkaden 20 april 12.00-13.00. She will also be leading a run in Skatås Friday 19th at 17.00. Application here. Fernanda recently ran the Santiago de Compostela walk in 10 days and is a world class ultra trail runner.
High Quality Running
Stay present. Stop and walk when you’re not. Start again. Photo Peder Sundström. Runner: me
Location: Utah
When only present, mindful running counts. Stop when you fall out of presence and start over again when you’re back in the now. Try it and see how far you get.
It’s a running excercise for your mind, just to get a picture of your attention to what you are doing. You can direct your attention to your limbs and movements, but also what measures you need to take in order to run smooth and relaxed. How hard isn’t that? Instead of being engulfed in stiffness you can work with your joints. What about those knees? What about thoose shoulders? Those fingers? The air between them? Your facial expression? The inner smile? The angle of your feet – like airplanes coming in for a perfect landing? And what about that waist? Is it dragging behind again? OK, you get the picture. You probably have plenty to work on before mastering the art of running.
Running connection can be a strong force. Photo Yves Marie Quemener, Runner me. Location Swiss Alps.
Last night I watched the remake of Karate Kid. Another silly movie I first thought. But when the teacher (Jackie Chan) starts showing the ideas and philosophy of the art of Kung Fu, how to master the movements, I became intrigued and sensed there are many similarities to running. To master the art you need to know and control the movements, relaxed and completely awake while using your senses. Just like Karate Kid learns.
The running Intention is interesting. Many times I have stopped while running because of blurry intentions. Staying in the running momentum isn’t enough. Usually the trail keeps my mind busy, working with the flow. Howcome the trail can give me such joy and such energy? I have asked myself this, and I believe it’s because of the connectedness – the notion that I’m running with nature, that I’m a part of nature, that I’m connected with primitive, animal instincts and abilities. I stop on the trail too. To listen, to rest, to take in it’s naturalness, ugly or beautiful, dark or wet, cold or dry. Trail running is like swimming, where the element touches you senses. That’s how it feels, when I dive into the trees, branches, rocks and shadows.
