4. Nationaler (2017-09-03)

Difficult to prepare for such a race mentaly. At least it was not easy for me. I have not run that far since Jukola and before maybe twice this year. And I was still not sure how my leg will like such a distance. So wasnt really focused and in this "race mode" before the start. Also didnt plan to run full speed since I know my muscles arent ready for it yet. But dont know what happened after the start. Totally messed that junction up and ended up running in really stony terrain aiming back on the small path wich would have been easy to take.. Already a bit stressed out by that and came more or less in to the control area, but didnt knew where I ended up and couldnt match anything I saw with the map. Also kind of ran twice almost to the control and the stone more north of it but did spot neither. So not the start you want to a long distance. Tried to restart afterwards wich worked out more or less ok, but the next mistake already followed to 4, where i thought I do the blue thing, but did the red. Not a big mistake but still was thinking a bit about it. Not at all focused after I left 5. And didnt spot the path beneath the control circle of 6. So had not a real clue where I was. Spend way to much time to relocate there. Decided to slow down a bit and just run it smooth and easy from now on. Wich worked out fine for a long time. But after 14 I hit my knee badly on some wooden thing. Big pain and lost a bit my direction afterwards. So ended up with some extra meters. My muscles started to get really sore there too. They are just not used to running a long time anymore. But decided to keep on since that was some kind of my goal (to train my muscles) for the race anyway. The course got quite easy here and it was a lot of path running. Towards the 2nd last control I must have passed just right above the cliff without spotting it at all. It was really wild there and kind of dense too. Still cant explain why I missed it so expected to be at the previous hole first, and spend some time to relocate again. Happy to finish such a long race without real pain in my shin, but had quite bad pain in my knee. And couldnt move it properly anymore. Lets see... Wouldnt be my first injury this year ;) and since 3 years anyway. So I know how to handle it by now. I hope