Machine-translated from Faroese and not yet reviewed. Read the original.
Almost every time the youth national team is due to travel, the fog settles like a duvet over the airport “of the Vágar folk”. So it was this time too. The plan was to fly on Friday evening at 18:30, but when we got to the airport, departure had been postponed until 04:00. There was nothing for it but to accept an invitation from the Gregersen family in Sandavágur. But what did that matter? We were shown great hospitality. 3 courses on the table straight away. Fresh soup from Eydna and Streingja soup from Atli! And yes, the singing rang out, and it was probably “Una Paloma Blanca” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” in particular that nearly lifted the roofs in Miðhjallar!
Then training was on the programme. We ran hard and well on the stairs and slopes around Miðhjallar. When we got back, we found out that departure had been postponed yet again, this time until 11:15 on Saturday morning. But at least we got to sleep reasonably long. And after enjoying a well-laid breakfast table, we went back to the airport to wait. And wait. And wait. As the clock approached 13:00, we were finally called for departure.
Guttorm met us in Billund. In the rented 9-seater Fiat we drove to the cabins in Vejle. After a good supper from Ingun, we went for an easy run in Nørreskoven. On Sunday morning we went to the running track to train, and in the evening we went for another very easy run in the woods.
Monday was the big driving day. 900 kilometres in the Fiat minibus were to be covered, so we set off as early as 8:30. 9 hours of sleeping, singing and food stops later, we rolled into the car park of the Scandic Hotel in Stockholm.
This Tuesday morning, together with “the Faroese man in Stockholm”, Heri Eysturlíð, we went on a tour of the city. A very interesting trip, on which we visited, among other places, the sites where Olof Palme and Anna Lind were murdered. We visited Gamla Stan and two churches, and saw the old trawler Vágbingur, which is now a theatre ship. Finally, Heri bought us a Pripps Blå beer (light), which has the old Tvøroyri schooner Marité pictured on it.
Now we are heading down to the old Olympic stadium from the 1912 Olympic Games, where we are going to watch all the great world stars of athletics. The competition is being shown live on Eurosport, and we will try to show off the Faroese flag.
Tomorrow our young athletes compete. There are a few minor injuries. Vár has been badly bitten on the foot by midges. Her foot is swollen, but we hope she will be able to get into her spikes tomorrow. Rúni has sore calves, while Rúni complains of pain in his lower back. But everyone is expected to be ready tomorrow and to give it everything they have. More news about the competitions will follow on Wednesday evening.
