The talent group at Skansin – update

Machine-translated from Faroese and not yet reviewed. Read the original.

The headline may sound a little drastic, but it is true that last weekend the talent group was at a training camp in Tórshavn, where we were all put up at Hotel Skansin in Yviri við Strond.

This is the first time the talent group has gathered in Tórshavn, so we also made good use of the facilities that were available there.

On Friday evening we ran a 4 km test on the treadmills in Bragdahúsið. The idea of this test is to run the distance as fast as possible, but without producing lactic acid. This roughly corresponds to 10 km race pace. Heart rate is recorded throughout the test, so that a heart-rate curve can be drawn for the test. The first time the test is done, it doesn’t really tell you anything, except where your heart rate sits. The plan is then to repeat the same test twice over the next 3-4 months. The new heart-rate curve will then be plotted on the same chart as the 1st test. That way you can see very precisely how your fitness is changing. For the comparison to be as reliable as possible, the test must be done under conditions that are as similar as possible. First and foremost the same speed and distance, but also the same treadmill and the same clothing. That means that if you ran in shorts the first time, you should also run in shorts for the other tests. The same applies if you ran in racing shoes. Ideally, also run at the same time of day. The new heart-rate monitors draw the curve on the computer themselves.

This type of test is widely used when base training is resumed after a break in training. The 2nd and 3rd tests will be done as spring goes on. Dinner was eaten at Elisabeth’s, where the writer also usually stays when he is in Tórshavn.

On Saturday morning we ran an easy 7.5 km loop around the western part of town. In the afternoon we trained on Tórsbreyt for the first time. And what an incredible welcome the weather gods had to offer. Dry and dead calm! Unfortunately both Regin and Rúni had minor injuries, which meant they did not take part in the session.

The lungs were screaming to be blown out – and they were. The session of the day was (1.30 min – r=30 sec 1.00 min – r=3 min) x4. You could tell that people were fired up for the session, so the coordination drills could not be over quickly enough. Jóan Karl had come along to train with us, and he set the pace. Jan Elmar followed him faithfully through all the intervals! A little further back Bjørk was the pacesetter, while Rebekka tried to hang on as best she could. Yes, a lot was put into it that day, and the distance covered was each time a little longer than the writer had expected and hoped.

That evening Jósvein and Sunneva had invited us home for dinner, and there we enjoyed a cosy time together with good food. And blow me if the cosiness didn’t go up another notch, when Sunneva’s famous pancakes were put on the table. The writer can point out that these taste best with lots of cream and caster sugar!

As early as 08:00 on Sunday morning everyone was standing in pitch darkness and rain, jogging on the spot, before the last session this time. If the obligatory swim was to be fitted in, the run had to start that early. This was a loop around Hoydalar and the eastern part of town with two surges built in. How hard people pushed varied, because it was dark on the streets in Hoydalar. We had been looking forward to a trip to the whirlpool at the swimming pool, but unfortunately it was under repair, so instead we went up on the 5 m platform to jump.

After swimming we went to Skansin to tidy up and rest, and then to Elisabeth’s to eat chops. Then everyone went their own way – another training camp successfully completed, and the first assignment in Reykjavík is now drawing ever closer.

Injuries are a recurring part of life for many runners. But that does not at all mean that you shouldn’t do alternative training. Although it can often be hard to motivate yourself, it is absolutely essential to keep up other training, even when running is hardly possible. A good example of this is Rannvá, who at the training camp in Klaksvík was unlucky enough to slip and suffer a muscle fibre tear. Although she cannot run, she took part in the training camp, where she nevertheless got a lot out of it. While the test was taking place on Friday evening, Rannvá sat on the rowing machine, and while the training on the track was going on on Saturday, she sat on the exercise bike up at Bjørk’s and pedalled hard for a whole hour. On Sunday morning she was the first one at the swimming pool, where she swam 3-4000 metres.

The photos – from left to right:

Photo 1, 3, 4 and 5 – At the dinner table

Photo 2 – Sunneva arranging the delicious pancakes. This was as close as the photographer got.

Photo 6 – It’s not ONLY running on the programme. Here we see Barça thrash the royal club from Madrid 2-0

Photo 7 – Paparazzi shot of the pancakes.

Photo 8 – The hosts Josvein and Sunneva. Could it be the love between them that rubs off on the pancakes?

Photo 9 – The boys resting between sessions.

Photo 10 – Rannvá was unstoppable with alternative training. In the background Bjørk sits writing her training diary.

Photo 11 – The days are too short for Gutti, so he has to grab a catnap now and then.

Photo 12 – The hair straightener came along to Skansin too. Here we see Rebekka showing off her skills.