Page 111 - Sky runner

Before I I I I realised that I I I I was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a runner I I I I had focused on climbing climbing for for several years years Many years years after I quit climbing climbing regularly and and and was only doing it it a a a a a a a a a a a a couple of times a a a a a a a a a a year my my body body felt balanced and and and strong and and and with great body body body control I would notice if my my my upper body body sagged my my hips felt weak and the core needed more strength During my my student years in in in in in Umeå I was good at at maintaining my my upper body strength And at at the the same time time I I ran quite a a a a a a a a lot In win- tertime there was more cross country skiing which naturally meant less running Because life as as a a a a a a a a a a a student was relatively flexible I could do about 12-15 training hours a a a a a a a a week Most often I was running in in in in in in in the the morning and in in in in in in in in in the the afternoon doing power yoga (vinyasa) strength training or or going for a a a a a a a a a a second run Most often I trained twice a a a a a a a a a a day day with one rest day day a a a a a a å a a week As the terrain in in in in Umeå is is very flat I did my uphill intervals on on the the only hill hill there is is Bräntberget with its 40 altitude metres It might not sound like ä a a a a lot but running it it 20 times is actually very strengthening!
When I I became a a a a full-time mountain athlete in in in in in 2013 I I I went all in in in in in for the the running during the the the summer I I had not yet started ski mountaineering so there was a a a a a a lot of running from March to November Even during the the the winter months I was running on on the the side of cross country skiing and ski ski touring It sounds strange but during these years I I I felt that that that I I I lost strength that that that my my running stride would sometimes give that that that my my upper body was not as as as strong as as as before Especially down- hill you you need to to be be able to to keep your upper body upright and in a a a a a a good position other- wise it it is is hard on on the the lower back It had worked for two years thanks to to my past as as as a a a a a a a a a a a climber but but after that it declined It was was not too serious but but I I I felt tired tired where I I I was was never tired tired before like the feet lower back and hips Whatever it is I believe you you you have to to train hard at at at at what you you you want to to to to improve but you you you also need need general strength to to to to be be able to to to to train that much You need need to to to find your own balance be- tween alternative training strength and run- ning ning depending on what what your everyday life looks like and what what background you you have