Decathlon Blog

Pole vault did not go that well. I struggled a lot in the warm-up and did not get any decent jumps. I was the only one who started on 460 and although the first two went up okay I dropped on the bar on my way down. On third I cleared it (Carbon/500cm/175lbs/flex 19,1), but then I was already too tired to do any good attempts on 474. Relay (4 x lap 170m) went pretty well for us (Esbo IF 1.21,96: Teemu Poikela, Oki Vuonoranta, Matti Vesterinen, Tobias Öhman). We lead the whole way until the final straight where Åstrand (IF Kraft) was too strong. Still we were able to stay ahead of Noormarkun Nopsa with 0,01 s margin. I run the third leg and was well satisfied with my effort.

Had an excellent holiday in Tanzania. First four days on safari and then another four in Zanzibar. I finally started preparing for the Stockholm marathon as I went jogging four times some 35 minutes. So not much yet, but that is a start. Tomorrow I will participate first time ever to the Finnish championships on men’s class to another event than the combined events or relays. I will have pole vault and then also the traditional relay. Let’s see how it goes.

At the moment, here in Finland we have a real winter. A week back, we went skiing with Henkka. First 5km went okay, but the end was more difficult as you may see from the image.

Exactly ten years ago today, athletics training become a lot easier in the Helsinki capital region as Liikuntamylly, an indoor arena, was opened. Today’s competition was a celebration for the opening. I enjoyed my first competition as a ‘hobbyist’. In pole vault I cleared 470, which is better than what I did last summer and even with a softer pole (Carbon/500cm/175lbs/flex 19,1). I now have a clearly higher grip than previously, which makes it easier to get on the right rhythm and naturally enables higher bars. My other event, 800m, did not go that well. I run on the second heat and was forced to take the lead. I started too slow and the first 200m took 34s, the second 31,5s, then 32 and 34. Result 2.11,26 is a start but leaves a lot of room for improvement. Most likely I could now run around 2.05 while below 2.00 is the aim.

Despite the decathlon career being over; I have done pole vaulting more than maybe ever. That is why I ordered new pole vault spikes. At the same time I ordered also new throwing shoes, since the ones I have now have an actual hole on the sole. As we have throwing decathlon, etc. I thought I better get a new pair of throwing shoes. I ordered the items online from UK. Pound rate is rather cheap at the moment, so one can do budget shopping. I used Start Fitness; they have a broad catalogue, low prices and fast delivery. Hoping to get to test the new spikes next week.

Year 2009 went just as well as I hoped. It was all about enjoying decathlon for the last time. Maybe I could have trained somewhat more during the Autumn 2008, but on the other hand, that likely spared some needed energy for the Spring. Nevertheless, both the indoor season as well as the summer went really well. The only thing that I missed in 2009 was the 7000 mark in decathlon; however, that now seems like a minor detail.

In addition to the compulsory competitions, I did not compete in too many extra competitions in 2009. First indoor heptathlon for 2009 served mainly as a good training and 7,60 s on 60 m did not promise too much for the rest of the indoor season. So, silver on the 4×400 m, and especially my individual time 51,3 s, in the Finnish indoor champs was somewhat unexpected. The Finnish indoor champs in heptathlon ended the indoor season. I was extremely satisfied to score once more over 5000 points. Seventh with 5084 points was the result of stable techniques combined with okay physical condition.

Although we got to train outdoors here in Helsinki in a nice weather already in April, I was not yet in that good shape when the outdoor season started. Training camp in Evian went well and I expected to do better than in 2008 in the first decathlon of the season. Consequently, 6373 points in Bourgoin-Jallieu with no real highlights was dissapointing. Possibly I trained too much early in the summer as I did not do too well in training nor in the competitions.

Finnish relays champs have always been one of the main competitions for me. Despite of, or maybe thanks to, the challenging weather, we did better than ever. The day one already offered us fourth place in the 4×100 m and the day two went even better. Finally, we were rewarded with something else than bronze medals on the 4×400 m. Silver will now be the minimum target for the following years.

After the relays, I still had problems with fatigue. I knew that I had always found the best condition by resting for two weeks or so before the main competition; therefore, I was still confident. Area champs in Parainen showed that rest should do the trick this time as well. My career’s ninth and last decathlon in the Kalevan Kisat was getting close and all the training had been already done, that was for sure.

I got into a really good shape for the Kalevan Kisat, but the competition itself turned out to be a true challenge. I had had some problems with the right Achilles tendon all along the summer, but luckily that one did not cause any problems. However, I injured the left one in the first competition jump in the high jump. Most likely the injury was caused by the tape I had in the left ankle. I always tape my left ankle for high jump but this time it must have somehow put excess pressure on the Achilles tendon. I do not know how high I would have jumped that day, since even with the injured Achilles tendon I cleared 190 cm with a jump that, in my opinion, failed badly in the take off. You can judge the jump yourself on YouTube. After 190 cm, I had to withdraw since I could hardly walk. I owe a lot to my physiotherapist coach Hannu, for being able to finish the decathlon. Before, after and many times also during, the events he gave treatment so that I was able to continue. I did not sleep well after the day one and even walking hurt a lot in the morning because of the Achilles tendon. I was able to run one good rehearsal run for the hurdles; after that the Achilles hurt too much. I usually do not use pain killers at all, but after the pole vault I had to take one in order to throw javelin. That was the right choice, since I threw my PB and did not feel a thing. As the whole decathlon has been a challenge, I only realised before the 1500 m that it was my last decathlon in Finland and I was doing it in front of my home crowd. Placing eight with 6913 points was an extremely good result taking into account all the work we did to even finish the decathlon. Going around the stadium after the 1500 m was simply a moment to remember.

After the Kalevan Kisat, I was hesistant whether I should skip the Woerden decathlon or not. We went to see the WC in Berlin and every time I tried running the Achilles tendon hurt too much to consider running 100 % not to even mention doing a full decathlon. Luckily I chose to participate and surprisingly the Achilles tendon did not cause any trouble in Woerden. That felt like the perfect last decathlon. In each of the events, I tried to do simply what I had learned during the years - nothing more. They were special two days. I could not have thought of any other way or place to end my decathlon career. I am really thankful to Tom, who organises the games in Woerden, for insisting on having me there instead of the problems I had with the Achilles. A perfect ending for my decathlons as well as for the year 2009.

In 2010, I expect to enjoy athletics. I have kept on training, but only when and what I like. I am not yet sure whether I will compete in some individual events; but I will certainly keep on coming to competitions - at least as a coach.

I will add some photos once I will get them from my laptop’s corrupted hard drive.

It is time to take a break on sports and spend some peaceful time with family. It was pretty quiet today in Otahalli in Espoo, as you might see from the picture; however, in Liikuntamylly in Helsinki there were still enough of athletes doing their last training session before Christmas break. For most the break is only two days long, so it is fine to enjoy the food and relax. Merry Christmas!

You can read my interview at the Urheilun Podium (in Finnish and only for registered users). Urheilun Podium is a new forum to discuss Finnish sports. You can read interviews from a bunch of other athletes; including, other decathletes as well, such as, Sami Itani and Jaakko Erkinheimo. Maybe the interesting part in my interview is the fact that I have entered for Stockholm marathon. Contrary to what they say on Urheilun Podium, my intention is to finish just one marathon. If you are planning to enter as well, hurry up as they have almost reached the 20 000 entries that they will accept.

This post comes ’somewhat’ late as Känsäottelu was held already three weeks ago. Maybe the reason for the delayed post was the poignant defeat or then the merry SUL Gala Cruise that followed. Anyways, after a tight fight me and Heikki A ended up with the same amount of points. We had to count the individual event victories and those Heikki won with three victories against my two. This was the first time the ’sitkeyspisteet’ (resilience points) were decisive. One gains one resilience point every year one finishes the Känsäottelu without winning it. After a victory the points are set back to zero. Consequently, I had no points after last year’s victory and Heikki had some from the past years. Resilience points make the competition more interesting as soon half of the participants are actually fighting for the victory. So, I need to see that I am in good shape next year as I still have good chances of winning.

Again nice to meet old friends and spend a day together in the chilly Autumn weather. Some images and videos in my flickr Känsäottelu 2009 set.

We had a successful club’s (Esbo IF) planning day at Aulanko on Friday and Saturday. We were 11th best club in Finland this year and lost by one annoying point to Lappeenrannan Urheilu-Miehet - see the final standings. Our target is to grow during the next years. That will not be easy in Espoo, where indoor training places are a scarce resource and young talents have all kinds of sports to choose from. As always, also coaches are a scarce resource. Financial compensations for coaches do not reach the level of many other sports. Thus, athletics is, and most likely will be, a sports that you do and coach for other reasons.