Mårten Boström: "I would like to make the most out of my race at WOC"

Keen to return to top shape, Mårten Boström prepares carefully the new season. In this interview to the Portuguese Orienteering Blog, he speaks of his goals and motivation to achieve them, but adds that medals and honors are secondary things.

In a message left on your webpage on the 6th October 2014, you wondered if it was the moment of the end of the season or the beginning of a new one. This question was answered two months later, when you said that “every athlete needs to take a break”. Using your personal experience, I would like to ask you to tell me something about the thin line that separates one season from the next one.

Mårten Boström (M. B.) - I felt really great after the end of last season so I was hungry for more. That is the way a winning athlete functions. I planned to deal with World Cup in Tasmania as an extension of the season, training up until the races. But I fell at a night session in Mila by Night, Nacka and that put an ending to the plan. The thin line which separates one season from the next is in my experience, including winding down on training effort and reflecting on the past season to find what worked and what didn't work. One needs to be eager to train towards the set goal of the next season.

Looking to 2014, can you elect “that moment”?

M. B. - My orienteering moment of 2014 comes from the Long Distance of Swedish Championships, which I had prepared well and was able to execute my plan technically throughout the race. When I need to recall how I do when I orienteer well, I look at that performance. I came 6th, 1:44 behind the winner, my teammate Fredrik Johansson. The results I got as a part of a Relay team with my club IFK Lidingö SOK and the 5th placed Finnish team at WOC were important for motivational reasons, but technically I didn't perform at 100% in any of those races. Running a Relay, there are tactical reasons which come into play.

Your season started in Australia. How was the World Cup's first round in the other side of the world?

M. B. - The start of the World Cup in Tasmania turned out about how I had envisioned. Since breaking my shoulder blade in October I had focused on Long Distance training and got a satisfying result out of the Long Distance race, being placed 8th. Physically I didn't have the confidence to push hard enough so soon after the injury, but mentally I was able to handle the orienteering challenges all the way to the finnish. In the Sprint, I was surprisingly able to match the pace of the best, but the lack of technical training and self-confidence resulted in mistakes at the control points. In the Middle I outperformed my wildest dreams of mastering such a complicated terrain - I was satisfied with my 15th place!

“Feels like my body is moving to the right direction” was something that you wrote after the Australian adventure. Are you sure of that, two and a half months later?

M. B. - Yes, my body is getting better at accepting hard runs, day by day. After Tasmania I went back to base training for a few weeks. Actually, I have just returned from a 5 week Training Camp in Spain. The best moments have been to excel at orienteering, I have done several good technical sessions, both at night-time and at daytime.

What are the next important steps before WOC?

M. B. - The next important step is getting in races, to boost my self-confidence. I know I am able to stay focused in my orienteering for a complete long distance race - now I just need to go out and do it in a race. Physically, we are yet to make a schedule for the coming month's details, but there is still quite a bit to accomplish to get where I want to. If I am healthy, JK during Easter and World Cup stages in Norway and Sweden are the next important races.

Please, close your eyes and listen to the crowd. It’s the WOC prize giving ceremony and it’s your name that the speaker is announcing to receive the gold medal. What do you feel?

M. B. - It is important for an athlete with big dreams to believe in them fully and imagining themselves doing a well-balanced performance is an important part of that.

What are your WOC major goals? Who will be your biggest rivals?

M. B. - I would like to make the most out of my race at WOC. Getting a medal and honor is secondary. I do not race against anyone in an orienteering race - times can be compared, but it's what happens in my own head that matters the most to me.

To reach a gold medal is a matter of “having the best legs”? How do you do that?

M. B. - I believe I can still improve my technical, physical and mental shape - they go hand in hand towards the highlight of the summer.

In the end of our Interview, I would like to ask you to make a wish to all orienteers about the upcoming season.

M. B. - I wish to all orienteers, in spite of race or nationality, that they are able to perform at their best - as the Jukola 2015 slogan says: “Everybody is a winner”!

[Photo:Mårten Boström / facebook.com/pages/Mårten-Boström]

Joaquim Margarido

Danish Spring 2015: Third victory in a row to Søren Bobach and Maja Alm

The Danish Spring is over. As in the previous two steps, Søren Bobach and Maja Alm were the big winners of the Long Distance step that put an end to this important competition.

Clearly, Søren Bobach and Maja Alm won the Long Distance stage that ended the Danish Spring 2015. Organized by OK Øst Birkerød and the Allerød OK, the event called to the Danish region of North Zealand eight hundred participants from 17 nations, having in the two Danish athletes its big stars.

In the Men Elite class, Søren Bobach (OK Pan Århus) was even stronger than in the two previous stages, achieving a course full of regularity and completing the 17.9 km in 1:25:45. Less able physically, the Swedish David Andersson made a course virtually error-free, but the cumulative of time lost over the 42 controls (!) made the difference for the winner, in the end, translated into large 3:48. With just one more second than Andersson, the Finnish Jere Pajunen (Kalevan Rasti) concluded third.

In the women elite class, Maja Alm (OK HTF Haderslev) quoted up once again as the best athlete, accomplishing the 12.0 kilometres of her course in 1:07:01. As in the previous stages, the athlete's entry in the course was not particularly well done, but from the moment she sat her race - in this case, even before the course's first half - no one else could stop her. With two major mistakes that cost her two minutes, Ida Bobach (OK Pan Århus) was the second placed with more 2:11 than the winner. The Norwegian Kamilla Olaussen (Fredrikstad SK) finished third, at 2:39 from Maja Alm.

As in the Elite classes, also in the Junior classes the names of Danish Emil Øbro (Tisvilde Hegn OK) and Josefine Lind (OK GORM) were highlighted in the first two steps, recording victories in the Sprint and Middle Distance. In the Long Distance stage that ended the event, however, the things would come differently, with Thomas Knudsen (OK Melfar) and Miri Thrane Odum (OK Øst Birkerød) being the strongest this time.

Results

Men Elite

1. Søren Bobach (DEN OK Pan Århus) 1:25:45

2. David Andersson (SWE Malungs OK) 1:29:33

3. Jere Pajunen (FIN Kalevan Rasti) 1:29:34

4. Olle Böstrom (SWE Järla IF) 1:30:33

5. Mikko Siren (FIN Angelniemen Ankkuri) 1:31:00

Women Elite

1. Maja Alm (DEN OK HTF Haderslev) 1:07:01

2. Ida Bobach (DEN OK Pan Århus) 1:09:12

3. Kamilla Olaussen (NOR Fredrikstad SK) 1:09:40

4. Sofia Haajanen (FIN SK Pohjantahti) 1:12:58

5. Lena Eliasson (SWE Domnarvets GoIF) 1:13:02

Full results at http://www.danishspring.dk/results/

[Photo: Carsten Nøhr Nielsen, Frame The Action / facebook.com/danishspring]

Joaquim Margarido

Danish Spring 2015: Søren Bobach and Maja Alm unstoppable

By winning the Middle Distance and the Sprint stages, Søren Bobach and Maja Alm were the common denominators of the first two days of the Danish Spring. Played in the Danish region of North Zealand the event has three WRE stages and counts with the participation of eight hundred athletes from 17 nations.

Accomplished the two first stages of the Danish Spring, opening race of the Danish Foot Orienteering season, Søren Bobach and Maja Alm arise as the event's great names until now. The Sprint stage was held yesterday at Allerød and showed an interesting duel between the two current World Champions in Sprint, the Elite and Junior ones. Søren Bobach was impeccable and, with a clean run, hit the young New Zealander Tim Robertson by comfortable difference of 20 seconds. The Danish Thor Norskov got the third place, 25 seconds behind Bobach. Despite some small mistakes, Maja Alm came to victory in the women elite class thanks to a second half of her course full of will and strength. The athlete imposed herself to the Russian Galina Vinogradova by 29 seconds, while the third place was to the very young Cecilie Friberg Klysner, with more 35 seconds than Maja Alm.

Already today took place the Middle Distance course, in which it was possible to watch a repeat of what happened the day before regarding the winners, in both cases by comfortable margins. In the men elite class, Bobach completed his course in 32:44, leaving his compatriot Tue Lassen in second place, with over 1:20. The Latvian Rudolfs Zernis was a surprising third placed with the time of 34:07. Like yesterday, only in the second half of her course Maja Alm has spread throughout her most direct rivals, but the advantage of 2:06 over the Russian Galina Vinogradova raises no room for any doubts. After a forced stop due to injury, Ida Bobach reached a moralizing third place on her return to competition with more 2:22 than the winner.

Results

Sprint (2015.03.27)

Men Elite
1. Søren Bobach (OK Pan Århus) 15:02
2. Tim Robertson (NZL, Hutt Valley) 15:22
3. Thor Norskov (IFK Göteborg) 15:27

4. Tue Lassen (Faaborg OK) 15:37

5. Trond Einar Moen Pedersli (NOR, OL Trollelg) 15:38

Women Elite
1. Maja Alm (OK HTF) 13:47
2. Galina Vinogradova (RUS, Alfta Osa OK) 14:16
3. Cecilie Friberg Klysner (FIF Hillerød) 14:22

4. Sofia Haajanen (FIN, SK Pohjantahti) 14:49

5. Nicoline Friberg Klysner (FIF Hillerød) 14:52

Middle Distance (2015.03.28)

Men Elite

1. Søren Bobach (OK Pan Århus) 32:44

2. Tue Lassen (Faaborg OK) 34:04

3. Rudolfs Zernis (LAT, Aerla IF) 34:07

4. David Andersson (SWE, Malungs OK) 34:12

5. Thor Norskov (IFK Göteborg) 34:15

Women Elite

1. Maja Alm (OK HTF) 26:59
2. Galina Vinogradova (RUS, Alfta Osa OK) 29:05

3. Ida Bobach (OK Pan Århus) 29:21

4. Lena Eliasson (SWE, Domnarvets GoIF) 29:27

5. Kristin Löfgren (SWE, Varegg Fleridrett) 30:23

Full results at http://www.danishspring.dk/results/

[Photo: Carsten Nøhr Nielsen/Frame the Action]

Joaquim Margarido

Ida Bobach: "I have good odds on winning a WOC medal"

On the starting day of Danish Spring, the attention goes to the nº 2 in the IOF World Ranking, the Danish Ida Bobach. Problems in the Achilles tendon has prevented her from following the training plan in the best way, but the goals, those, remain high. This and much more to read at her interview to the Portuguese Orienteering Blog.

You belong to a family of orienteers. How important was it – and is it! – in your career?

Ida Bobach (I. B.) - Orienteering has always been our “family-thing” and we have traveled to a lot of competitions around Europe. I got a lot experience from an early age and I think it has meant a lot to my technical development.

How did you see your brother Søren's gold in WOC Sprint last year?

I. B. - I found it a bit surprisingly because I have never seen him as a Sprint specialist. But in 2012 he was 9th a the WOC sprint so I new that he was good. Søren is really good performing at his best in the important competitions so even though he had had a lot of injuries I still believed he could do really well, but that he won was a bit of a surprise. I think it is really good for Danish Orienteering that we got a World Champion. There is starting to be more focus on Orienteering and hopefully it will help in the development of our sport in Denmark.

And what about your silver ones (Middle and Relay)?

I. B. - We have been close to a Relay medal for a couple of years but we have always ended 4th-6th, except at WOC 2013 which was quite bad. It was such a relief finally to get a Relay medal. It was also a relief for me to get a medal in the Middle Distance again. I got a silver medal in the Middle Distance in 2011 which was quite surprisingly to most people. In 2012 I was 4th at Middle and I did bad in 2013 (11th, I think). So I was really happy to be back to the medals.

Following your great performances in the WOC and World Cup in 2014 and your previous successes, can you sum up what it takes to get you to the second place in the IOF World Ranking?

I. B. - I succeeded in getting my mental focus right in most of the important competitions in 2014. I did struggle a lot with my Achilles tendon in the spring but for the last two months before WOC I could stabilize my amount of running. Even though it was not a great amount, my shape was good at WOC and of course that also helped me believe in myself. I also succeeded in stabilizing my running amount in the fall and that really seems to get me in shape. So to do well in 2015, I guess I have to get my running on a descent level and be careful not to get injured. I have to set my head straight and believe in myself when I'm standing at the start line in every competition.

How was the start of the season? Was the Australian adventure positive?

I. B. - It was really great to explore Tasmania and the competitions at the World Cup were really good. I had some okay performances but I think it is hard to get in competition shape in that time of the year and actually I'm not quite sure that it is a good idea to try to peak at that time. Having a World Cup in January makes the season a bit weird because you have to go home an do a lot of basic training again before the European season really starts. But I think it was quite nice to have some summer and nice experiences. That definitely got me happier through the winter.

How do you feel right now? With your “DNS at the first danish spring race”, it seems that things aren't going as well as they should.

I. B. - No, unfortunately I have some injury troubles and it is quite frustrating because I really thought that I was playing on the safe side. Apparently I just can't do a lot of running and I really have to be careful not to increase my running to much. I chose not to start at the first competitions to be on the even safer side, hopefully. But I will compete next weekend and I look forward to see how I'm doing compared to the other danish girls.

Typically, how many hours a week do you commit to training? What are your least favourite training days? And what about your favourite?

I. B. - I typically train 10-13 hours a week. My least favourite training days must be days where I'm only doing alternative training, e.g. Aqua jogging or cross training. I find that a bit boring. My favourite training days are days where I'm doing high speed orienteering.

Have you scheduled the next big steps before the WOC?

I. B. - I will go on a training camp to England and Scotland during Easter and the week after. That will be one and a half week of good and important WOC training. The World Cup stages, in Norway and Sweden, will be important races before WOC where I really have to get into the right competition focus.

What are your main goals for the season? Are we going to see you winning a gold medal in the World Champs?

I. B. - I will focus on Long, Middle and Relay for the World Championships and my goal is to fight for medals in all three competitions. I think I have the best odds in Relay. Many runners will be able to fight for medals in the Middle Distance so I need to get everything straight to get a medal but I think that I can do that if I'm really focused. My odds for the Long Distance depends a lot on how my training progress will be. I really hope that my Achilles will let me run some long competitions during spring. If I can do that, I think I have good odds on winning a WOC medal.

Knowing the place, the terrains, your rivals (and yourself), what will be the key to succeed?

I. B. - I need to have some good speed for Middle and Relay but on the same time I have to be quite strong in the hips to get through the heavy heather in the Long Distance. But most important of all I have to believe in myself and stay focus on the task when I'm competing. That will lead to good orienteering.

How do you see the possibility of keeping the second place – or even getting the leadership - in the IOF World Ranking in the end of the season?

I. B. - It does not mean really much to me, personally, to be high ranked in the IOF World Ranking. I value a Championship higher. But if I do well at WOC I will probably be ranked high. I also need to do well on a couple of the World Cups to keep my second place.

In the end of our talk, I would ask you to make a wish to all orienteers.

I. B. - Get out there and do a lot of nice orienteering!

Joaquim Margarido

Two or three things I know about it...

1. Next weekend will take place at North Zealand the fourth edition of the Danish Spring, an event that is a kind of start of the Orienteering season at regional level, calling not only athletes from Denmark, but from all Scandinavia. With the attractive extra of three WRE stages - Sprint on Friday, Middle Distance on Saturday and Long Distance on Sunday - the event has a number of entries around eight hundred athletes, including some of the big names in the world of Orienteering, namely the current World Champion in Sprint, the Danish Søren Bobach, his compatriots Maja Alm and Ida Bobach, the Russian Dmitry Tsvetkov and Galina Vinogradova, the Finnish Sofia Haajanen and the Swedish Lena Eliasson, among others. The competition starts tomorrow, with the Sprint course. Everything to follow at http://www.danishspring.dk/.

2. The Swiss Orienteering season started last Saturday with the Nacht Orientierungslauf Meisterschaft, the Long Distance Night National Championships, which took place in Aarau, attracting 615 athletes. In Men Elite class, Matthias Kyburz (OLK Fricktal) was the fastest to cover the 11.5 km of a demanding course, spending 1:05:19. Daniel Hubmann (OL Regio Wil) fight hard for the victory, being second with more 25 seconds than the winner. National Champion in 2014, Martin Hubmann (OL Regio Wil) was the third placed, with a time of 1:08:37. As in Men, also in the Women Elite class the fight for the national title was really tight, but in this case with three competitors for one title. Julia Gross (OL Zimmerberg) would eventually be the fastest, spending 1:01:44 to complete the 8.2 km of her course. With more 13 seconds, in the second position, stayed Ines Brodmann (OLG Basel) while Simone Niggli (OLV Hindelbank), still and always in great shape, concluded in the third place, 39 seconds after the winner. Sven Hellmüller (OLG Welsikon) and Kerstin Ullmann (OL.Biel.Seeland) were the winners in the Junior Men and Women classes, respectively. Full results at http://www.o-l.ch/cgi-bin/results?year=2015&event=Schweizer+Meisterschaft+im+Nacht-OL+Lang.

3. In the short time of two months, the Spanish Antonio Martinez reached his third victory in a World Ranking Event. It was last Saturday at Becerril del Carpio (Palencia, Spain), in the Long Distance course that opened the program of the International Orienteering Trophy "Nacimiento del Canal de Castilla" and that counted with the participation of more than six hundred athletes. However, a less achieved course in the Middle Distance stage brought a change in the first position with the Ukrainian Artem Panchenko, that won the Trophy overall. In the Women Elite class, the Ukrainian Olha Panchenko was the best overall, winning the Long Distance WRE stage and finishing second in the Middle Distance stage. In this last stage, the victory went to French Léa Vercellotti. Ona Ràfols finished in the third position, being ranked as the best Spanish athlete. All to check at http://orcapalencia.com/web/competitions/canal-de-castilla-international-trophy/.

4. Joining the victory in the TempO competition to the triumph in the PreO stage, John Kewley was the big winner of the British Trail Orienteering Championships 2014. With direction and course setting by Anne Braggins, the event took place in Twywell, joining 34 competitors, 4 of which in the Novice class. With four stations with five challenges each, the TempO stage saw John Kewley being the most accurate, offsetting in the best way the lower speed in answering, compared to many of his most direct competitors. At the PreO stage, there were four finishers tied in the first position, answering correctly to 19 of the 21 controls of the course. John Kewley decided again the dispute in his favour, thanks to the accuracy and speed in the timed controls. Fourth placed in PreO stage and second in the TempO stage, Ian Ditchfield was second in the Championships, while the third place fell to Nick Barrable, 7th ranked in the PreO and third in TempO. Complete results, maps and solutions to see at http://www.wimborne-orienteers.org.uk/wim/14%20BTOC/BTOC2014.htm.

Joaquim Margarido