World Cup Germany
Jopp, it is January and my time to be sick. Jopp, again. It started very innocent. I didin't feel one Saturday super fit and rather decided to miss one cross country race. I was proud me of making such a smart decision. Unfortunately, this step was not enough. The day after I got a sorethroat, I spent next two weeks figting with some virus. No feber, just sorethroat and weekness...
A doctor considered me almost healthy as I didn't have any serious symtoms. But the World Cup event in Oberwiesenthal was just behind the door and my health situation was still the same. With tears in my eyes I called to the national tema coach to announce him I am not capable of competing in the World Cup.
Some hours after the call I got so angry and irritated I have to stay home for another days. I decided I really need to get healthy. Now! Beleive it or not, when I woke up next day, for the first time after long time I felt wery good and healthy! Such an unknown feeling. I took it easy that day. But when I felt same good also next morning I called to our coach again. We made a deal I test my helath for one more day and if feeling good I will join the world cup some days later.
I felt really healthy and left to the Germany - by train. It was a day trip. But I was so excited to go to the ski-o event! I arrived just before the first race- sprint but didn't plan to compete yet. I did a model event and some faster exercises instead. Next day, it was finally my time to compete. But I felt totally shitty My body wasn't used to ski in that high speed just few days after 2weeks of resting. I was tired, the course was really hard and I was doing mistakes due to my tiredness. Next day a long distance was on the programme. I felt pretty same as the day before. This extremally hilly course was really more than tough for me. When I made it to the finnish I really thought I'm gonna die just behind the finnish line (appearently, it wasn't that bad bcs one guy got a thing for me when I was leaving the finish area - as I was told when we got together).
Next day was a rest day(=so 1hour of skiing classic). After that, races moved to Klingethal. It was time for relay competitions. I wasn't selected as my form in individual races was far from good. But I got to run mixed sprint relays open class with Michal Argaláš. There was almost no snow in the forest (at some places literally no snow) but it was fun! Last race was relay. I came to the competition just to assist our team, cheer a lot and do some easy skiing. When I checked the start lists I found out it is possible to run open relay also today. There was one Finnish team missing their last leg runner. I found it cool to get a chance to race again and went to ask our and Finnish couach wheter I could join guys team. They agreed and I got to run for Finnish mens team at the World Cup! Kinda crazy? Perfect for me! :) It wasn't as easy as I thought. I realized I don't have any racing equipment with me but there were many friends around so I got all I needed. First legs were coming to the finnish and I was curious how is my team doing. I didin't remember names of the guys running in my team and I didin't even know how they look like. .The first runner from the first leg was Jyri Uusitalo from Finland 2 team. Whaaat?
That must be a mistake. I thought I am running in the Finland 2 team. Damn, where are the start lists? Puuuuf, our team is leading at the World Cup race after first leg!! To make it ever crazier, the spekaer started to talk about me running in this realay and that it would be so great idea if I get a GPS! No no no no no. I was extremaly nervous. Fortunately, Tommi running the second leg, was more polite and "let" three guys pass him in the "pytlík". So I started on the 4th position in the mens class of the World Cup! ahead of Czech 1 team, of course! Ahead of many world best TOP10 guys! So sick. And I just had some training skis and borrowed equipment! "Tak jo", let's do this!
It was tough. Longer then I expected. I was tired. Fourth race in five days. Just after the sickness. But I fighted all the way. Most of the "1 teams" passed just after the start but I beleived I could make it to the finnish earlier than Czech 2. I had no idea how much I started ahead of Michal Argaláš, running the 3rd leg for Czech 2. And I did it! When I came to the finnish I was glad the last race of this event is over.
I decided to come to Germany not to make any woow performances but to get on the map and do some ski-orienteering. Because in two weeks we are going to the historically first World University Ski-O Championship. To Russia, Tula! I am really excited and hope to get in a good shape during next weeks!.
