Most of the weekend was spent on doing the new grass lawn on the front yard. Bloody hard work to remove the old turf by the roots. I lacked some appropriate tools and used oldfashioned stubborn manners more or less by hand to get it off. I think I was more tired after that work yesterday, than I would have been if I had run the marathon, that I decided to cancel. All focus on the grass!

I also found lots and lots of white short fat ugly worms under the old turf, that for sure were the reason for the magpies to attack my lawn. Hopefully the worms have escaped somewhere else now after a night without any turf protection and I don't believe that the magpies will manage to get through the new thick turf. Otherwise, I will use tougher means to win the battle. I might statue an example, by killing one magpie and put it on public display on the lawn. I have actually already tried to shoot one with my airgun, but I didn't draw fast enough. Perhaps I need to hire a hitman with a better shotgun.

Today I did the fun part, the rollout & fitting of the turf. Yes, Yes, Yes, very nice indeed. Great to work with grass. Perhaps I should become a greenkeeper at the golf club or something similar where I can be outside? It can't be meant that someone like me should spend 40 hours a week inside an office starring at boring computers or trying to look interested when other guys are showing dull powerpoints in conference rooms. Hmmmm .... well, it pays the bills, as they say, and right now I have a few mouths to feed, so I'll better skip the grass business ideas and stick to my old profession for another couple of years.

On another grass turf today, at Stamford Bridge, Man Utd almost managed to crack Chelseas 85 "games at home without a loss" suite, but as always they escaped with a draw after an equalizer 10 min before full time. The Red Devils looked much better today then last weekend's miserable match against Liverpool. This season can be more interesting then ever.

Right now, most of my colleagues around the globe, are having a party, celebrating 10 years of Volvo IT. I was supposed to be there too, until this afternoon, when I managed to purchase a load of roll-out ready-grown grass (40 m2) at a favourable price. It needs to be rolled out before the weekend is over, so my only option to make it in time was to start tonight. Hard work to get the old lawn removed. I've just returned inside with an aching back and stiff body, after a couple of hours out there in the garden. Was this really necassary? Why now, when I could be at the party instead? Well, the magpies have destroyed the lawn, picking it to pieces in their eager search for worms. It couldn't be saved anymore. Looks like shit and it bugged me the see the crater on the front yard, that once was a nice grass lawn. Then this oppurtunity appeared, so I made a quick decision and forgot about the party. I feel a bit like Cinderella now, just doing the dirty work when everyone else is having a ball at the castle. But it's been my own decision and there are lots of work still to be done this weekend. I bit the grass, as we say in a Swedish expression. And on top of that, I'm planning to run a marathon tomorrow in Vänersborg. Hmmm... how clever is that then?

Today, I took on the task to clean the roofing tiles on the house from moss and other dirt. Not fun, but needed. I'm not very good with my balance and get rather shaky legs when I get up on heights. Since the diving accident 1992, it's been rather bad actually. I remember having problems biking the first year or two after the accident, but by doing it more and more, I managed to train up my stability and today I don't think of it to much. Hopefully the same can happen with my fear of heights. Challenge it!

Another good thing with doing something rather monotonous and boring is that the brain is taking sidetracks while working, since there is not much need of creative thinking. For example, I was using an old knife to scrape off the moss and I realized that it was my old very dear Mora-knife that I bought at Mora-Nisse's Sport shop in Mora 40 years ago. I managed to get Mora-Nisse's autograph on the backside of the leather case and it is still there. I remember how careful I used to be with this very very special knife. Only to be used for the nicest type of wood and here I was abusing it against the brick tiles. No respect for stuff any more. Just to throw it away and buy a new one at Jula for 29 SEK (in plastic case). Well, I will keep this one for nostalgic reasons.

Anyhow, the work on the roof became rather pleasant and mentally stimulating, thanks to Mora-Nisse's knife. Lots of good old memories associated to the knife popped up in my mind and also to Mora-Nisse and XC skiing. Is he still alive? He was old already when I was a kid. I had to check on wikipedia when I was done on the roof. Yes, he's still around, 91 years of age. Olympic gold medalist in 1948 on 50 km, but most known for 9 victories in Vasaloppet. That's impressive.

I have also met Sixten Jernberg, who was an even better skiier on a global level. Gold medals in 3 olympic games. We sometimes stopped at his little skiing village outside Lima in Dalarna to check his trophies and listen to some of his stories. Dad loved to stop there, since he also was a XC skiier. Dad sometimes went on skiing & fishing trips with another great skiier up in Dalarna, Janne Stefansson, who is a friend of Jan-E. Janne has "only" 7 victories in Vasaloppet. Actually also an Olympic gold medal in relay.

Time to go and buy some roller skiis. I got a motivation booster today thanks to Mora-Nisse's knife.

Yes, I know the feeling from the last km's of some marathons etc. No energy left in my system and the whole body is feeling so weak and you just have to rely on the will power. My late afternoon training was 18 km's around Lilla & Stora Delsjön + 8:an. I hadn't eaten any lunch, just some toast bread, so I more or less asked for trouble. The course around the lakes is very undulating, so it was hard work from start and already half way I was out of steam. Had to walk uphill and realized that my energy level was very low. Anyhow, I made it all the way according to my plan. Well, there aren't really any options when you are half way out there in the forest. Just keep moving forward. Got home and was a bit wobbly. I still think that these kind of low quality training sessions with empty fuel tank, are rather good in the longer perspective. I can recall some similar runs that temporarily destroyed my selfconfidence, that quite soon after gave me the opposite experience. Perhaps it's because I'm more cautious about charging my system with carbohydrates & energy, for a few weeks after when something like this happens.

A powerbar or energy-gel are always good to bring on longer runs, but today I only had water. I don't really have any respect for distances under 20 km's.

My plan to run 24 km in Delsjön was canceled when Jan called and said that he couldn't get the time for it, so instead I ran 10 km's around the lake with Fredrik. I've promised to guide him around, since he's been lost there in the forest before. It was a bit muddy & slippery due to some rain lately and we took it easy. After waving goodbye to him, I went home to change shoes and put Nellie in the babyjogger for an 11 km asphalt jogg. Around 6 min/km was OK, since it's a bit harder when I have to push the stroller in front of me. Hopefully, this kind of running will make normal running feel so much easier, but on the other hand I will miss having Nellie with me and meet all other people that are out for Sunday walks etc, that are sending positive vibrations to us through their smiles. We bought a twin baby jogger / stroller this week, so soon I will be able to take both Nellie & Jim for a run. It doesn't get easier, just more FUN.

Misia started her training comeback yesterday with a 4,5 km run. She was very happy to be back in the sporty clothes again, but she got some muscle pain in her stomache afterwards, but she's determined to get back in shape a.s.a.p

It's like existing in a "time bubble" of your own for a while. No work to worry about and very few other activities as well. Instead just doing small things around home with the small ones. Nellie & me have had lots of time together and that's been really good. This morning we went for another bike ride, 25 km's around Tahult, Härkelshult, Jonsered, Partille. Excellent to be able to do outdoor activities with her. She really likes it and so do I. We also managed to create a console construction for the kayak on the side of the house, where it can be stored over the winter season.

The summer has now turned into autumn, so it's suddenly a bit more chilly outside. We tried the fireplace for the first time last night. It will be great during the coming 6 months.

These photos are actually me with Victor 25 years ago. Strange, now he's in the same situation with a little baby. Important to slow down and do some reflections back in time now and then. Wow, Goooosh!

At 18.05 I became Grandfather. That's really something. Sounds old somehow, but who cares anyhow? It's more crazy that our 2 weeks old son, suddenly became Uncle Jim!!

The baby girl of Victor & Sara will be called Asta. Born in Eskilstuna, at the hospital just behind the house at Djurgårdsparken where they live. Everything fine with her so far and Victor is as always super cool. No major drama or emotional outburst. Good to have it done.

Over and Out from Grandpa Pelle.

That's what I need to do to improve and that's also the difference between jogging & running. Today I ran exactly the same 13 km's as yesterday (20 hours later) and I decided already from start to push it a bit in comparsion to yesterday. I focused mentally on the pace more or less all the way and it wasn't comfortable, but I felt like I was running, not just jogging. It's so easy to let your mind drift away and then the autopilot automatically switch over to cruise control speed = comfortable jogging pace, that I have programmed my body over the years, to be used to.

I was 4 minutes faster today, approx 5 % diff. So it's all about how you decide to perform your run and then stay focused.

My intention is not to be competetive, but it would be nice to return back into running with a better pace/flow, so I don't just get slower and slower due to age and lack of guts to feel some pain. "Body, mind, focus", correct Micke?

Next target is set. Göteborg Marathon on October 11. One month away, so if I can do 2 long distance runs (+20 km) within the next couple of weeks, then I'm confident about a sub 4.30 finish time. My target has to be to beat my previous best time of the year, 4.25 from Tateyama Wakashio Marathon in Japan.

So a little bit more focus on the running for a couple of weeks and this will be a piece of cake. Mix a couple of quality runs during the weeks and then have a LSD jog during the weekends. Classic formula!