I agree with Radek Novotny critics of IOF World Cup system

Radek Novotny, Czech National main coach writes absolutely right thoughts about current IOF system. I agree with every word in his article. Especially I want stress attention on some point and give some examples and additional arguments.

Running against wind&snow: 5 km - 17:15

New distance running season is open. Today I ran 5 km race and weather was tough - snow, wind and slippery surface. All the way I was in the lead. According to conditions my time is acceptable 17:15. After summer it is unusual to run against snow wind and blink because of snowflakes. It was a strange phenomenon - almost all time I had a front wind.

Trainings of Galina Vinogradova in season 2013 (hours, intensities, VO2max, PBs, etc.)

August 31, 2012 I gave birth to my youngest child. First running session I done at 23 September. Then before January I just had easy fitness trainings (some running and strength trainings every second day). I was trying not to loose breast milk (I terminated breast feeding just before WOC). Also in December we had in Siberia weather anomaly with frosts -30-40C all month! Just from January I have started to do normal (every day) training program. In the beginning shape was really bad. Here is list of my progression in 3000 m indoor:

New IOF Competition Rules: Significant changes with some comments

New IOF Competition Rules for 2014 have been published. There are no wild card for current WOC champion in Long and Middle anymore in new rules. What are other innovations?

The last O-competition in 2013

Today I ran my last Orienteering race in the season 2013. That was a local competition in my home-city Barnaul (Siberia) - 7,1 km, 27 controls. Snowfalls are coming. I hope to make 2-3 O-training session more before it should be impossible.

New PB 5000 m 16:56

Today I ran 5000 m at stadium. Time is 16:56. It was just test-race in the beginning of preparation to new season. I ran alone. Time schedule is:

The last season for Matthias Merz, Matthias Leonhardt (Müller) and Simone Niggli

I am really sad when such great runners stop their careers. Of course, it is part of life and new stars are coming. But every top athlete is unique person with unique way in Orienteering. And world Orienteering loses when they retire.

The end of cross-country running season

At Friday and today were last races of my cross-country running season. At Friday I participated in regional cross-country competition among runners from militaries, policy and firefighters. Today was regional competitions among students. Courses length is 3 km in both cases but with different profiles. I was running in men heats.