Sognsvann Rundt Medsols

Thanks to the Coombses who, as well as being very hospitable, have acted as our unofficial guides to outdoor activities in Oslo, I found myself lining up with about 90 other runners on the shore of Sognsvann for the second Sognsvann Rundt Medsols of the year on Wednesday evening. This is a weekly race taking place until the end of October which, as the name probably suggests, follows the pretty flat 3.5km trail around the edge of Sognsvann. You have the choice of running 1, 2 or 3 laps with most people opting for just one (as did I).

Having run round the lake in around 13:30 the previous week in the middle of a training run I wasn’t quite sure where this would put me in the field. However, as we set off around the mostly snow free track, the pace seemed pretty sedate and before long I found myself settling in to third place. With a bit of a sprint finish, this is where I then stayed for the remainder of the race.

How long did I take? Good question! Having read that the event used Emit (one of the two main electronic timing devices used for Orienteering), I duly turned up with my Emit brick. This would have been fine last year but this year they were using the new emiTag system instead. After some flawed mental calculations I decided to buy one for 495 kr. rather than have to turn up in time to hire one each week. At the end of the race, it took the guy several attempts to download my tag and I then completely failed to understand the time he told me. Never mind I thought, the results will be on the web. Only I don’t appear to be in them! I’ve sent the organisers an e-mail but had no reply so far… Still, it was a good burn up on a lovely evening with a light mist rising off the melting lake adding to the scenic value.

2 Responses to “Sognsvann Rundt Medsols”

  1. Neil Broderick says:

    So Dave, does coming third in a one lap race make you a pot chaser and all the real men where doing the three lap race? Or were you racing the fast sprinters in which case 3rd is an excellent position?

    You will have to do the 2 and 3 lap races and compare positions.

    cheers,
    Neil

  2. Dave says:

    @Neil – I don’t think there’s a pot to chase. I did contemplate continuing on for another lap or two but the sprint finish was a bit too much for me. Given the lack of a result I’m glad I didn’t keep on going! I certainly intend to try a few additional laps in the future if only to get my money’s worth from the emiTag.

    Dave