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After two weeks of knallhard training, so hard that some nights I just did not have the energy to summon up multiple words in either English or Norwegian at dinner, I left Beitostølen behind to return to Geilo for a few days. I was somewhat disappointed that the two important races had not taken place, but the time trials that I did gave me a lot to think about for the final period of training before the season starts for real around Christmas time.
Beitostølen was a pleasant place, though it has only 400 permanent residents. I enjoyed having a team, however small it was, for the first week. The training was very good and I improved in the areas on which I was focusing. The recent snowfall provided the signal that winter is finally here, though autumn has been trying hard to stay.
I only have four days left in Norway before flying back to the U.S. Altitude in the west is my destination. Having done so much altitude training this summer and fall, it is important to return so that the effects last until the Olympic Games in February. I miss the high mountains and low taxes, but I know that I will also miss the snowy, dark hills of Norway and my Norwegian friends once I leave.
We should enjoy the place, time, and situation in which we are, and not long or dream to be somewhere else. The grass always seems better on the other side, but most of the time, it just fine wherever we are.
Peace,
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