Dramatic EOC-relay in Falun

European Championships in Mora, Sweden are over. My final race in relay was quite normal performance in the first leg. Some parts I enjoyed and others I suffered. I did a few small mistakes, totally about a minute, but physically I saw in reality that I'm not in my best. I tried to focus on following in the end of the group and do what I have to, which meant to come as close the first runners as possible. I was 8th in my leg just 21 seconds behind the leader, so I managed to do, what was expected from me.

Now it's time to train and enjoy family-life for a couple of weeks. The next competitions are 9.-10. of June in Julkujärvi, near Tampere. They are important WC-qualification races and pre-tests for World Orienteering Championships (WOC) in Switzerland. After being the best Finnish male runner in EOC I think I focus on WOC too.

The relay in Falun offered drama, because of Daniel Hubmann's injury in the end of his leg. When I saw him struggling to changeover I couldn't think anything else but my broken achilles in EOC 2008 (middle qualification). It's still strongly in my memories, although it happened four years ago. It reminds me now and then and makes me appreciate everything I've done to be in these competitions again.

Daniel's injury came so close to me that I hope all the very best for him to recover as well as I did after totally broken achilles. It takes time and you need to be patient. Daniel, you are in my mind, and if somebody, I know your feelings at the moment. Of course, missing the home WOC is something very hard to handle, but your health is more important. Good luck for surgery and hard and patient work for rehabilitation. You'll be back, Daniel!

*Jani