The group was composed of five up and coming local junior girls, a senior woman and three coaches. Two junior girls where unable to travel due to illness and injury.  

Athletes  
Lotta Fougberg 85   Ullevi FI
Camilia Andersson 90  Sävedalens AIK
Sara Holmgren 90  Sävedalens AIK
Louise Bichler 91  Sävedalens AIK
Emma Dahl 91 Örgryte IS
Nina Persson 91  Örgryte IS  

Coaches  
Kjell Selander  Sävedalens AIK  Head Coach
Johan Wettergren  IF Kville / Sävedalens AIK
Andy Senorski  Örgryte IS  

Unable to travel  
Maria Borglund 91  Sävedalens AIK
Elin Borglund 91  Sävedalens AIK  


The Journey

Day 1  

   The first step of the journey was a Ryan Air flight to Bergamo, Italy. A bit out of the way but the least expensive route. It was also a chance to train in a picturesque Northen Italian town and then enjoy some fine Italian food. The group went out for an evening run which turned out to be a little more than an hour and a bit tough because Bergamo is a hilly town. The run was like being on a tour, we ran through the shoping district, around the old walled city and through parks. The evening dinner was well earned.  


Mycket mat efter hård träning


Day 2  

   The next morning we where all up early and had breakfest in our rooms and then prepared  for the next stage of our journey. After a long walk to the bus station we where on are way back to the airport. We flew from Bergamo to East Midlands Airport-Derby.
   After we rented two cars we where on our way to The Forest of Dean to meet and train with Bud Baldaros Birmingham University training group. Along the way we stopped for lunch where many of us enjoyed the English tradition Fish and Chips. Our meeting point was The Dean Field Study Center which we had a little trouble finding but we got there just on time. The Center was a old building that was often used by runners so everything we needed was there.
   Our first activity was the Icebreaker Sport Quiz. We gather in a activities room along with fifty or so runners from the University. Here we meet Bud Baldao for the first time. Bud was a very friendly and witty man who made us feel like we where at home direct. Everyone introduced themselves by saying three things about themselves. Most said where they were from and what they run. After tea, biscuts, socializing and a rundown of Saturdays program the quiz began. We broke up into six groups with one or two of us Swede in each group. Each group received 5 pages at different times with a variety of questions. The questions ranged from Olympic Sports, Athletics, Premiership Football Club Sponsers, identifing faces on pictures and yes Swedish Athletics. The winning team had 128 right of around 150 possible. Then it was time for a snack and rest up for tomorrows long hard day.    


Frågesporten i full gång

Day 3   
  
   Breakfest at 8 o’clock and away to our first workshop. The first workshop was on Recovery and was conducted by Mike Bull. Coach Bull is a high level multi-event and throwing coach at Birmingham University. He talked about why we must recover and how we can recover. Which was a good topic to learn before Saturday Session. A quick refreshment and we where on are way out to the Forest of Dean for a tough session. 

   Once out the door we faced perfect English training weather, rain and chill. A warm up jog deep into the forest and then 5 to 8 loop of  just a bit under 1600m. The loop was a little up and down narrow and muddy. It was a beautiful location that made you feel like Robin Hood was watching from behind the trees. The men were to do 6 to 8 loops with 1 minutes rest and the girls 5 with 90 seconds rest. Our girls split up between the first and second group. The first girl group had some talent with one young lady with 2.02 merits.
    The English Men and Women ran  bare leged, we were in tights. The workout went well for everyone, our girls hung in there well often yelling out “ Lets go girls.” The Englishmen where impressed. 


Full fart i skogen, men engelsmännen körde i kortbyxor
  
Back to the lodge and time for a well deserved lunch of baked potatoes, beans and tuna sandwitches.
   After a rest period we where off to a gym for a strength session. After a warmup we broke into four groups for different types of movements. Medball lead Johan and Andy, core lead by Luke Gunn a 8.28 steepler, foot gymnastic and movements lead by Coach Bull and static strength lead by a local sprint coach. Good session, which took 1½ hours, afterwards those with some enery left took a 30 minute jog. Our girls did.

After a shower, rest and dinner we where ready for the days second workshop, self massage with plastic tubes. It was conducted by Phil Hinch who is a Massage Theropist and member of the Tipton Harries. Phil also has run GöteborgsVarvet and has enjoyed live on  Kungsportsavenyen. After the presentation it was time for rest or a little time in the pub. Great conversation, songs and drinks.  


Kjell Selander ler sitt allra vackraste leende


Day 4  

Sunday long run and Bud is back. Bud was not with us on Saturday due to a commitment at a cross country race. Up and out the door, everyone ran between 1 hour and 10 minutes a 1 hour and 30 minutes through the trails and roads around the Forest of Dean. Bud rode along on his bike to keeping his eyes on us and said afterwards he was impressed with the Swedish girls.

   Once everyone finished Bud took us down to cold water stream and told everyone to stand in the water knee deep for three minutes. He called it a ice massage and said that it was important for recovery.
   Next was lunch and then the final workshop. The topic was combining university studies with training. The presentation was given by Luke Gunn. Luke studied at Birmingham University and received a degree and then went on to study three more years at Florida State University in the States. He knew how the systems worked on both sides of the “Big Water.” Luke talked not only about his achievements but also about his down-falls. He wanted to stress to the kids that these could be the best years of there lives if they did not let things get out of hand. If you get the chance take it, was his advice. 
 
   Now it was time to pack and drive to Birmingham. Bud lead the way and once we got there we split up. The girls stayed in student homes with the English kids and the coaches checked into the Purple Inn. From what we heard the girls had a great time. The coaches were invited to dinner by Bud and Phil. We spent three delightful hours talking to them about everything but mostily athletics. They questioned us a lot about how we do thing in Sweden and we questioned them on how they do thing in England. It was a great time. After we said goodbyes we checked out the town. 


Klassisk brittisk cirkelträning är bra för löpare 

Day 5  

Monday began with a 55 minute run and then breakfest for the girls. The coaches had paperwork to do and were in need of rest. Around 11 o’clock we began our journey to Loughborough University to meet George Gandy. Mr. Gandy is the National Endurence Coach for GBR and has coached many great runners. To name a few Seb Coe, Paula Radcliffe, Brandon Foster, Jack Buckner, Jon Brown and Lisa Dobriskey. Bud tipped us to ask George about famous circuit training program so that where he started and explained it in details.

   Then he talked about all the qualities a good runner should have from the mental to the physical. He went on to talk about training and what should be done during the different training phases of the year. Every now and then he mentioned a super training one of his stars had done. He concluded his presentation talking about the Loughborough University and the National High Performance Center. Afterwards he had a chat with the girls asking then what distances they ran and what was their performance levels. He said he was interested in follow their progress. We found Mr. Gandy as not only as a great source of  knowledge but also a true gentleman.

   Afterwards we exploried the National High Performance Center and then the Student Center. Then it was time to drive to Cambride. Once there we checked into a old but cozy hotel. It was late but we had to take a walk around the historic grounds of one the worlds top learning centers. It was picturesque and glowing with tradition.  

 
Bud Baldaro i mitten, en erfaren brittisk löptränare


Day 6  

The journey home, but not before a morning session and our last British Breakfest. We ran for 35 minutes, then 20 minutes of circuits followed by 10 x 100m strides. Great Breakfest! RyanAir got us home on time.    

I would like to say a few last words about the trip. First of all the girls were great. They gave their best every session with a positive attitude. Bud said to me once, “ That we had great  girls that train hard.”  They where also polite and friendly young ladies. It seemed that everyone we met liked them. It was a pleasure being with them.
   Coach Selander planed a great journey and was a true leader. He has mastered the English Language. Coach Wettergren showed composure beyond his years. He will be a great leader in the future. 
  
   As for me, it was great and I’m very thankful to have been part of it.       


Andy Senorski  
Örgryte IS