Preparing for Everest- 8 weeks to start (What's happened during week 1.-7.2.2010)

MONDAY: The morning started with an easy run on snowy and slippery trails along Espoo coastline. Later in the day, I had photo shootings for a women s magazine, where the photographer almost had to rescue me from falling through thin ice and I got to swim in a hole in the ice on purpose, too. Directly after I had the interview for the same magazine and three hours of training: fitball-, dance- and combat classes.

TUESDAY: In the morning, the golf course in Sarfvik, Kirkkonummi offered a perfect setting for 1.5 hours of skiing in deep snow. The weather was sunny, but the additional snow that fell the previous night meant that we got to make the ski track on untouched snow. Me, and my training companion Mia Graeffe, who intends to climb Cho Oyu, welcomed the small extra challenge. In the evening, we continued our climbing stories at the Olympic Stadium, to where I got a car ride that almost exceeds the adventures in climbing. In the event arranged by the Finnish Alpine Club, Veikka Gustafsson told us about his experiences on conquering 14 x 8000 meter peaks. The event that was initially meant to take three hours but ended up being over four hours when Veikka told about his huge 16- years long mountaineering career. Personally, I was especially touched when Veikka told about his experiences in 1993, when he as the first Finnish person climbed Everest and how it changed his life completely. My motivation that was a little bit lost after Aconcagua, changed into enthusiasm again and I wondered how my life will change after Everest. Already now it seems like everything is possible:-)

WEDNESDAY: Misu’s thoot operation took most of the day but I managed to squeeze in two hours of training: combat- and power classes.

THURSDAY: I run for over an hour to Soukka to help my friends with their renovation and the 1.5 hours carry of a heavy stone drainboard to 6th floor proved to be useful power training. In the evening I met my main sponsor HCS together with my PR- and marketing agencies and alongside planning for the future we toasted for success on Aconcagua and the campaign so far. The interest shown by media and the public has been huge, thank you for the good co-operation HCS, Push and Republic.

FRIDAY: In the morning I met the WWF representatives together with my PR agency and we planned our future co-operation in the Himalayas. More information on our campaign both on this blog and on WWF Finland’s website. During the day I had an interview for one of my sponsor ’s magazine and in the afternoon weekly training together with my personal trainer Arri: sloshing the hills of Malminkartano in deep snow. And it was fun again!

SATURDAY: 2.5 hours indoor xycling marathon seemed easy, so my condition seems to be allright. In the evening it was time for some well-desserved relaxation.

SUNDAY: I got the opportunity to familiarise myself with using oxygen mask at the fire station. Despite the fact that the system I will use on Everest will be different, the idea of using supplemental oxygen and oxygen mask above 7800 meters now feels less peculiar.