November 17, 2011 (Lillehammer, Norway) – I said my goodbyes to Muonio and traveled to Norway yesterday. While it was great to be able to do a big block of training on snow before the season started, after three weeks in Muonio, the darkness was setting in, and I was ready for a change of scenery.

Sunset in Muonio. This picture was taken before 3pm © Ida Sargent/CGRP

The first World Cups of the season are this weekend in Sjusjoen, Norway.  There is not any snow here either so we will be racing on another short manmade loop of snow.  The organizing committee is doing everything they can to protect the snow so the loop is closed until the races with the exception of a three-hour inspection period tomorrow.

Since there isn’t any skiing here today the US team decided to stay as long as possible at the tunnel in Torsby where they are currently training and they will not be arriving to Norway until later tonight.  I already had a ticket booked for yesterday and since I skied many kilometers around the track in Muonio, I knew it would be alright to have a day off from skiing and I was excited for a solo day in Lillehammer, where our team is staying for the weekend.

After eating as much delicious breakfast at the hotel buffet as I could hold – soft boiled eggs, toast, brown cheese, yogurt, cereal, keifer, smoked salmon, pickled herring, crepes, and more!! – I was ready to go for a run.  By this time it was fully light outside and the sun was up and shining brightly OVER the hills.  I asked the lady at the front desk if there were running or ski trails nearby and she replied, “Of course, everywhere.”  Stupid question, this is Norway.  I left the hotel, picked a random direction and didn’t run more than a few hundred meters before I came across a single track path.

The trail headed uphill away from the town and paralleled a rocky brook.  After being in Muonio, it felt so hilly here!  It was cold outside with a thick layer of frost but still no snow.

© Ida Sargent/CGRP

This pool looked a little too cold for an ice bath © Ida Sargent/CGRP

© Ida Sargent/CGRP

It at least looks wintery © Ida Sargent/CGRP

Which direction to choose? I'll wait to go to Sjusjoen until tomorrow. © Ida Sargent/CGRP

Looking down over Lillehammer © Ida Sargent/CGRP

© Ida Sargent/CGRP

© Ida Sargent/CGRP

I followed signs to the Olympiaparken site of the 1994 Olympics. The building on the right is now NTG Lillehammer, one of Norway's ski academies. © Ida Sargent/CGRP

© Ida Sargent/CGRP

They were blowing snow in the stadium and I made some fresh tracks (or footprints I guess) through the "powder." © Ida Sargent/CGRP

From Olympiaparken I followed signs to Sentrum and soon popped out in the center of town. The main street was very touristy with shops, cafes, and restaurants. There were a few vendors selling waffles which smelled delicious. © Ida Sargent/CGRP

Normally I would feel weird wearing spandex and running with ski poles but it felt oddly normal here. © Ida Sargent/CGRP

A park in town. © Ida Sargent/CGRP

A church which I had spotted from above and wanted to check out. © Ida Sargent/CGRP

My camera batteries died at this point and it was time also time to head back towards the hotel. © Ida Sargent/CGRP