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SAD ENDINGS & STRANGE DUELS ARE PART OF CUP PREPARATION

5th November 2009

Happy Guy Fawkes' day, and that means the Norway Cup Final is coming up fast, and I am definitely starting to get really excited about it. Wherever I am, no matter what team or League, or competition, I find playoffs an interesting time.

On the one hand, we are all so excited to be in the Cup Finals and training and practice days now usually have an edge to them. On the other hand, we know that our squad's team bond and season in Norway is coming to an end. And this, I find it very sad.

I think I can say that I have never been on a team that I didn't enjoy. However, another end is approaching, and we all know things are coming to a close. After this next week, I find it sad that nothing can be the same again. Even if a core group of players returns to the team in 2010, things will never be the same.

This being said, we do still have one very major game to play. And, before I become too sappy, this final match should be a "doozie." The Press has been building around the game and there are cameras and interviews to be faced at every turn. I think I have written before about the "interesting" interviews I have sometimes been asked to do here in Norway. Last Monday was no different.

In the past, I have been filmed walking down the main street in Oslo while attempting to sing the Norwegian National Anthem in Norwegian - and yes, D and i are still taking language classes. Another time, I had to run down a hill in the rain while holding hands with my teammates. You will begin to get the idea. This Monday's interview was more of an expose of sorts. It was meant to be a way for the public to get to know some of the Team Strommen players a little better. The TV event was called: "The Duel."

D and I were invited to take part and we were matched against each other in a series of three events: Bench press repetitions of a percentage of our body weight; balancing on an exercise ball followed by a race with our feet on an exercise ball; then finally, a blindfold fruit taste test!

See http://www.rb.no/tv/article4557060.ece

D and I found the competitions and the end result (a win for D) hysterically funny, but we have been told by our teammates that our self-effacing manner made us look like "tough cheats." The event was in a good cause though as we were able to donate our winnings to two charities: Right to Play and The Norwegian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Now it's time to get back to training and preparation for the big game on Saturday..