English Guy Lookin 4 Running Partner & Football Team (Aland)

[jodcarey]

Hey guys,

I'm moving out to Aland shortly and i'm looking for running partners near to my standard and a football team.

For running I currently run 5k distance in 17min 30 secs so you get an idea of what standard im at. I train 4-5 times a week and will be using Alands stadium every week as well as other routes ive already been using, as im out in Aland on holiday at the moment. If anyone is near my standard, either better or just behind and needs a training partner give me a shout. Not sure if Aland has many keen runners

I'm also looking for a football team to join, I usually play midfield or defense, if anyone lives and plays in Aland or can offer me a contact email address or telephone number of someone they know it would be much appreciated

Regards Jod

[TampereOwl]

No idea about the running, but these guys should be able to help you with finding a team:

http://www.fotboll.aland.fi/kontakt.pbs

[Johnny K]

What standard football do you play? We have a range of teams across the Finnish & Swedish league structures & most of them are on the lookout for players especially as not many of the Åland clubs are doing very well this season!

If it's more football for pleasure there is the Korp series & there is at least 1 'invandrare' team.
Some of the lesser clubs - Jomala, Fram & Sund could also fulfill that need.

As for the running there is a strong athletics tradition here. I used to run with some vets but I hate the training so gave it up fairly quickly. I also played a bit of Korp & for a vets side when I first come over & the standard was pretty good, although they don't like heading the ball. I scored about 3 headers in the first summer - about as much as my whole life in London!

When do you get over? (although I see you are here on holiday already).I guess you've fallen under the spell of a woman. There is a Brit community here although we have a loose connection with each other & are on the up side of 30 y-o. We have been talking for a long time about firming up some sort of Brit club, especially as it would benefit the kids we have produced.

We haven't met already have we? Small town - news travels

[Rosamunda]

My memory fails me but I vaguely remember Åland recently issuing a set of stamps featuring a local guy who "runs" and was even a medal winner/record breaker at an international level. Anyone know who I mean???

(BTW, I do not collect stamps)


edit.... this was the guy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janne_Holm%C3%A9n

[Johnny K]

Janne Holmen. Won the marathon in the 2002 Euro champs. I am working in the kommun he hails from at this precise moment

[Rosamunda]

According to wiki he lives in Uppsala Sweden now.... is he running in the Olympics or has he "retired"?

[Johnny K]

He is doing some sort of long term research project at Uppsala Uni. He had a book published a year or so back. He is definitely still running as I've seen recent articles on him in the paper but to be honest I'm not certain that he made the Olympic team.

I remember when he won the gold. He wasn't especially well known before & it was only about his 2nd marathon. We were out at a stuga only vaguely aware he was running. There was an old black & white tv with a really fuzzy picture & poor sound. I turned it on & gradually became aware that he was in the lead. I remember saying to my wife 'I think this is the bloke from Åland' to which she replied 'It can't be'

He looks a lot older than he is due to a lack of cover up top.

[Pursuivant]

so the question is are you allowed to speak English there? if you speak Finnish they pelt you with fish heads...