Day 16 – The best bread ever…

I'd like to say that the best bread that I've ever had comes from Romsøe's Konditori in Stavanger – but I can't. They may have the best bread, it's just that they kicked me out before I could find out. Maybe that's a bit harsh. When it was my turn at the counter (to buy skoleboller for my kids), they told me that they were closed (it was 1 minute after 4 after all). It seems like an odd way to run a business given that there were still buns to be sold and a line of people waiting to buy them. Oh well, I'll just have to be content with sharing the best recipe that I've found for bread (not that I can eat it myself). Anyway, here's how to make the easiest, prettiest, and (in my opinion) best-tasting bread out there. Just go to,

No-knead bread recipe from the NY Times (originally)

Watch it on YouTube!

Now what about this Norseman Ironman thing? I haven't forgotten. I'm just a bit sick right now. I've been a fair bit of riding lately but, must admit, I haven't been out running in a few days. The marathon is going to kill me – that's pretty clear. I'm aiming for something on the order of 7 hours. Only 5 hours slower than the winning Olympic marathon time today…

Day 11 – Good carbs?

As I sit here eating a bag of corn chips and ‘Santa Maria Tex Mex Guacamole Dip’ I’m thinking to myself two things. First, ‘what the hell do the swedes know about making mexican food?’ and second, ‘what is a good carb when you’re a gluten-free, lactose-intolerant (pseudo*) vegetarian?’ It isn’t homemade pasta but rice and potatoes are pretty high in carbs if you’re stuck in my shoes. And, they’re tasty too. Especially the ‘Troll’ potatoes that we have, here, in Norway. Organic and resistant to potato blight. Anyway, I guess that I should figure this carb thing out. A 4km swim followed by a 180km bike ride and then a marathon finish. It’s not clear to me that I can do it on corn chips and guacamole alone. So, I’m open to suggestions.

*I say ‘pseudo’ because fish don’t count in my book. Sure, a purist might disagree but I figure that, if I can kill it myself, I’ll eat it. So fish are on the plate (for now) but the cows and piggies are safe. Unless that’s what they put in hotdogs…

Day 9 – When technology goes wrong…

It was a good day today. The girls and I made our plans to go out blueberry picking. On the way, we stopped at the sports store to pick up a heart-rate monitor for running. I had decided to get another Sigma since it would be compatible with my bike computer. It was a great idea (in theory). However when we reached Oltedal, we stopped for ice cream (sorbet for me) and, wouldn’t you know it, the grocery store had Suunto T1 heart rate monitors on sale for half price! Norway’s a funny place that way. You want a new camping stove? You go to the grocery store. You want a new pair of skiis? You go to the grocery store. And yes, apparently they’ve now started selling heart-rate monitors too. Anyway, to make a long story short, I now have two (three if you include the bike computer) heart-rate monitors. I think that I may have a problem. After the girls went to bed, I hopped on my bike for a night ride. The sun had just set and there was a cool breeze in the air. I had a clean bike and I felt fast. But thanks to modern technology, I’ll never know just how fast I was. You see, it turns out that Suunto has built some sort of radio jamming device into their watches that prevents Sigma bicycle computers from working. No speed, no heart rate – I was pissed off for 40km (I think). I blamed Sigma. But, after taking my watch off and putting it on the shelf at home, I noticed that my bike computer was, once again, working. I’m just happy that I didn’t call the help desk. Thumbs up for Sigma. A gesture of displeasure for Suunto.

Day 8 – Veggie romance?

It sounds a bit rude (and it wasn’t quite what I was expecting when I clicked on the link) but it appears that it’s just a site for veggie lovers to find some lovin’. I was in search of the ‘best soya milk’ (if there is such a thing) and it was the first link that Google returned. Seriously. I’m normally an ‘Alpro‘ man myself so I was, in fact, quite relieved to find that 63.624% of British singles also prefer Alpro. Singles can’t be wrong. They’ve the got the time and money to do a proper product comparison. Once you’ve got kids, you tend to take the box within easiest reach. For me, that’s Alpro. If I try to reach the expensive stuff (on the top shelf), the child on my shoulders inevitably starts crying as she bumps her head into the low-hanging sign at the Coop. Alpro – blue box, 3rd shelf from the floor, 22 Norwegian crowns per liter.

Today was a bit of a write-off in terms of getting much exercise (other than a run) in. I woke up late so ended up driving into work. A real shame as it was one of those sunny Norwegian days. A balmy 11deg C; the type of day that makes you appreciate the beauty of Norway. The blue sky, the yellow wasps, and the pasty white skin of too little sun. Completly opposite of the average winter day when the sky is gray, the wasps are dead, and the average blonde Norwegian is bronzed beyond belief. But it’s fun. Winter is the time of the year that many Norwegians look forward to most. Time to break out the skiis and head out to the cabin for some ‘hygge‘ (Norwegian hygge is similar to Danish hygge without the Carlsberg). Yes, only a few more months until the fun begins.

Day 5 – To shave or not to shave…

While browsing the web last night I found a fun instructional video on leg-shaving for men. It's advertised on the BeginnerTriathlete.com website as a 'shootout' to determine the best method of shaving. In the video, an exceptionally hairy triathlete demonstrates the use of different types of razors, Nair-like products, and wax. Although the video was amusing (especially the section on waxing at the end), the best part was sharing the link with some male colleagues. For me, it wasn't a big deal since I've done it many times before when I bike raced. My friends, however, had different opinions on whether it was necessary. And where to stop? That was another question. Do you go to the edge of the bike shorts leaving you with a pair of hairy boxers or right to the top? A tough question with no simple answer. In the end, when it was suggested that you go for a full 'Brazilian' the conversation fizzled.