Today's blog post is going to be one of the most boring you've ever read if you're not interested in my blow-by-blow account of my race today. But that is why we are here in Norway, for the three day Norwegian O-Festival. Last night was the Sprint event, today the Middle, and tomorrow I will bore you with the Long.

A reasonably early start by our standards saw us driving the half hour into the hills behind Lillehammer to the Sjusjøen Natrudstilen Ski Centre. The crowds are larger today with nearly 2500 competitors; my grade has doubled in size from yesterday.

We (Linda was with me today) found the Kiwi contingent and sat down on the concrete to get changed. There were a couple of things of note in view. Firstly, despite it being summer and the terrain being completely devoid of snow, there was at one end of the arena a huge pile of snow over 100m long and probably 30m wide and high. I'm guessing it was artificially made by a snow machine and is too valuable to be just left to melt. It was covered with a white tarpaulin.

Looking the other way, we could see a ski lift leading to the top of a nearby hill. You'll hear more about that tomorrow.

This would be my first time running in Norwegian terrain. I did run O-Ringen in Gothenberg, Sweden, once but that was 20 years ago. I knew there would be lots of spruce forest of varying visibility and lots of marshes.

The first leg was a short one but even before I had reached the start control I had wet feet. I set my compass, found the marsh and ran through it and there was my control right where I expected it to be. It's always a nice feeling when that happens; it seems to happen less frequently than it should.

With confidence now that I was reading the map OK, and with feet that had moved from wet to sodden, I set my compass for control 2 and started counting off the features. They all appeared as expected, as did the control, and my confidence knew no bounds.

The next three controls were along a vague rocky hillside. I made an observation that would be reinforced throughout my run - these Norwegians are totally mad. They appear to be able to run through ankle-breaking terrain at full speed. Underfoot, the ground is a series of large loose rocks covered in undergrowth just long enough to conceal them. I tried following another competitor and stepped in a hidden hole nearly breaking my leg. A few minutes later I tried again with similar results. I trod a lot more carefully after that while the Norwegians, of all ages, just zoomed on past.

Luckily, 5 to 6 saw the reappearance of a marsh. In stark contrast to the rocky hillsides, marshes are easy to run through, even if it seems unnatural to run through ankle deep puddles for long distances.

My navigation had been spot on so far but I knew it would be tested on the long leg from 7 to 8. But here too, I saw all the features I expected to see and, after picking my way gingerly through the rocks near the end of the leg, the control appeared on cue.

I failed to notice the track option from 8 to 9 but I don't think it would have been much quicker. I did use small parts of the track on the next two legs.

I was halfway to number 11 when, for the first time in the race, I saw a control that wasn't mine. This would also be the last time in the race I saw a control that wasn't mine. I can't remember that ever happening before in an orienteering race - usually you see heaps of controls, especially in events with thousands of people and 50 odd courses.

I continued to nail my navigation but get passed by every orienteer in the forest. Eventually I found myself at control 15, at the foot of the aforementioned huge pile of snow. From here the planner has decided we should run up a steep hill to the last control and then down the other side just as steeply but with loose gravel added into the mix. Linda was on hand to get a couple of photos of me running into the finish.

I didn't finish last in my grade but I did manage second to last. In this respect, I let the team down - both Scott and Sarah managed to get the wooden spoon in their grades. Of course, as is traditional when in this situation, I need to point out that a number of people either mispunched or failed to finish so by finishing, we actually finished ahead of them.

After I had cleaned up and eaten my lunch we spent a good amount of time in the O-Shop looking to update my wardrobe, with mixed success.

Then it was back to the cottage, a nice hot cup of tea and a nice warm shower. A restful afternoon followed before we walked back up to the Kiwi supermarket (only realising it was raining as we stepped outside) and topped up our grocery supplies. Linda cooked a delicious salmon for dinner accompanied by not one, but two salads.

Tomorrow will be mostly a repeat of today but with probably even fewer photos.