After training camps in Australia and Portugal, IAAF Diamond League Ambassador Tero Pitkamaki fine tunes preparation for Oslo clash with Thorkildsen...

“My preparation for 2010 season has been different compared to all previous years. Sure the basic training is still the same – just some new details every year.

“But the very bad ear infection and high fever in Berlin World Championships just at the dates of my event caused some problems to my training later on in October, November and even in December. It took a long time to see all blood parameters to be back to normal. Of course I was training all autumn but I felt a bit tired.

“As soon as we turned to 2010 I started to feel very good and all physical tests results showed me that my feeling was correct. So…

“We had planned to find out some new experiences for winter time. Earlier we had been in South Africa for training camp in January. This year we decided to go to Australia in February. And for the very first time in my career I decided to compete at the end of my winter training camp.

“Australia offered us a very good possibility and facilities for this new schedule. The Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra was a very very good place for my training. All facilities super good and weather – 50 centigrade warmer, or should I say hotter than in Finland at the same time. And no rain problems!

“Teemu Wirkkala and Antti Ruuskanen gave me a very good training company and my coach Hannu Kangas has organised everything really well. Sure it was nice to have also my girlfriend there training with us for three weeks.

“The time in Australia didn’t start too well because I twisted my ankle a little bit in the beginning of the camp. First I felt bad but luckily nothing serious happened and I was able to do almost all training like planned.

“The only ‘deduction’ was that I had to wait some time to be healthy enough to throw with full run up. Maurie Plant had arranged everything for the meets in Sydney on 27 February and Melbourne on 4 March. And I was happy to win both competitions although I had only one full run up throwing session before the meets.

“Jarrod Bannister gave me some nice sightseeing around his beautiful home city Melbourne – many thanks for that!

“Now I’ve just started my three week training camp in Portugal. Main thing is to move from indoors throwing to outdoors and to find technically good performances.

“Sure I’m very much looking forward to the new Diamond League and of course the European Championships are important for me as well. All Golden League meets were sure very good ones but now it is nice to have also some new cities to compete in the Diamond League.

“I always like to compete against Andreas Thorkildsen and our whole career score in 49 competitions against each other is close to even. This year we’ll meet for the first time in Florö Norway on 29 May and then first Diamond League meet in Oslo on 4 June. See you there!

“All the best,

Tero