Armin van Buuren Intense Tour Finland, Helsinki

Ladies and gentlemen let me present you with Intense Tour: DJ Armiiiiiin van Buuuuuuuuuren!

 

So how does music concert has to do anything with sports you may ask? I'll give a hint: "jump, jump, jump" - for 5 hours. That ought to burn some calories. Add on top of that a visually spectacular, breath taking play from one of the best DJ's in the world and you have pretty much a amazing time at your hands.

I'm not going to write for long this time around. I'll let photo's speak for themself. 

How did I end up at Armin Van Buurens concert? Well, I received free tickets to the show and I'm not one to miss a good opportunity to have great time, listening to good music. While I knew Armin is a world famous DJ and I knew some of his tracks, I didn't expect him to be that good of a DJ. I honestly thought, that he would play couple of hours at max, but instead he played for nearly 5 hours straight. What makes it even better, he even brought various artists he has done work with with him.

Also the shows visual effects were just breath taking. The show lasted for 5 hours, but it felt like watching a good movie, with the stage capturing your eyes all the time and music pleasing your eyes the whole time.

At start of the show, Armin van Buuren hiding

At the Start, there was an egg/pearl/ball that kept captivating the minds of people.

Giant Armin staring at the singer lady.

Are you in state of trance?

Simply mind blowing. I kept staring at the stage of visual effects, while trying to jump/ dance (well finnish men don't dance - they shake) and listen to music. Man this Buuren guy knows what he's doing!

Armin van Buuren

Armin van Buuren

Armin van Buuren

and if people  started to get too drunk, it was clearly told whos concert they were listening to;)

Armin van Buuren

Some people were not that intrested on listening to music, but had their eyes on this mountain of treasures people kept throwing away. The creativity of people trying to snatch those goodies kept entertaining me the whole concert, while the security guards had their hands full the whole time trying to guard those, haha.

Treasure inside a cage

Are you ready to go even deeper?

How to make tired people jump even more when the clock is past midnight? Simple. Take out the Finnish flag and show to the audience you know where we are at. I will tell you no lies, nearly everyone got excited and started to jump and throw their hands in the air. He would have probably got people jumping on their heads, if he mentioned Finland had won Bronze medal on Olympics mens ice hockey earlier...

Armin van Buuren holding the Finnish flag

Whatever you do, do it with intense

The time seemed to be this trance audiences worst enemy and clock kept going without stopping to think of the people having fun. For many hours people had a great time listening to music played by world best DJ, watching the visual sight they call the stage and other various artists kept us entertained the whole play.

There were maybe some problems with holding a big mass concert like this at exhibition center, but I didn't notice anything to mention for. I had time of my life and all I can say: DJ saved my life tonight. Save the night for others Armin, you're the light between us!

Armin van Buuren, close to a surprise!

Armin van Buuren releases his secret: lots of airballoons from the sky

You can find more information about Intense Tour and Armin van Buuren from his official website:
http://www.arminvanbuuren.com/news/2013/10/armin-announces-armin-only-intense-world-tour/

Thank you Armin, was a wonderful play. I'm not sure why I hadn't purchased tickets earlier to your concert, but next time you come to Finland I will!

Armin van Buurens whole artist crew, dancers/ acrobatics/singers/ guitar/ drum players

Where you at the concert? Have you ever been at Armins concerts? Comment below or subsribe!

<3 Armin van Buuren <3

SnowRunFest 2014

Fun, Entertaining, SnowRunFest. - Short description of the hottest, different, running event of the winter. 

(my most sincere apology for the long and detailed posting in advance)

When I heard about the original "mudrun 2013" running event, I knew that was going to be entertaining and I just had to participate on it. Unfortunately the time and location didn't fit into my timeschedule and the best I could do was to watch the event from pictures posted on the event site.

Luckily enough, the organisation who made the mudrun 2013, came up with an idea to make a tour of "different kind of running events" - colour run, mudrun and the latest I participated on, the SnowRunFest. The location and time fit me perfectly so there was no hesitation to hook up and participate on the most intresting winter event -ever?

First SnowRunFest running event February 8th, 2014

The hype for this was big. The marketing team of the funrun.fi organisation made sure people got hyped of the event before it even happened. I was rather sceptical at start, how this could be the best event ever, with bad weather and not that much snow on the ground... Luckily I was proven wrong by the event. It was simply awesome.

The event was held in Hietsu (it's a famous beach), in Helsinki. Getting to the location was easy, since there was tons of participants and following people with the event hat/ running shoes on was made easy. My mapping skill is kind of bad, so I just joined the line of runners and followed them to the event place.

Closing in on the event place

Closing in on the event place, you could hear the music already being played by maybe the best DJ's in the world (:D) DJ's were part of radio station energy Finland (NRJ) staff. My initial first thought was "hey, the party is on!" There was this large event stage, which we saw from miles away. Nice!

Party stage was visible from miles away

Group 5

Me and my friend (later known as bunny) had signed up for running group 5, so we had time to check around the event area. There was lots of intresting sights to see, mainly the awesome carneval costumes the other runners were having on. The whole event got this really awesome feeling to it, with everyone putting effort into what they wear. I didn't dress up that nicely, just had a penguin hat on as my helm. If I knew there were this many "cosplayers", I would have purchased some digimon suit or autobot suit to wear. There was also people from Finnish fitness gym called Fressi warming people up all the time, while music was playing on the stage.

Fressi warming people up, while DJ from NRJ playing music

 Time to run!

There were a total of eight different obstacles. The lenght of the running course was 2,5 kilometers, which would be run twice. So in total of 5 kilometer, with obstacles passed twice. If you couldn't pass some obstacle, you could pass it by going around it. Which was nice.

I'll shortly describe the obstacles: there was snowhills, sumo wrestlers (which on the first lap was rather disapointing, with the mass start they were quickly passed. Though it was rather hilarious that some runners started to scream. So surprised they were of them!), then there was big slide, which you had to climb on top of with ropes (I kinda injured myself on the first slide haha), then there was sea of coloured balls which was fun. More climbing obstacles and stuff.  Oh and then there was a tunnel which you had to crawl from under. Fun!

One of the obstacles, this giant slide which looked like a lion from far away, but turned in to a lamb when we go closer.

While it doesn't seem that long of a lenght to run, it really gave a nice sweat. I liked the course. I would have probably enjoyed it more, but my bunny decided that it was going too slow and we moved our pace quite a lot. Young people have too much energy, hard to keep up with them!

Entering the finishing line

Unfortunately like everything fun, there has to be an end somewhere and our run was finishing it's two laps. Me and my bunny entered the finishing line and the medals for participating was given to us. Yay, this years first medals!

Me and my Bunny after finishing the run

SnowRunFest 2014 medal

If I had to give feedback about SnowRunFest, I'd say it was one of the best running events I have had the luxury to join (well, participate at). The course was lighted up in disco theme, which gave it's own touch. Music was loud enough, so the runners would hear it, obstacles were hard enough and people gave their own touch by having most awesome costumes ever!

Awesome costumes. Teletabbies "Let's hug, again again!"

TLDR (too long didn't read): It was awesome!

Now time to go party some, while the DJ's still playing music. After that it's time to go change clothes and start moving towards Tiger nightclub, where the afterparties were supposed to happen!

Dessert & Snowrunfest

Originally I was planning to make a post about Snowrunfest, but I then I found out about this yummy dessert, which I wanted to try to make. Eventually I didn't know which one I should post about, so here it is. A mans choice! Pick one - no, no! Let's take both of them: Here it is a snowrunfest filled dessert post with no added sugar!

 

Let's start off with the food, since I love making food (read: eating...):

I was hungry, so I decided to make pasta and chicken. Normally I would avoid pasta, unless I know I will be doing lot of exercises, which needs fuel, like marathons etc.

I spiced the chicken by using mexican vegteables once they were almost ready. They are provided in a bag that can be found from stores selling Pirkka-labeled products. I also put some corn-pea-pepperbells in there. I put some chili sauce in there also. Overall the taste was super good. The white stuff is cheese...thingy, no idea of the english name. Sorry!

Chicken pasta ala Janne

Chicken pasta ala Janne

Then like the title already revealed, I made some dessert fit for amateur athlete's like me, who are on a candy/chocolate strike.

These banana-creppes are easy to make and only need few eggs & bananas to make. They taste delicious just the way they are - but you can spice them up with your own choice of fruits/sauce/anything goes (even chocolate proteinshake etc. ). Below is a picture of what I had to choose from:

I had lots of ingredients to choose from - maybe a bit too much ;)?

Suggestions what you can use to top your dessert!

Only needed ingredients for making banana-creppes
Use 1:1 rate for banana/egg

Them bananas and eggs in harmony.
Use blender or mixer to make them into a nice "foam"

In any case, turning these banana-creppes turned out to be slightly difficult. I tried to make them in a big frying pan, but if you have those pans with small holes for creppes - use that. Also you need patience, first few be annoying to flip over, but you get used to it. Also remember the pan needs to be hot!

Making of, happy banana creppe!

Easier if you put them into smaller servings, to flip over, that is.

The creppes turned out OK! in end and I put some fruits on the plate, cashew nuts and poured some coconut flakes on top of the fruits. Really, really, REALLY! delicious. Yum.

Finishing product! Banana creppes surrounded with the love of other fruits, with finishing touch of coconut flakes on top

Finishing product! Banana creppes surrounded with the love of other fruits, with finishing touch of coconut flakes on top

Be warned though, as the main ingredient comes from bananas and eggs, you will be super filled. It's super delicious, so avoid making your stomach explode from the yummies! and no sugar involved, except fruits own sugar!

Last but not least, the second main subject for this blog post: Snowrunfest

So what is snowrunfest?

It's a fun running event with lots of obstacles to pass before you make it to the finishing line. Taken from the organizers website: there are sumo wrestlers, airfilled obstacles, climbing ropes and much more. The whole course is filled with neon lights and there is DJ playing music for people participating (or cheering for the people running).

In total it seems to be super fun event and like the crazy person I am, I'm definetely participating. I also have friend joining, so it is going to be double the fun!

Oh and I should mention it's run outside, in freezing cold and hopefuly there is tons of snow involved. Yes, we finns are crazy!

Map of the obstacle course, provided by snowrunfest organization

The run will happen on 8th of Feb., with after the run there is going to be a nightclub afterparty, which will probably delay the after posting with pictures to the next days... I of course will not drink alcohol, no sir, no no!

You can find more about Snowrunfest here:

http://www.snowrunfest.com/

If you want to participate, you can do so by applying here before 4th of Feb. (the prices can be found there).

http://www.snowrunfest.com/ilmoittaudu

How did you like the foods/ the blogs new look? Are you going to participate on the Snowrunfest?!

Comment below and subsribe to get the latest blog news from achieving dreams...

Ps. you can read the finnish version by choosing the "finnish blog posts" tab at the start of page.

Pps. here is a song called whole again by atomic kitten... I felt so whole after eating so much good stuff and I'm supposed to go have 10km run still...