The Season Begins!!!

Pete Checking my range of motion in my injured hamstring. Thanks to Pete it is fully functional again :)

The past two weeks were a whirl-wind of travel and training. Once Brian and I finished up in Minneapolis we flew to Chicago for a weekend Super-Fit Clinic hosted by four of the CXC Team athletes. Once the clinic was over Brian and I boarded a plane for Seattle. Once in Seattle we picked up Chad's (Brian's twin brother) car and drove to the Methow. After one night in the yurt we were back to training and preparing for our upcoming season.

Pete working on my "always" tight hip flexors!

This fall I have been working with Pete Dickinson from Winthrop Physical Therapy. He has been an amazing asset to my training and recovery. Pete is not only a great Physical Therapist, he is also an avid Nordic skier himself. It is common for me to have Pete show up to some of my intensity and speed sessions at the track so he can get in a workout himself. The benefit of having a PT on hand while you are being coached on new technique yields incredible results. I can remember Scott telling me to open my hips more during speed repeats and I was trying as hard as I could to change my body position. Pete called me over and started working on my hip flexors and sent me back to the workout. Incredibly I was able to nail the technique and drop my times significantly!

Pete and his wife Janice own and operate Winthrop Fitness as well, they allow me to workout in the facility whenever I need to. Their generosity is so fantastic and I look forward to racing fast this season so I can send them a few more World Cup/ World Championship bibs for their wall!

Me and my great equipment provided by my current sponsors! Thanks to all of them for keeping me skiing fast!

After leaving Winthrop I felt ready the next stage of my season. Race Time!!! I am currently in West Yellowstone, MT preparing for the next couple of days of race prepping before my season kicks of this Friday the 23rd of November with a Skate Sprint. I am really excited to get the season started and to have Scott join me in another day. It's been fun to get on snow and hang out with my CXC teammates but I really miss having Scott around at my workouts. Brian and I both keep in touch with Scott multiple times a day which helps Scott know how we are acclimating and adjusting to snow skiing at altitude!!!

Skiing in snowy Montana and Loving it!

Back home in MN!

27 October 2012

Brian and I are back in Minnesota!!! We are holding a Ski Clinic and Super Fit event at Finn Sisu! Stop by and say hello if you get a chance. We have spent the past couple of months training in Washington State, and while it is beautiful there and totally inspiring, nothing beats coming home! The Midwest has been my home for the past 13 years, 8 of them here in Minneapolis!!! Whenever I am in the area my favorite things to do are 1) Visit Ahvo 2) Ski with the Vakava Crew 3) Ski Intervals in Edina 4) Train with Piotr and his numerous workout groups (always guaranteed to be painful but fun!) 5) Ski with the local juniors! Especially the Loppet Nordic Crew!!!

This Saturday I had the opportunity to check a number of my favorites off the list. A few brave Loppet Juniors and Tom Carlson came out in below freezing temps to rollerski the infamous River Road Hill in Afton, MN. The hill is a good 40 minutes away from my house but the drive is always beautiful and the hill never disappoints. This time Beth Cork came out and drove the van down for us so that our recovery was short and safe :) Thanks Beth!!!

The Crew before the workout began

 Giving a few pointers on V1 Technique before we start. We also went over the fun van loading and unloading drills that are necessary for the workout to be smooth and efficient! We "Nailed It."

Ready to begin!

The Workout was 6 X 4mins of uphill skate skiing with 4mins of recovery between. Most of the crew did either 4 or 5 because they are not as old as I am ;)
This workout is not one that Scott has had us do this year but it is a workout I have been doing for years and therefore have times, heart rates and lactates for. I always believe in progression and checking in with where you are at. I am happy to report that I skiing well and feeling strong. My times were great and my hear rates were the lowest I have seen on the hill. It is fun to see this kind of progress when training my training is so different from years past.

Ready to start another!

The "Fun" van ride to the bottom. Ingrid said she skis up the hill just so she can riide do in the van each time! Love it!!!