http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYyrMv0X3N4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwLdggTPMKg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-74SVdmfI6U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6Xi2fXd02I
I've been putting in my time on the ski trails. This stuff is hard work. I have to admit that I don't really enjoy skiing the way I enjoy running, biking or swimming.
First off, your hands are all tucked away in your mittens which are velcro'ed into your ski poles. So there's no talking on the phone or txt messaging. Even getting a drink is a major hassle of unclipping and retrieving... it all work.
Above is me with a couple Laura and I met on the trails at Baker Park. They are both 72 years old and have ski'ed the Birkebeiner at least 10 times. They've run more than 50 marathons. Most notably, they weren't whining about having to the unnatural things like skiing up hills. Good sturdy Norwegians.
This is how I spend a lot of time out there. I still fall. A lot. Four times in an hour. I am working my butt off out there. Inside of 15 minutes, I am DRENCHED in sweat, and my heart rate hits 171 (my max) every hill. My coach John doesn't let me rest until I get to the top of each one, and then I get an "active recovery" where I have to continue to V1 while my heart rate drops. All I can think of is I wish I could just stop and rest.
This is me with Laura. She's enjoying it more than I am. On this day our goal was to put in two solid hours. The first hour was so hard and boring that we stopped at her car and got her camera and just made videos of ourselves for the second hour. I will hopefully have it up on youtube for viewing on Tuesday.
Afterward we are still smiling. We skied 10.43 miles and did a time trial for a 5k loop, where our pace was 9:04 minutes per mile. We are estimating that we will take about 5 hours to finish (31.7 miles) on race day.Today I ran long and slow - my favorite kind of run. We had to run through some snowdrifts on the sidewalks, but it was still beautiful. About 15 degrees and sunny. Not a single whining word was uttered. Ahhhhh... back to my old self... at least until tomorrow's long ski at 2:30 p.m... one more month until race day and I can be done with skiing!
16 comments:
You brought back so many good memories with this post. My grandparents used to live in Hayward, WI so we went up there every year. When I was 8, my parents bought a time share condo at Telemark Resort. We went up there every winter and summer for many years. I remember looking at the Birkebeiner race photos on the wall in the lodge and being amazed by those people. I was scared of downhill skiing so I had my sister take me cross country skiing instead. I secretly wanted to be like the people in the photos.
I hope you have a great race next month. Think of me when you get to Telemark!
That is some hard training. I think I would rather run that much then try to ski it.
Looks like you were having fun. Good luck on your race.
I have only tried x-country once, but know I would love it! I can't imagine going that long on a ski path-how lucky you are, really.
Love the Sushi hat- I saw that somewhere and wanted one!
Keep up the good work!
jenny - that looks so hard, what a crazy hard workout! i can't downhill ski very well, i can only imagine what it would be like to have to go UP. i can't wait to hear all about the race. it will be quite an accomplishment.
X-country is something I've always wanted to do. Texas doesn't give many (as in zero) opportunities to learn. I'm impressed how you keep up with your aerobic training in the non-tri-race season.
Stay tuned...
The best of part of new sports is meeting interesting new people...sounds like a lot of fun!
You ski a LOT better than I do.. but I can't vouch for your method of electrolyte replacement. :)
i thought you were supposed to ride the lift up the hill???? ;)
Great Youtubes!!
I could never get fond of xc skiing, even when I lived in NH. Give me a day on the slopes instead, any time!!
great you tubes! i'm jealous of the beautiful western u.s. landscape available for that type of sport.
keep up the good work! and HAVE FUN!!
okay never mind the western comment! for a moment i thought you were in utah! i really haven't forgotten u.s geography, just where you fit into it is all!!
i was JUST this weekend, braggin' about you to one of my peeps.
i'm followin' your lead for next year... me and x-ctry in the off-season...
you are brilliant!
That looks fun. This season I definitely have to go to try some x-country. I will bring my camel pack though. Not gonna follow your way of replenishing electrolyte :)
Um, what's a snow drift?
Okay so I got like a few hours of snow and hunkered inside like an angry beaver. My blood must be too thin for the cold now.
Nice butt shot...
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