Getting ready for the loppet

The City of Lakes loppet is this Sunday and so final preparations are underway. I have been reading the waxing recommendations for the last few days and starting today will look to ease off training. Give the body a few days to get really rested. At this point any new training would have no impact on outcome anyway so you would be unnecessarily tiring yourself.

I skied yesterday on the lovely new snow that fell throughout the day. The temperatures were perfect and the new snow was soft fluff. It didn't have a super fast glide to it but it was so wonderfully soft and cushioning it was pure joy to ski on.

So far my body feels pretty good. I am still having pain in my right shoulder from my rollerski tumble this summer but it doesn't bother me too much skiing and isn't getting worse from it. It has been several months since I've competed in an event and the pre-event gitters are starting to settle in. I am enjoying the excitement of an upcoming event meanwhile lamenting the pain and suffering to come.

What a joy it has been to be a part of a team this year with a coach and everything. The kick off year for the squad has been going really really well. It will be so satisfying to see my teammates at the finish line on sunday. I will post pictures after.

The coach we hired brought a video camera out to, practice a couple weeks ago to film our skiing to look at and talk about form and technique. Here is yours truly doing a bit of skiing.

merry Christmas

Today has been one of reflection as it usually is for me. I am reminded of the countless wonders I have to be thankful for. The love and care of my family and friends. To live in reletive plenty and health. So easily taken for granted and so easily taken.

To everyone my wishes of peace and comfort.

Merry Christmas

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Snow making at Wirth park

I went out to see how the snow making was going at wirth today. Here are a few shots. Looks like they have a ways to go yet but hopfully we'll be skiing soon.

Here is a quick bit of video I shot a couple weeks ago of some rollerskiing.

It a couple of my friends doing a quick sprint.

In other news... there isn't much:) Still just waiting fir snow. Dry land training is getting old. Enough with the methadone lets get some of the good stuff going here! Some of the regional parks will start making snow this week. It is possible I could be skiing man made snow by mid next week. I am keeping my fingers crossed for that. Hopefully I'll have some skiing pictures for you soon.

Weight lifting and running has me consistently really really sore. I am just not a good runner that's for sure. It makes my legs sore as hell. It's my first season of running I suppose like all of this stuff your body needs time to get used to a new stimulus. I figure spending park of my training year doing a bit of running is probably not a bad idea from a big picture point of view.

Getting better

Today I ran for a short period at eh gym and the calf felt really good... pheew. So it looks like this injury is going to clear up relatively soon. I did all my strength stuff today and all went well.

I think I'll be ok for rollerskiing and and hill bounding work this weekend. Wooohooo!!! Not being able to get you was driving me batty. No too much else to report. Just waiting for snow.... tick... tock....

The ski coach that was hired for the ski team will be meeting with us for the first time on sunday so it will be interesting to see what he has in mind. I am sure he'll be a hugh help.

Can't wait to get back out on the skis and running in the woods!

oops

Well I've gone and done it. I tried to get two workouts in yesterday and managed to pull the dickens put of my right calf. I can barely walk on it. Kind of frustrating I was really starting to see some progress now I'm laid up for a few days at least. Aaarrrggggg!

I went out early in the day and did a couple hours worth of rollerskiing. Then in the evening went to hill bounding/ running and whammo. I could feel a serious POP in my rights calf.

I guess I'm not ready for a two-a-day work out schedual just yet.

So it't vitamin I for me today. Oh well. This too shall pass.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Rollerskiing breakthrough

I've been trying to get on my roller skis whenever conditions permit. So far this fall I have really been struggling. Roller skis are a wobbly affair. They are very unstable feeling and hard to stop on. I have had two crashes on them one of which was 6 weeks ago and my shoulder is still sore and do not yet have full range of motion back yet.

Yesterday was a real breakthrough however. For a few moment it actually felt a great deal like skiing! wow! As I have discussed in the past at times training is some bitter medicine you have to take. Yesterday it was standing at the summit. Days like yesterday are why you go take your medicine.

Just for reference I'll include a you tube video of some rollerskiing done properly for those that may be unfamiliar. this is a video of a local skiing celebrity. Her name is Caitlin Compton and she lives and trains here in Minneapolis for the Vancouver Olympics. I see here out training from time to time and it is so great to see. Her skiing has a flow and ease to it that is like magic. It is truly inspiring. What I wouldn't give to be so gifted.

I am hoping to get out today if the leaves dry a bit this afternoon. They get pretty slick.

See you on the trails.