FasterSkier

Category: XCFeeds

A collection of live feeds from cross-country ski blogs around the web.

  • Ricochet Dogs


    Recently, my good friend and former elite-level Ironman competitor Pete Tabor opened up a roadside brats ‘n franks stand in downtown Winthrop. Seeing it in action, it’s amazing to me that no one has pursued such a venture before. Sure, Winthrop has a handful of good, quick-food options: East 20 Pizza, Dos Gallos Taco Stand, the Rocking Horse Bakery… but what really beats a good handmade bratwurst? Pete gets his bratwurst and frankfurters specially-made from Twisp meatmonger Chris Thomson, who for years has been keeping the valley happy with his various protein offerings. In addition to the headline items, Pete is also slinging veggie dogs and some pretty tasty “Lil’ Rickies” – Hebrew National hotdogs. That, plus a slew of ice cream bars, sodas, and chips oughta keep folks going for a good stroll on the boardwalk.

    And, if you haven’t already guessed it, Ricochet Dogs is a proud MOD sponsor, so I am now assured of getting my essential amino acids and protein sources after every workout. I also help Pete out one day a week on Tuesdays from 11-3pm, so come on down and sample the best! The cart is located out in front of Methow Cycle and Sport, at the northern entrance to Winthrop on Highway 20. Pete has the cart open Tuesday – Saturday from 11-3pm, and on Sundays at the Winthrop Farmer’s Market.

  • Elevation OD

    Being closely situated to Washington Pass offers a great opportunity to log some serious vertical during the course of an overdistance workout. While the early spring and summer months were filled with running and biking, I have slowly begun to work in rollerskiing as a training modality. The North Cascades highway offers the best pavement in the Valley for rollerskiing (though the specter of chip-sealing looms in the future) and the Pass itself offers a wealth of additional training opportunities. A few years ago we latched onto the idea of rollerskiing or biking the 13 mile, ~3000ft ascent to the Pass then taking a run or climb on the top to finish things off.

    With the late winter we had there is still an abundance of snow in the higher elevations. For last Thursday Scott and I planned a rollerski up to the Pass, then a bootpack ascent up Spire Gully (~1500ft) to the base of South Early Winters Spire, where we would climb a popular multi-pitch route to the summit. The descent would be on skis to complete the day and fry the remainder of the leg muscles.

    I started at the bottom of the highway around 7am and enjoyed almost no traffic for an hour and a half of the ski. At around 8:30am, when I had only a few miles left of the effort, the cars and RVs started rolling and I was soon on alert for oblivious, aging motorhome drivers who were sure to be more focused on breaking their fast with a nice can of Ensure rather than looking for brightly-colored “stick-wielding hippies” near the fog lines.


    I met Scott, who had driven up to the hairpin with our skiing and climbing gear, and had a quick bite before donning warmer clothes (the clouds were gathering ominously) and ski boots for the trudge upward. A tremendous amount of avalanche debris in the form of haphazardly-strewn chunks of rotten snow made the first 500ft a bit tricky to navigate but we soon found a rhythm kicking in steps up the softening corn to the upper couloir. We stopped just shy of the top to dump our skis and put on more clothes; the wind and cold can be pretty nasty once you get through the upper cleft. We were starting to question our ability to make the climb; it had begun to snow on us by halfway up and we were concerned the route would be too wet to handle an ascent. But we decided to hike over and take a look.


    Unfortunately our fears were confirmed and we decided not to do the climb. The ski down was decent; the corn had softened enough to hold some good turns, and we called it a morning with 4 hours and ~5000ft to the workout. Another one in the books; we’ve already made plans to get ourselves back up there in finer weather to jockey ourselves up the rock when it dries out some.

  • Elevation OD

    Being closely situated to Washington Pass offers a great opportunity to log some serious vertical during the course of an overdistance workout. While the early spring and summer months were filled with running and biking, I have slowly begun to work in rollerskiing as a training modality. The North Cascades highway offers the best pavement in the Valley for rollerskiing (though the specter of chip-sealing looms in the future) and the Pass itself offers a wealth of additional training opportunities. A few years ago we latched onto the idea of rollerskiing or biking the 13 mile, ~3000ft ascent to the Pass then taking a run or climb on the top to finish things off.

    With the late winter we had there is still an abundance of snow in the higher elevations. For last Thursday Scott and I planned a rollerski up to the Pass, then a bootpack ascent up Spire Gully (~1500ft) to the base of South Early Winters Spire, where we would climb a popular multi-pitch route to the summit. The descent would be on skis to complete the day and fry the remainder of the leg muscles.

    I started at the bottom of the highway around 7am and enjoyed almost no traffic for an hour and a half of the ski. At around 8:30am, when I had only a few miles left of the effort, the cars and RVs started rolling and I was soon on alert for oblivious, aging motorhome drivers who were sure to be more focused on breaking their fast with a nice can of Ensure rather than looking for brightly-colored “stick-wielding hippies” near the fog lines.


    I met Scott, who had driven up to the hairpin with our skiing and climbing gear, and had a quick bite before donning warmer clothes (the clouds were gathering ominously) and ski boots for the trudge upward. A tremendous amount of avalanche debris in the form of haphazardly-strewn chunks of rotten snow made the first 500ft a bit tricky to navigate but we soon found a rhythm kicking in steps up the softening corn to the upper couloir. We stopped just shy of the top to dump our skis and put on more clothes; the wind and cold can be pretty nasty once you get through the upper cleft. We were starting to question our ability to make the climb; it had begun to snow on us by halfway up and we were concerned the route would be too wet to handle an ascent. But we decided to hike over and take a look.


    Unfortunately our fears were confirmed and we decided not to do the climb. The ski down was decent; the corn had softened enough to hold some good turns, and we called it a morning with 4 hours and ~5000ft to the workout. Another one in the books; we’ve already made plans to get ourselves back up there in finer weather to jockey ourselves up the rock when it dries out some.

  • Elevation OD

    Being closely situated to Washington Pass offers a great opportunity to log some serious vertical during the course of an overdistance workout. While the early spring and summer months were filled with running and biking, I have slowly begun to work in rollerskiing as a training modality. The North Cascades highway offers the best pavement in the Valley for rollerskiing (though the specter of chip-sealing looms in the future) and the Pass itself offers a wealth of additional training opportunities. A few years ago we latched onto the idea of rollerskiing or biking the 13 mile, ~3000ft ascent to the Pass then taking a run or climb on the top to finish things off.

    With the late winter we had there is still an abundance of snow in the higher elevations. For last Thursday Scott and I planned a rollerski up to the Pass, then a bootpack ascent up Spire Gully (~1500ft) to the base of South Early Winters Spire, where we would climb a popular multi-pitch route to the summit. The descent would be on skis to complete the day and fry the remainder of the leg muscles.

    I started at the bottom of the highway around 7am and enjoyed almost no traffic for an hour and a half of the ski. At around 8:30am, when I had only a few miles left of the effort, the cars and RVs started rolling and I was soon on alert for oblivious, aging motorhome drivers who were sure to be more focused on breaking their fast with a nice can of Ensure rather than looking for brightly-colored “stick-wielding hippies” near the fog lines.


    I met Scott, who had driven up to the hairpin with our skiing and climbing gear, and had a quick bite before donning warmer clothes (the clouds were gathering ominously) and ski boots for the trudge upward. A tremendous amount of avalanche debris in the form of haphazardly-strewn chunks of rotten snow made the first 500ft a bit tricky to navigate but we soon found a rhythm kicking in steps up the softening corn to the upper couloir. We stopped just shy of the top to dump our skis and put on more clothes; the wind and cold can be pretty nasty once you get through the upper cleft. We were starting to question our ability to make the climb; it had begun to snow on us by halfway up and we were concerned the route would be too wet to handle an ascent. But we decided to hike over and take a look.


    Unfortunately our fears were confirmed and we decided not to do the climb. The ski down was decent; the corn had softened enough to hold some good turns, and we called it a morning with 4 hours and ~5000ft to the workout. Another one in the books; we’ve already made plans to get ourselves back up there in finer weather to jockey ourselves up the rock when it dries out some.

  • On the Eve of the Big Day!

    Happy Holidays Everyone!

    I hope that everyone is reading this post in hind sight after having a fabulous July 4th holiday weekend!

    Well…. this is it, the Eve of the “Big Day.”  The “Big Day” meaning, July 4th, or better yet, known in Alaska as “Mt. Marathon Day.”  Every year up to 40,000 people converge on the small town of Seward, Alaska to partake in Independence Day activities, the center spectacle being a foot race, Mt. Marathon.  This year will be the 84th running of the race and organizers claim it to be the second oldest foot race in the nation behind the Boston Marathon.

    The top 1/2 of Mt. Marathon

    For those of you living outside of Alaska and not familiar with the race, this event is CRAZY.  For some reason, this race, beyond all others transcends fans interested in sports, or running for that matter.  Maybe it’s because of the Seward party atmosphere or maybe it’s because you have to race down cliffs and waterfalls but this race is notorious and in my mind, represents Alaska and it’s rugged ideals to a “T.”

    This guy, Fred Moore, has completed the race 40 times to hold the all-time record.  Here he is with the jacket and patches to prove it!

    The race begins on Main Street in downtown Seward and runs approximately four minutes to the base of the “Mountain.”  Once there, the climb starts with a class five-esque scramble up some tree roots before settling into a consistent, steep grade.  Racers climb a total of 3022 feet to the summit before beginning a perilous RUN back down the entire 3,022 feet.  The top women climb up in 38 minutes and descend in less than 12, count them, TWELVE minutes.  People run onto main street for the finishing home stretch covered in blood and mud – usually with huge smiles on their faces.  The icing on the cake is that the night before, the organizing committee holds an auction for entrance into the crazy race and participants have been known to drop close to $2,000 dollars just to run uphill and downhill in the mud!

    Friend and co-worked Eric Strabel is a beast on the downhill.  Check him out here, sliding down a waterfall!

    Beyond the crazy nature of the race, this event has special meaning to me.  I’ve run the race three times now and each time I had a memorable experience to associated with the race.

    2008 was my rookie year and I somehow busted out a second place performance.  I had gotten engaged two days before the race and our “Save the Date” magnet was from the finish line in Seward. This was my first experience at Mt. Marathon and I was hooked.

    Me (Holly) following Cedar with the town of Seward in the background

    Then, in 2009 I had grand ambitions and extra incentive because my entire immediate family was in Seward to watch my race because my WEDDING was the following weekend.  The conditions this year turned out to be extremely hot and I entered the race slightly dehydrated.  I led until 4/5 of the race was complete and then collapsed of extreme dehydration and was taken directly into the Emergency Room that is appropriately placed at the bottom of the “Cliff.”  I know it sounds cliche but laying in the ER was where I had my epiphany that I needed and WANTED to try and make the 2010 Winter Olympics.  After taking nearly two months off to recover from my Mt. Marathon injury, somehow the following winter I landed on the start line in Vancouver.

    Racing downhill, moments before collapse

    In the ER…. 

    Much to the disgruntle of the Seward ER Drs I checked myself out of the ER to cross the finish line before checking myself back in (I promised them!) until my blood work had stabilized. Here I am walking down Main Street with my husband, Rob, long after the majority of the races had finished. 
    Only one week until our wedding! 
    Success! Officially checked out of the ER at 8pm after an 11am race start….. 

    Last year, in 2010, I set a great pace to the top and had a two minute lead over race veteran, Seward hometown hero and six-time Mt. Marathon Champion, Cedar B only to blow it by getting passed on Main Street in front of 10,000 screaming fans.  Our ten second gap was one of the, if not THE closest race in Mt. Marathon history.  Last year’s loss had a particular sting when Cedar announced her retirement and I was bummed about the fact that I wouldn’t be able to race against the Mt. Marathon legend ever again.  Alas, her times will have to do! 🙂

    On the way down, still in the lead… 
    Here I am being passed by Cedar literally 1.5 blocks from the finish line

    That brings me to this year, 2011 and TOMORROW. Every year I have grand intentions of training specifically for this race and specifically HARD for this race. However, each spring and early summer it becomes impossible to train specifically for Mt. Running while maintaining and prioritizing ski racing goals.  So much of my training consists of ski specific stuff such as roller skiing, glacier skiing, and strength training.  Sure, there is a huge amount of carry-over fitness. That’s what’s propelled me to two runner up finishes and the pain tolerance and ability to push myself into the ER.  Alas, ski training is not Mt. running training and I find myself going into this year’s race feeling under prepared.  Do I wish I had done anything differently? No, not really.  Skiing is my main focus and I am preparing to hit five consecutive World Cup weekends in five different countries in November and December.  I need to be in ski shape from the get-go!

    That said, bring on Seward and bring on the race!  See you’ll down there!
    Thanks for reading and thanks for your moral support. Have a great, safe weekend!
    Sincerely,
    Holly 🙂

    If you’re interested……

    The local Seward, Alaska paper posted this article titled, “Is this the year for Brooks?”  This article also has a run down of other female contenders.

    After all this, if you’re interested in watching the race on the “Live Feed” (I don’t promise anything!) check out this link to the local news station, KTUU, Channel 2.

    The Anchorage Daily News always has nice coverage of the race as well… check HERE for info.

  • On the Eve of the Big Day!

    Happy Holidays Everyone!

    I hope that everyone is reading this post in hind sight after having a fabulous July 4th holiday weekend!

    Well…. this is it, the Eve of the “Big Day.”  The “Big Day” meaning, July 4th, or better yet, known in Alaska as “Mt. Marathon Day.”  Every year up to 40,000 people converge on the small town of Seward, Alaska to partake in Independence Day activities, the center spectacle being a foot race, Mt. Marathon.  This year will be the 84th running of the race and organizers claim it to be the second oldest foot race in the nation behind the Boston Marathon.

    The top 1/2 of Mt. Marathon

    For those of you living outside of Alaska and not familiar with the race, this event is CRAZY.  For some reason, this race, beyond all others transcends fans interested in sports, or running for that matter.  Maybe it’s because of the Seward party atmosphere or maybe it’s because you have to race down cliffs and waterfalls but this race is notorious and in my mind, represents Alaska and it’s rugged ideals to a “T.”

    This guy, Fred Moore, has completed the race 40 times to hold the all-time record.  Here he is with the jacket and patches to prove it!

    The race begins on Main Street in downtown Seward and runs approximately four minutes to the base of the “Mountain.”  Once there, the climb starts with a class five-esque scramble up some tree roots before settling into a consistent, steep grade.  Racers climb a total of 3022 feet to the summit before beginning a perilous RUN back down the entire 3,022 feet.  The top women climb up in 38 minutes and descend in less than 12, count them, TWELVE minutes.  People run onto main street for the finishing home stretch covered in blood and mud – usually with huge smiles on their faces.  The icing on the cake is that the night before, the organizing committee holds an auction for entrance into the crazy race and participants have been known to drop close to $2,000 dollars just to run uphill and downhill in the mud!

    Friend and co-worked Eric Strabel is a beast on the downhill.  Check him out here, sliding down a waterfall!

    Beyond the crazy nature of the race, this event has special meaning to me.  I’ve run the race three times now and each time I had a memorable experience to associated with the race.

    2008 was my rookie year and I somehow busted out a second place performance.  I had gotten engaged two days before the race and our “Save the Date” magnet was from the finish line in Seward. This was my first experience at Mt. Marathon and I was hooked.

    Me (Holly) following Cedar with the town of Seward in the background

    Then, in 2009 I had grand ambitions and extra incentive because my entire immediate family was in Seward to watch my race because my WEDDING was the following weekend.  The conditions this year turned out to be extremely hot and I entered the race slightly dehydrated.  I led until 4/5 of the race was complete and then collapsed of extreme dehydration and was taken directly into the Emergency Room that is appropriately placed at the bottom of the “Cliff.”  I know it sounds cliche but laying in the ER was where I had my epiphany that I needed and WANTED to try and make the 2010 Winter Olympics.  After taking nearly two months off to recover from my Mt. Marathon injury, somehow the following winter I landed on the start line in Vancouver.

    Racing downhill, moments before collapse

    In the ER…. 

    Much to the disgruntle of the Seward ER Drs I checked myself out of the ER to cross the finish line before checking myself back in (I promised them!) until my blood work had stabilized. Here I am walking down Main Street with my husband, Rob, long after the majority of the races had finished. 
    Only one week until our wedding! 
    Success! Officially checked out of the ER at 8pm after an 11am race start….. 

    Last year, in 2010, I set a great pace to the top and had a two minute lead over race veteran, Seward hometown hero and six-time Mt. Marathon Champion, Cedar B only to blow it by getting passed on Main Street in front of 10,000 screaming fans.  Our ten second gap was one of the, if not THE closest race in Mt. Marathon history.  Last year’s loss had a particular sting when Cedar announced her retirement and I was bummed about the fact that I wouldn’t be able to race against the Mt. Marathon legend ever again.  Alas, her times will have to do! 🙂

    On the way down, still in the lead… 
    Here I am being passed by Cedar literally 1.5 blocks from the finish line

    That brings me to this year, 2011 and TOMORROW. Every year I have grand intentions of training specifically for this race and specifically HARD for this race. However, each spring and early summer it becomes impossible to train specifically for Mt. Running while maintaining and prioritizing ski racing goals.  So much of my training consists of ski specific stuff such as roller skiing, glacier skiing, and strength training.  Sure, there is a huge amount of carry-over fitness. That’s what’s propelled me to two runner up finishes and the pain tolerance and ability to push myself into the ER.  Alas, ski training is not Mt. running training and I find myself going into this year’s race feeling under prepared.  Do I wish I had done anything differently? No, not really.  Skiing is my main focus and I am preparing to hit five consecutive World Cup weekends in five different countries in November and December.  I need to be in ski shape from the get-go!

    That said, bring on Seward and bring on the race!  See you’ll down there!
    Thanks for reading and thanks for your moral support. Have a great, safe weekend!
    Sincerely,
    Holly 🙂

    If you’re interested……

    The local Seward, Alaska paper posted this article titled, “Is this the year for Brooks?”  This article also has a run down of other female contenders.

    After all this, if you’re interested in watching the race on the “Live Feed” (I don’t promise anything!) check out this link to the local news station, KTUU, Channel 2.

    The Anchorage Daily News always has nice coverage of the race as well… check HERE for info.

  • On the Eve of the Big Day!

    Happy Holidays Everyone!

    I hope that everyone is reading this post in hind sight after having a fabulous July 4th holiday weekend!

    Well…. this is it, the Eve of the “Big Day.”  The “Big Day” meaning, July 4th, or better yet, known in Alaska as “Mt. Marathon Day.”  Every year up to 40,000 people converge on the small town of Seward, Alaska to partake in Independence Day activities, the center spectacle being a foot race, Mt. Marathon.  This year will be the 84th running of the race and organizers claim it to be the second oldest foot race in the nation behind the Boston Marathon.

    The top 1/2 of Mt. Marathon

    For those of you living outside of Alaska and not familiar with the race, this event is CRAZY.  For some reason, this race, beyond all others transcends fans interested in sports, or running for that matter.  Maybe it’s because of the Seward party atmosphere or maybe it’s because you have to race down cliffs and waterfalls but this race is notorious and in my mind, represents Alaska and it’s rugged ideals to a “T.”

    This guy, Fred Moore, has completed the race 40 times to hold the all-time record.  Here he is with the jacket and patches to prove it!

    The race begins on Main Street in downtown Seward and runs approximately four minutes to the base of the “Mountain.”  Once there, the climb starts with a class five-esque scramble up some tree roots before settling into a consistent, steep grade.  Racers climb a total of 3022 feet to the summit before beginning a perilous RUN back down the entire 3,022 feet.  The top women climb up in 38 minutes and descend in less than 12, count them, TWELVE minutes.  People run onto main street for the finishing home stretch covered in blood and mud – usually with huge smiles on their faces.  The icing on the cake is that the night before, the organizing committee holds an auction for entrance into the crazy race and participants have been known to drop close to $2,000 dollars just to run uphill and downhill in the mud!

    Friend and co-worked Eric Strabel is a beast on the downhill.  Check him out here, sliding down a waterfall!

    Beyond the crazy nature of the race, this event has special meaning to me.  I’ve run the race three times now and each time I had a memorable experience to associated with the race.

    2008 was my rookie year and I somehow busted out a second place performance.  I had gotten engaged two days before the race and our “Save the Date” magnet was from the finish line in Seward. This was my first experience at Mt. Marathon and I was hooked.

    Me (Holly) following Cedar with the town of Seward in the background

    Then, in 2009 I had grand ambitions and extra incentive because my entire immediate family was in Seward to watch my race because my WEDDING was the following weekend.  The conditions this year turned out to be extremely hot and I entered the race slightly dehydrated.  I led until 4/5 of the race was complete and then collapsed of extreme dehydration and was taken directly into the Emergency Room that is appropriately placed at the bottom of the “Cliff.”  I know it sounds cliche but laying in the ER was where I had my epiphany that I needed and WANTED to try and make the 2010 Winter Olympics.  After taking nearly two months off to recover from my Mt. Marathon injury, somehow the following winter I landed on the start line in Vancouver.

    Racing downhill, moments before collapse

    In the ER…. 

    Much to the disgruntle of the Seward ER Drs I checked myself out of the ER to cross the finish line before checking myself back in (I promised them!) until my blood work had stabilized. Here I am walking down Main Street with my husband, Rob, long after the majority of the races had finished. 
    Only one week until our wedding! 
    Success! Officially checked out of the ER at 8pm after an 11am race start….. 

    Last year, in 2010, I set a great pace to the top and had a two minute lead over race veteran, Seward hometown hero and six-time Mt. Marathon Champion, Cedar B only to blow it by getting passed on Main Street in front of 10,000 screaming fans.  Our ten second gap was one of the, if not THE closest race in Mt. Marathon history.  Last year’s loss had a particular sting when Cedar announced her retirement and I was bummed about the fact that I wouldn’t be able to race against the Mt. Marathon legend ever again.  Alas, her times will have to do! 🙂

    On the way down, still in the lead… 
    Here I am being passed by Cedar literally 1.5 blocks from the finish line

    That brings me to this year, 2011 and TOMORROW. Every year I have grand intentions of training specifically for this race and specifically HARD for this race. However, each spring and early summer it becomes impossible to train specifically for Mt. Running while maintaining and prioritizing ski racing goals.  So much of my training consists of ski specific stuff such as roller skiing, glacier skiing, and strength training.  Sure, there is a huge amount of carry-over fitness. That’s what’s propelled me to two runner up finishes and the pain tolerance and ability to push myself into the ER.  Alas, ski training is not Mt. running training and I find myself going into this year’s race feeling under prepared.  Do I wish I had done anything differently? No, not really.  Skiing is my main focus and I am preparing to hit five consecutive World Cup weekends in five different countries in November and December.  I need to be in ski shape from the get-go!

    That said, bring on Seward and bring on the race!  See you’ll down there!
    Thanks for reading and thanks for your moral support. Have a great, safe weekend!
    Sincerely,
    Holly 🙂

    If you’re interested……

    The local Seward, Alaska paper posted this article titled, “Is this the year for Brooks?”  This article also has a run down of other female contenders.

    After all this, if you’re interested in watching the race on the “Live Feed” (I don’t promise anything!) check out this link to the local news station, KTUU, Channel 2.

    The Anchorage Daily News always has nice coverage of the race as well… check HERE for info.

  • Session 2 and REG Results

    As I sit here I hear the GMVS crew just back from REG leading a game of kickball under the nicest night of summer we’ve had so far in Waitsfield.  Tomorrow is the famed App Gap Challenge and it looks like we are going to have a solid field of campers, GMVS athletes and alums, along with an exciting group of visitors.

    Session Two Crew with guests!

    Today we started the day with stretching, pancakes, and some video of hill bounding.  The morning workout consisted of agility and hill bounding, followed with an adventure run over to the girl’s start for the App Gap Challenge.  As the network of trails in the Valley made it hard to bushwack — I tried my hardest to get us at least a little turned around on our way to the post-workout-swimming-hole.  Mill Brook was a pleasantly chilling temperature and afforded a nice relief to weary leg muscles.

    The start of the Ski Agility portion of the Team Challenge.  Ski Limbo.

    Team Honest: D Grald, Parker, Nathanael, George, Heidi, and Blaine.

    Challenge two. 1000 on the Ski Erg.

    Meyerson. Eye of the Tiger.

    Rebecca Smith is getting strong.

    Calvin making quick work of the ski hurdle.

    And through the hoop.

    Five year veteran camper, Morgan Holland.

    Ah… the taste of hard work completed.

    What part of skiing on grass with a kickball in your T-Shirt is funny? Josh Harrrington.

    The group.

    Mr. Degen enjoying some classic skiing.

    Sean Delany.

    Olympian Garrott Kuzzy.

    After lunch we rallied up to the north side of Camels Hump for a ski on River and Cochrane Road.  Before departing we watched footage from British Columbia, Norway, and Estonia in an effort to help athletes visualize dynamic technique.  The group of campers are certainly showing improvement — we’ll see how it translates to tomorrow’s camp ending effort.

    I don’t think there will be any campers complaining about downtime after this camp… immediately after returning from the ski we had approximately ten minutes before our yoga session with the ever popular Russell Comstock.  Russell does an amazing job of linking yoga and body awareness to the sport of Cross Country Skiing.

    Matt Trueheart

    Coach Beckwith.

    Nordic Dog – Rafter Beckwith.

    Evening Kickball.

    We also had the pleasure of having our REG athletes rejoin us at campus pre-yoga.  David Sinclair, Hans and Heidi Halvorsen rolled in ready to join the group and show their pride in taking 4 of the 6 skill challenges of the REG Camp.  David Sinclair ’10 and Mary Kate Cirelli PG ’12 were the overall winners from the 2011 REG Camp — look for more news about them soon!  Heidi Halvorsen was the points leader of J2 Girls and had the top result in the Strength Test.  Congratulations to these young athletes who are proving their hard work and skills are paying of regionally and nationally.

    Welcome to VT Murphy!


    Weston, Kuzzy, and Grald taking it all in!

  • Session 2 and REG Results

    As I sit here I hear the GMVS crew just back from REG leading a game of kickball under the nicest night of summer we’ve had so far in Waitsfield.  Tomorrow is the famed App Gap Challenge and it looks like we are going to have a solid field of campers, GMVS athletes and alums, along with an exciting group of visitors.

    Session Two Crew with guests!

    Today we started the day with stretching, pancakes, and some video of hill bounding.  The morning workout consisted of agility and hill bounding, followed with an adventure run over to the girl’s start for the App Gap Challenge.  As the network of trails in the Valley made it hard to bushwack — I tried my hardest to get us at least a little turned around on our way to the post-workout-swimming-hole.  Mill Brook was a pleasantly chilling temperature and afforded a nice relief to weary leg muscles.

    The start of the Ski Agility portion of the Team Challenge.  Ski Limbo.

    Team Honest: D Grald, Parker, Nathanael, George, Heidi, and Blaine.

    Challenge two. 1000 on the Ski Erg.

    Meyerson. Eye of the Tiger.

    Rebecca Smith is getting strong.

    Calvin making quick work of the ski hurdle.

    And through the hoop.

    Five year veteran camper, Morgan Holland.

    Ah… the taste of hard work completed.

    What part of skiing on grass with a kickball in your T-Shirt is funny? Josh Harrrington.

    The group.

    Mr. Degen enjoying some classic skiing.

    Sean Delany.

    Olympian Garrott Kuzzy.

    After lunch we rallied up to the north side of Camels Hump for a ski on River and Cochrane Road.  Before departing we watched footage from British Columbia, Norway, and Estonia in an effort to help athletes visualize dynamic technique.  The group of campers are certainly showing improvement — we’ll see how it translates to tomorrow’s camp ending effort.

    I don’t think there will be any campers complaining about downtime after this camp… immediately after returning from the ski we had approximately ten minutes before our yoga session with the ever popular Russell Comstock.  Russell does an amazing job of linking yoga and body awareness to the sport of Cross Country Skiing.

    Matt Trueheart

    Coach Beckwith.

    Nordic Dog – Rafter Beckwith.

    Evening Kickball.

    We also had the pleasure of having our REG athletes rejoin us at campus pre-yoga.  David Sinclair, Hans and Heidi Halvorsen rolled in ready to join the group and show their pride in taking 4 of the 6 skill challenges of the REG Camp.  David Sinclair ’10 and Mary Kate Cirelli PG ’12 were the overall winners from the 2011 REG Camp — look for more news about them soon!  Heidi Halvorsen was the points leader of J2 Girls and had the top result in the Strength Test.  Congratulations to these young athletes who are proving their hard work and skills are paying of regionally and nationally.

    Welcome to VT Murphy!


    Weston, Kuzzy, and Grald taking it all in!

  • Combi OD

    We had a good group show up at BMD for our workout this morning. Matt kept the younger kids busy working on their balance and agility. Sverre cruised around and watched the older kids mix some drills into their distance workout.

    Click on any picture to enlarge it.

    Issy does the Mambo.


    EG puts on his game face.
    Ellery and Anya.
    “Murph” is back.
    Hamish.



    Mae works on her flying routine.
    After a 2 hour ski, everyone poses for a group shot before the older kids head off for their run, over the dam and down towards Jamaica and back.
    Some of the group took a dip on the way back.




  • Food, Glorious Food

    Such a typical scene.

    It’s mid-June and I’m in Lake Placid, struggling to put one foot in front of the other to finish a long skate workout.  In front of me, two of my biathlon teammates are discussing how to make the perfect stir-fry.  “You start out with a simple mixture of sliced onions and grated ginger in olive oil,” Annelies Cook explains to Corrine Malcolm.  “Then you put that aside while you cut up the vegetables.  It makes a difference how you cut them.”  She proceeds to describe julienning carrot strips, separating broccoli and asparagus stalks from their faster-cooking heads, and the precise order vegetables should be added to the wok for even cooking.  As we round a corner on River Road, the Olympic ski jumps appear in the distance.  It doesn’t look like we have too much further to go, but when you are bonking, even a mile can be too far.  Annelies has moved on to the stir-fry’s sauce.  “You should include something sweet, something salty and something bitter.  For example, maple syrup, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar go well together,” she suggests.  I have long since given up on participating in the discussion- it would require too much energy.  But I can still hear it, even over my rumbling stomach.  Why do our conversations always turn to food at the end of the hardest and longest workouts?  It is mouth-wateringly torturous.

    A day earlier, I had gone biking with Laura Spector.  After an arduous climb up the Whiteface Mountain toll road, we were rolling down the back side off the mountain towards Bloomingdale and Saranac Lake.      As we descended towards Franklin Falls Pond, I asked Laura what she was planning to do that afternoon since we didn’t have training.

    “I’ve got a butternut squash that I need to cook,” she replied.   That, of course, served as a launching off point for the next twenty minutes of food-related discussion.

    “Have you ever heard of Kabocha?” Laura asked me.

    “I don’t think so,” I replied.

    “It’s a small squash that looks like a patty pan or an ornamental gourd.  You wouldn’t think it would be good to eat looking at it, but it has a deep yellow flesh and such a sweet flavor.   You don’t really need to add anything to it.”

    I was curious about this Kabocha squash, so I researched it up when I got back to the training center.  It looked very familiar and I’ve probably had it before.  Kabocha, also known as Japanese pumpkin is a variety of winter squash.  In spite of its name, it didn’t originate in Japan, having been introduced there by Portuguese sailors in the 1500’s.  In fact, Japan actually imports a large amount of Kabocha from the US and New Zealand.

    As you can see, one of the most frequent topics of conversation among the US women’s biathlon community is food.  We like to discuss our favorite cheeses from the farmers market, where to get a hold of fresh rhubarb, and the pros and cons of a gluten free diet for athletes.  Cooking and baking are common hobbies on the national team.   One evening this spring, I caught a whiff of roast bear and rosemary drifting out of the OTC’s kitchenette.  Sara Studebaker and Zach Hall were cooking some meat they had brought back from Alaska and were nice enough to give me a taste.  Our coaches also share an interest in homemade food.  Jonne uses his own special recipe to bake Pulla (a traditional Finnish bread) and lately Pat has been experimenting with different flavors of homebrews.

    After thinking about, talking about, and dreaming about high quality food for over two weeks in Lake Placid, I was psyched to return to Craftsbury and the land of wonderful food.  Eating in the Outdoor Center’s dining hall will never get old.  It’s also exciting to see how the gardens have progressed in the weeks I was away.

    Clare thinning out the carrots in the Center's garden

    Clare thinning out the carrots in the Center's garden

    IMG_1225

    Lunch overlooking Great Hosmer Pond

    Lunch overlooking Great Hosmer Pond

  • Biking Resurrection Pass with Dad

    June was grandparents month in our house. Both sets came for a couple of weeks each.

    One sunny Saturday my dad and I biked Resurrection Pass, 38 miles from Hope to Cooper Landing. I’ve been over that pass a number of times, but this was the first time it hasn’t been covered in snow. What a great singletrack ride!

    I wonder what the 70-and-up age group record is for the 20 mile climb from Hope up to the pass? I bet my dad crushed it!

    20110701-122059.jpg

  • Biking Resurrection Pass with Dad

    June was grandparents month in our house. Both sets came for a couple of weeks each.

    One sunny Saturday my dad and I biked Resurrection Pass, 38 miles from Hope to Cooper Landing. I’ve been over that pass a number of times, but this was the first time it hasn’t been covered in snow. What a great singletrack ride!

    I wonder what the 70-and-up age group record is for the 20 mile climb from Hope up to the pass? I bet my dad crushed it!

    20110701-122059.jpg

  • Biking Resurrection Pass with Dad

    June was grandparents month in our house. Both sets came for a couple of weeks each.

    One sunny Saturday my dad and I biked Resurrection Pass, 38 miles from Hope to Cooper Landing. I’ve been over that pass a number of times, but this was the first time it hasn’t been covered in snow. What a great singletrack ride!

    I wonder what the 70-and-up age group record is for the 20 mile climb from Hope up to the pass? I bet my dad crushed it!

    20110701-122059.jpg

  • Biking Resurrection Pass with Dad

    June was grandparents month in our house. Both sets came for a couple of weeks each.

    One sunny Saturday my dad and I biked Resurrection Pass, 38 miles from Hope to Cooper Landing. I’ve been over that pass a number of times, but this was the first time it hasn’t been covered in snow. What a great singletrack ride!

    I wonder what the 70-and-up age group record is for the 20 mile climb from Hope up to the pass? I bet my dad crushed it!

    20110701-122059.jpg

  • Biking Resurrection Pass with Dad

    June was grandparents month in our house. Both sets came for a couple of weeks each.

    One sunny Saturday my dad and I biked Resurrection Pass, 38 miles from Hope to Cooper Landing. I’ve been over that pass a number of times, but this was the first time it hasn’t been covered in snow. What a great singletrack ride!

    I wonder what the 70-and-up age group record is for the 20 mile climb from Hope up to the pass? I bet my dad crushed it!

    20110701-122059.jpg

  • Summer Camp Musings

    The cool weather has been awesome for the first days of our Fifth Annual GMVSxc Camps — only the hearty took a dip in the Mad post workout today. We focused on classic technique — with two lectures, and two ski sessions — one geared toward specific strength and one with refined motions and agility.

    Pre – ski safety chat.

    George Voigt.  Most Honest Camper Award. And a heck of a Wiffleballer.

    Mr. Degen.  First classic roll of the year.  Quarterback dreamer.

    Blaine Ayotte.  Derby Veteran.

    Ainara Arcelus.  Downhill lover.  Harvard.

    Kaitlin Fitzgerald. 

    Moretown Legend. Nathanael Kuzio.

    Mr. Q and A — Parker Sheinfeld.
    Rebecca Smith. CSU.


    Calvin and Hobbes.  Wight and Hegman.

    Sean Delany.  Local CVU/Mansfield Boy.

    Dueling Alpina’s.  Voigt and Grald.

    Jacob Meyerson. Skiing big.

    Blaine charging upward.

    Rebecca focused.

    Devlin Shea leading morning sport.  “The Airplane.”

    Namaste.

    Love the view from the Dining Hall porch in the morning.  The ridge we hiked shrouded in the clouds.

    Yesterday we hiked the ridge from Lincoln to Appalachian Gap. The 10 mile Long Trail hike / trail run took us over Mt. Abe, Sugarbush South and North and the little slice of heaven known as Mad River Glen. We hiked in and out of a low cloud cover. It was a spectacular mix of mountain air and good joke telling!

  • Summer Camp Musings

    The cool weather has been awesome for the first days of our Fifth Annual GMVSxc Camps — only the hearty took a dip in the Mad post workout today. We focused on classic technique — with two lectures, and two ski sessions — one geared toward specific strength and one with refined motions and agility.

    Pre – ski safety chat.

    George Voigt.  Most Honest Camper Award. And a heck of a Wiffleballer.

    Mr. Degen.  First classic roll of the year.  Quarterback dreamer.

    Blaine Ayotte.  Derby Veteran.

    Ainara Arcelus.  Downhill lover.  Harvard.

    Kaitlin Fitzgerald. 

    Moretown Legend. Nathanael Kuzio.

    Mr. Q and A — Parker Sheinfeld.
    Rebecca Smith. CSU.


    Calvin and Hobbes.  Wight and Hegman.

    Sean Delany.  Local CVU/Mansfield Boy.

    Dueling Alpina’s.  Voigt and Grald.

    Jacob Meyerson. Skiing big.

    Blaine charging upward.

    Rebecca focused.

    Devlin Shea leading morning sport.  “The Airplane.”

    Namaste.

    Love the view from the Dining Hall porch in the morning.  The ridge we hiked shrouded in the clouds.

    Yesterday we hiked the ridge from Lincoln to Appalachian Gap. The 10 mile Long Trail hike / trail run took us over Mt. Abe, Sugarbush South and North and the little slice of heaven known as Mad River Glen. We hiked in and out of a low cloud cover. It was a spectacular mix of mountain air and good joke telling!

  • Whiteface Weekend 2 :Hillclimb & Leadville Qualifier






    After finishing 2nd in the Whiteface Uphill Footrace two weeks earlier, returned for more punishment. First in line was the Bike race with King of the Mountain on the line. This race was on Saturday @ 17:30 with the Mountain Bike race starting the next morning @ 06:30. Was not looking forward to this double.

    Fortunately William my seven year old and Backcountry Bob came along for the weekend to help with logistics.
    Whiteface for some reason is split into a wave start and this year the wave start was splintered again. This was disconcerting to say the least. Wish they would have an elite wave for hte individuals wishing to race head to head. My goal was to average 320 watts for the hillclimb. Whiteface is a punishing 8 mile with an average grade of 8 1/2%. It is pretty much unrelenting. It starts in Wilmington, NY right above the stop sign and ends at the entrance to the tunnel to the elevator. The race started out with a skinny Canadian dude setting the pace, eventually Joe Tonon from Marblehead MA put on a big surge then settled down about 30 -40 seconds ahead of me. We kept passing many riders from preceding waves. Near the the top kept closing the gap and nipped Joe just at the finish line. Average Watts were exactly 320. Found out that finished second overall and first in age group. This was the first of the 2011 BUMPS series. Planning on finishing at least five of them in order to qualify for the overall standings. There are nine bicycle hill climbs in the Northeast throughout the summer.
    Warming up for the hill climb on a Lemond trainer.
    Will and Backcountry Bob made it to the summit. First time not summiting after a Whiteface Race due to warming down for the next days event.
    Leadville qualifier Wilmington 06:00 Sunday am. Getting ready to go out and battle for 56 miles over hill and dale over many roads that many years ago used to ride on with my Wife on a Specialized Tandem Mountain Bike. This race was going to be brutal. It turned out to be too.
    My support crew got up with ma at O’Dark hundred. We got to the start @Whiteface Mountain Ski area before six am. The 200+ racers among to qualify for Leadville got off with a shotgun start promptly at 06:30.
    There were a couple of people who started the race on cyclocross bikes. Of not being T Sheske from Rochester and Dave McCahill from Lake Placid both strong competitors. This was a mistake . Being tempted to use a cross bike myself, there was some doubt when seeing them. Although from my experience of riding most of the course the previous sunday on my Tarmac SL3 knew that my hardtail Specialized 29’er was a better choice.
    The race started out fast on the roads and split up into groups during the first approx 800′ dort road Bartlett. We roared down towards Keene Valley then slammed up Styles Brook where I climbed away from the field and rode alone until half way back up the Jay Mountain road. My support team was there at the Jay Mountain Road and WHiteface giving me bottles that were much appreciated. There I was joined by three strong professional bikers we rode along at a good clip till going back to wards Bartlette where I could only go level 2 pace from there to the finish. Feeling progessively worse. In the last 14 miles lost over 15 minutes to the leaders. While making progress towards the finish eventually Dave Mc Cahill cruised up and we suffered up Whiteface Ski area climb. Which was bond brutal. Actually had to push my bike up much of the top half. We crested the KOM point together but … On the dharowing descent the Mountain bike was the better steed.
    Shortly after the race found out the reason why felt so bad for the end of the race. Gastroenteritis! Probably Viral. Started puking again and again got to revisit breakfast, then dinner.Over and over again. Actually for about 4 hours all I did was puke and lie on the ground, or floor. My friends were trying to take me to the emergency room, that was not happening.
    Unfortunately cannot get the friday of before Leadville. So maybe another year will be able to make that adventure. Would not have been able to do the race with out Bob and Will helping and cheering me on.

  • Whiteface Weekend 2 :Hillclimb & Leadville Qualifier






    After finishing 2nd in the Whiteface Uphill Footrace two weeks earlier, returned for more punishment. First in line was the Bike race with King of the Mountain on the line. This race was on Saturday @ 17:30 with the Mountain Bike race starting the next morning @ 06:30. Was not looking forward to this double.

    Fortunately William my seven year old and Backcountry Bob came along for the weekend to help with logistics.
    Whiteface for some reason is split into a wave start and this year the wave start was splintered again. This was disconcerting to say the least. Wish they would have an elite wave for hte individuals wishing to race head to head. My goal was to average 320 watts for the hillclimb. Whiteface is a punishing 8 mile with an average grade of 8 1/2%. It is pretty much unrelenting. It starts in Wilmington, NY right above the stop sign and ends at the entrance to the tunnel to the elevator. The race started out with a skinny Canadian dude setting the pace, eventually Joe Tonon from Marblehead MA put on a big surge then settled down about 30 -40 seconds ahead of me. We kept passing many riders from preceding waves. Near the the top kept closing the gap and nipped Joe just at the finish line. Average Watts were exactly 320. Found out that finished second overall and first in age group. This was the first of the 2011 BUMPS series. Planning on finishing at least five of them in order to qualify for the overall standings. There are nine bicycle hill climbs in the Northeast throughout the summer.
    Warming up for the hill climb on a Lemond trainer.
    Will and Backcountry Bob made it to the summit. First time not summiting after a Whiteface Race due to warming down for the next days event.
    Leadville qualifier Wilmington 06:00 Sunday am. Getting ready to go out and battle for 56 miles over hill and dale over many roads that many years ago used to ride on with my Wife on a Specialized Tandem Mountain Bike. This race was going to be brutal. It turned out to be too.
    My support crew got up with ma at O’Dark hundred. We got to the start @Whiteface Mountain Ski area before six am. The 200+ racers among to qualify for Leadville got off with a shotgun start promptly at 06:30.
    There were a couple of people who started the race on cyclocross bikes. Of not being T Sheske from Rochester and Dave McCahill from Lake Placid both strong competitors. This was a mistake . Being tempted to use a cross bike myself, there was some doubt when seeing them. Although from my experience of riding most of the course the previous sunday on my Tarmac SL3 knew that my hardtail Specialized 29’er was a better choice.
    The race started out fast on the roads and split up into groups during the first approx 800′ dort road Bartlett. We roared down towards Keene Valley then slammed up Styles Brook where I climbed away from the field and rode alone until half way back up the Jay Mountain road. My support team was there at the Jay Mountain Road and WHiteface giving me bottles that were much appreciated. There I was joined by three strong professional bikers we rode along at a good clip till going back to wards Bartlette where I could only go level 2 pace from there to the finish. Feeling progessively worse. In the last 14 miles lost over 15 minutes to the leaders. While making progress towards the finish eventually Dave Mc Cahill cruised up and we suffered up Whiteface Ski area climb. Which was bond brutal. Actually had to push my bike up much of the top half. We crested the KOM point together but … On the dharowing descent the Mountain bike was the better steed.
    Shortly after the race found out the reason why felt so bad for the end of the race. Gastroenteritis! Probably Viral. Started puking again and again got to revisit breakfast, then dinner.Over and over again. Actually for about 4 hours all I did was puke and lie on the ground, or floor. My friends were trying to take me to the emergency room, that was not happening.
    Unfortunately cannot get the friday of before Leadville. So maybe another year will be able to make that adventure. Would not have been able to do the race with out Bob and Will helping and cheering me on.