Category: XCFeeds

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

Pre-Vacation Throw Down

“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and shouting ‘WOO HOO what a ride!’”This moto comes to mind as I think about this past week.I decided to take the opportunity to go out to western Alaska this July work as a

July 2, 2010
Pre-Vacation Throw Down

“Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and shouting ‘WOO HOO what a ride!’”This moto comes to mind as I think about this past week.I decided to take the opportunity to go out to western Alaska this July work as a

July 2, 2010
REKLESS, PRAXIS & DRIED BLOOD

Ketchum, ID – I caught (read killed) three mice yesterday behind the washing machine. They were so cute, until they ran across my bare foot while washing dishes. Then they were scary. They were scary, until they crept into my room at night. Then they were dead.

Some mice have also been chomping on my strawberries and peas, outside. I asked a neighbor if he had any tricks besides getting a cat – he said dried blood. I said yuck, but went to the garden store and sure enough, they sell it. I guess my garden is no longer vegetarian but then again, neither am I.

These are the kinds of things that I have found myself doing to avoid working out. I have been an athlete for so long, it is all that I know. Ski racing and training have been so much more than a job – it is my social life, my appetite and my sleeping pill. As I continue to take time off, in the hopes of kicking my immune system back into shape, I find myself lost and unsatisfied. What does one do when they don’t have to run for 3 hours in the morning and go to the gym for 2 hours in the afternoon?

I have been studying for the Praxis exams (I am also getting my Netflix money’s worth). I went to school to become an elementary educator (read 4th grade teacher) but I never put down the coin to attain the actual teaching license. 6 years later, I am freshening up on my Piaget and Vygotsky to turn my Vermont recommended license into an Idaho, for real one. Come August I am hoping to be training again and by September, maybe even teaching (and I don’t mean the volunteer kind, although I do love Brad and the kids).

Am I going to be a ski racer next year? Yes. I will always be a skier and even a racer. I am not going to do the circuit however. I am going to try to make some money for a change, get healthy, train on my own and focus more on community races, maybe a marathon or two, three or four also. Yes, I am going to be a master this fall. There, I said it.

I have some ideas and opportunities coming down the pipe too, so stay tuned. My mind changes, about what I want to be when I grow up, daily. For now, I am re-learning Bloom’s Taxonomy and hoping the mice leave me at least ONE strawberry this summer!

Oh, and I am going to a Reckless Kelly concert on Saturday (favorite song) and found some morel mushrooms. Have a great 4th everyone!

July 1, 2010
REKLESS, PRAXIS & DRIED BLOOD

Ketchum, ID – I caught (read killed) three mice yesterday behind the washing machine. They were so cute, until they ran across my bare foot while washing dishes. Then they were scary. They were scary, until they crept into my room at night. Then they were dead.

Some mice have also been chomping on my strawberries and peas, outside. I asked a neighbor if he had any tricks besides getting a cat – he said dried blood. I said yuck, but went to the garden store and sure enough, they sell it. I guess my garden is no longer vegetarian but then again, neither am I.

These are the kinds of things that I have found myself doing to avoid working out. I have been an athlete for so long, it is all that I know. Ski racing and training have been so much more than a job – it is my social life, my appetite and my sleeping pill. As I continue to take time off, in the hopes of kicking my immune system back into shape, I find myself lost and unsatisfied. What does one do when they don’t have to run for 3 hours in the morning and go to the gym for 2 hours in the afternoon?

I have been studying for the Praxis exams (I am also getting my Netflix money’s worth). I went to school to become an elementary educator (read 4th grade teacher) but I never put down the coin to attain the actual teaching license. 6 years later, I am freshening up on my Piaget and Vygotsky to turn my Vermont recommended license into an Idaho, for real one. Come August I am hoping to be training again and by September, maybe even teaching (and I don’t mean the volunteer kind, although I do love Brad and the kids).

Am I going to be a ski racer next year? Yes. I will always be a skier and even a racer. I am not going to do the circuit however. I am going to try to make some money for a change, get healthy, train on my own and focus more on community races, maybe a marathon or two, three or four also. Yes, I am going to be a master this fall. There, I said it.

I have some ideas and opportunities coming down the pipe too, so stay tuned. My mind changes, about what I want to be when I grow up, daily. For now, I am re-learning Bloom’s Taxonomy and hoping the mice leave me at least ONE strawberry this summer!

Oh, and I am going to a Reckless Kelly concert on Saturday (favorite song) and found some morel mushrooms. Have a great 4th everyone!

July 1, 2010
REKLESS, PRAXIS & DRIED BLOOD

Ketchum, ID – I caught (read killed) three mice yesterday behind the washing machine. They were so cute, until they ran across my bare foot while washing dishes. Then they were scary. They were scary, until they crept into my room at night. Then they were dead.

Some mice have also been chomping on my strawberries and peas, outside. I asked a neighbor if he had any tricks besides getting a cat – he said dried blood. I said yuck, but went to the garden store and sure enough, they sell it. I guess my garden is no longer vegetarian but then again, neither am I.

These are the kinds of things that I have found myself doing to avoid working out. I have been an athlete for so long, it is all that I know. Ski racing and training have been so much more than a job – it is my social life, my appetite and my sleeping pill. As I continue to take time off, in the hopes of kicking my immune system back into shape, I find myself lost and unsatisfied. What does one do when they don’t have to run for 3 hours in the morning and go to the gym for 2 hours in the afternoon?

I have been studying for the Praxis exams (I am also getting my Netflix money’s worth). I went to school to become an elementary educator (read 4th grade teacher) but I never put down the coin to attain the actual teaching license. 6 years later, I am freshening up on my Piaget and Vygotsky to turn my Vermont recommended license into an Idaho, for real one. Come August I am hoping to be training again and by September, maybe even teaching (and I don’t mean the volunteer kind, although I do love Brad and the kids).

Am I going to be a ski racer next year? Yes. I will always be a skier and even a racer. I am not going to do the circuit however. I am going to try to make some money for a change, get healthy, train on my own and focus more on community races, maybe a marathon or two, three or four also. Yes, I am going to be a master this fall. There, I said it.

I have some ideas and opportunities coming down the pipe too, so stay tuned. My mind changes, about what I want to be when I grow up, daily. For now, I am re-learning Bloom’s Taxonomy and hoping the mice leave me at least ONE strawberry this summer!

Oh, and I am going to a Reckless Kelly concert on Saturday (favorite song) and found some morel mushrooms. Have a great 4th everyone!

July 1, 2010
REKLESS, PRAXIS & DRIED BLOOD

Ketchum, ID – I caught (read killed) three mice yesterday behind the washing machine. They were so cute, until they ran across my bare foot while washing dishes. Then they were scary. They were scary, until they crept into my room at night. Then they were dead.

Some mice have also been chomping on my strawberries and peas, outside. I asked a neighbor if he had any tricks besides getting a cat – he said dried blood. I said yuck, but went to the garden store and sure enough, they sell it. I guess my garden is no longer vegetarian but then again, neither am I.

These are the kinds of things that I have found myself doing to avoid working out. I have been an athlete for so long, it is all that I know. Ski racing and training have been so much more than a job – it is my social life, my appetite and my sleeping pill. As I continue to take time off, in the hopes of kicking my immune system back into shape, I find myself lost and unsatisfied. What does one do when they don’t have to run for 3 hours in the morning and go to the gym for 2 hours in the afternoon?

I have been studying for the Praxis exams (I am also getting my Netflix money’s worth). I went to school to become an elementary educator (read 4th grade teacher) but I never put down the coin to attain the actual teaching license. 6 years later, I am freshening up on my Piaget and Vygotsky to turn my Vermont recommended license into an Idaho, for real one. Come August I am hoping to be training again and by September, maybe even teaching (and I don’t mean the volunteer kind, although I do love Brad and the kids).

Am I going to be a ski racer next year? Yes. I will always be a skier and even a racer. I am not going to do the circuit however. I am going to try to make some money for a change, get healthy, train on my own and focus more on community races, maybe a marathon or two, three or four also. Yes, I am going to be a master this fall. There, I said it.

I have some ideas and opportunities coming down the pipe too, so stay tuned. My mind changes, about what I want to be when I grow up, daily. For now, I am re-learning Bloom’s Taxonomy and hoping the mice leave me at least ONE strawberry this summer!

Oh, and I am going to a Reckless Kelly concert on Saturday (favorite song) and found some morel mushrooms. Have a great 4th everyone!

July 1, 2010
REKLESS, PRAXIS & DRIED BLOOD

Ketchum, ID – I caught (read killed) three mice yesterday behind the washing machine. They were so cute, until they ran across my bare foot while washing dishes. Then they were scary. They were scary, until they crept into my room at night. Then they were dead.

Some mice have also been chomping on my strawberries and peas, outside. I asked a neighbor if he had any tricks besides getting a cat – he said dried blood. I said yuck, but went to the garden store and sure enough, they sell it. I guess my garden is no longer vegetarian but then again, neither am I.

These are the kinds of things that I have found myself doing to avoid working out. I have been an athlete for so long, it is all that I know. Ski racing and training have been so much more than a job – it is my social life, my appetite and my sleeping pill. As I continue to take time off, in the hopes of kicking my immune system back into shape, I find myself lost and unsatisfied. What does one do when they don’t have to run for 3 hours in the morning and go to the gym for 2 hours in the afternoon?

I have been studying for the Praxis exams (I am also getting my Netflix money’s worth). I went to school to become an elementary educator (read 4th grade teacher) but I never put down the coin to attain the actual teaching license. 6 years later, I am freshening up on my Piaget and Vygotsky to turn my Vermont recommended license into an Idaho, for real one. Come August I am hoping to be training again and by September, maybe even teaching (and I don’t mean the volunteer kind, although I do love Brad and the kids).

Am I going to be a ski racer next year? Yes. I will always be a skier and even a racer. I am not going to do the circuit however. I am going to try to make some money for a change, get healthy, train on my own and focus more on community races, maybe a marathon or two, three or four also. Yes, I am going to be a master this fall. There, I said it.

I have some ideas and opportunities coming down the pipe too, so stay tuned. My mind changes, about what I want to be when I grow up, daily. For now, I am re-learning Bloom’s Taxonomy and hoping the mice leave me at least ONE strawberry this summer!

Oh, and I am going to a Reckless Kelly concert on Saturday (favorite song) and found some morel mushrooms. Have a great 4th everyone!

July 1, 2010
Update

Greetings loyal garrottkuzzy.com followers. After a brief stretch of regular updates at the end of our last CXC training camp I have fallen off the proverbial blog wagon. Have no fear; I am alive, doing well, and avoiding contact with this time vacuum, my computer, as much as possible. Instead, my days have been filled with work (yes, I occasionally do that), bike racing, training, and simply enjoying the end of an awesome June.

I will be off-line for a while yet, but when I get back to updating, look forward to some pictures and updates from the past weeks. For now, get outside. If you simply must sit behind a computer, check out Jack Hinkens‘ website. The stuff he’s doing, like qualifying for mountain bike World Cups as a junior rider from Hopkins, Minnesota is way cooler than whatever I’ve been up to lately. You may even catch a garrottkuzzy cameo while you’re there.

July 1, 2010
Biathlon Shooting Accuracy

As I pore over my biathlon data, I learn new things all the time. For instance, I really had no idea what a typical biathlete manages for shooting accuracy. For some reason, I would have guessed something in the 60-70% range. But I was way off…

I stand corrected:

Here’s another version with contour lines:

This is based upon the previous three seasons of international biathlon races, both men and women. Each dot represent the prone and standing accuracy of a single athlete over that time period. Skiers with fewer than 100 shots were omitted.

Interestingly, you don’t see much difference if you split this up by gender:

I expanded my criteria for this last graph to include results from all season (~1992-present). I wonder who the people are who have shot better standing than prone? I’ll have to check that out in more detail at some point…

July 1, 2010
Skate Pictures

a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzTsG7AdoI/AAAAAAAADI4/_ixsy4oH7Oo/s1600/IMG_4932.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzTsG7AdoI/AAAAAAAADI4/_ixsy4oH7Oo/s320/IMG_4932.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488994800583603842″ //aWe had a good group for our skate practice at BMD this morning. Enjoy the pictures. As always, click on any picture to enlarge it.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzTBNQ2uoI/AAAAAAAADIw/BQqdHzVPUzA/s1600/IMG_4938.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 167px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzTBNQ2uoI/AAAAAAAADIw/BQqdHzVPUzA/s320/IMG_4938.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488994063551478402″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzSSNf8e1I/AAAAAAAADIo/3uWSHehpC-o/s1600/IMG_4951.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 116px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzSSNf8e1I/AAAAAAAADIo/3uWSHehpC-o/s320/IMG_4951.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488993256160918354″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzRhK2xHAI/AAAAAAAADIg/_0J8_88cdVU/s1600/IMG_4956.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzRhK2xHAI/AAAAAAAADIg/_0J8_88cdVU/s320/IMG_4956.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488992413637745666″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzQWX3MptI/AAAAAAAADIY/Wz1IYtYGV2g/s1600/IMG_4964.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 168px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzQWX3MptI/AAAAAAAADIY/Wz1IYtYGV2g/s320/IMG_4964.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488991128639022802″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzOyNVDxtI/AAAAAAAADIQ/MS5fmlBEKzU/s1600/IMG_4967.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzOyNVDxtI/AAAAAAAADIQ/MS5fmlBEKzU/s320/IMG_4967.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488989407824561874″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzNlZtTAkI/AAAAAAAADII/a3O2fm0aV9k/s1600/IMG_4982.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzNlZtTAkI/AAAAAAAADII/a3O2fm0aV9k/s320/IMG_4982.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488988088297521730″ //aThis helps get the weight forward.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzMjPadDAI/AAAAAAAADIA/8exi_b5F6Rw/s1600/IMG_4985.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzMjPadDAI/AAAAAAAADIA/8exi_b5F6Rw/s320/IMG_4985.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488986951662767106″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzLOgeMsHI/AAAAAAAADH4/mrOUxWaM-yw/s1600/IMG_4987.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzLOgeMsHI/AAAAAAAADH4/mrOUxWaM-yw/s320/IMG_4987.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488985495952994418″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzJtlGBxFI/AAAAAAAADHw/prvkt8E_4DA/s1600/IMG_4990.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzJtlGBxFI/AAAAAAAADHw/prvkt8E_4DA/s320/IMG_4990.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488983830746481746″ //a”Rubbing is racing.”br /The older kids did some L3 intervals up the hill. They tried focusing on different technical things and then compared heart rates and times to see which was more efficient.a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzISsJCFGI/AAAAAAAADHo/Bgpv5DH7IIo/s1600/IMG_5002.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 320px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzISsJCFGI/AAAAAAAADHo/Bgpv5DH7IIo/s320/IMG_5002.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488982269270037602″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzICVgSvQI/AAAAAAAADHg/v16NXuM_7-c/s1600/IMG_5006.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzICVgSvQI/AAAAAAAADHg/v16NXuM_7-c/s320/IMG_5006.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488981988315675906″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzGC24eUhI/AAAAAAAADHY/IlNKXw6A548/s1600/IMG_5014.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzGC24eUhI/AAAAAAAADHY/IlNKXw6A548/s320/IMG_5014.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488979798252212754″ //aThe Devo group worked on body postion, balance and rhythm for 1:20 before they picked up their poles. Typically adding the poles stiffens the legs so after a little skiing with poles we ended up with some more no-pole skiing.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzFMRntcSI/AAAAAAAADHQ/93ldIryuF6I/s1600/IMG_5019.JPG”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzFMRntcSI/AAAAAAAADHQ/93ldIryuF6I/s320/IMG_5019.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488978860536852770″ //abr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzEHwO_y7I/AAAAAAAADHI/Wkd_YX_NXqw/s1600/IMG_5023.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzEHwO_y7I/AAAAAAAADHI/Wkd_YX_NXqw/s320/IMG_5023.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488977683343723442″ //aPost workout recovery.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzDPr8C94I/AAAAAAAADHA/uYo2ZwYRtps/s1600/IMG_5026.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/TCzDPr8C94I/AAAAAAAADHA/uYo2ZwYRtps/s320/IMG_5026.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488976720117823362″ //adiv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4680416899705879324-4250234857879682290?l=smsxc.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

July 1, 2010
Mt. Katahdin

The MWSC Team (Deveopment, Regional, X-C, and Biathlon)came together this week to tackle Maine’s highest point. Mt. Katahdin stands tall at 5,267ft. and is a highly active place as it represents the finish line of the world famous Appalacian Trail. Photo: Looking up towards the summit

We met up the night before to camp out just on the outskirts of Baxter Park. After some tasty smores it was off to bed as an early morning awaited everyone. 5:30am camre around quicker than most of us thought, especially since it was 4:30am when then young Devo Team decided enough is enough and it was time to get up! After a quick breakfast, we were off and on the trail by 6:45am heading first along the Katahdin Stream and then turning up towards the Hunt Trail all the way to the top. Three hours of up and we found ourselves standing on top and just for a short while we were able to take in some of the spectacular views before getting swallowed by the clouds. We headed down the Knife’s Edge which was a narrow ridge of boulders with steep drops on both sides and high winds blowing from both directions. Once off the Edge it was a downhill trek all the way to Roaring Brook. The sun was now out again and Roaring Brook served as a perfect natural ice bath for some tired and shaky legs.

The Devo and Regional Teams approached Baxter Peak from a different direction and summitted just in time for some stellar views. It was a first for many of these youngsters. A job well done, especially with the 4:30am wake up!

Hanging out at the campsite skippig rocks and watching the sunset

A nice view from the top just before the clouds rolled in

The final push to the summit

The Knife’s Edge

Leif checking out the views below

Big Joe Bard livin it up

Corrine all smiles as usual

Ben enjoying his first time up Mt. Katahdin

July 1, 2010
Mt. Katahdin

The MWSC Team (Deveopment, Regional, X-C, and Biathlon)came together this week to tackle Maine’s highest point. Mt. Katahdin stands tall at 5,267ft. and is a highly active place as it represents the finish line of the world famous Appalacian Trail. Photo: Looking up towards the summit

We met up the night before to camp out just on the outskirts of Baxter Park. After some tasty smores it was off to bed as an early morning awaited everyone. 5:30am camre around quicker than most of us thought, especially since it was 4:30am when then young Devo Team decided enough is enough and it was time to get up! After a quick breakfast, we were off and on the trail by 6:45am heading first along the Katahdin Stream and then turning up towards the Hunt Trail all the way to the top. Three hours of up and we found ourselves standing on top and just for a short while we were able to take in some of the spectacular views before getting swallowed by the clouds. We headed down the Knife’s Edge which was a narrow ridge of boulders with steep drops on both sides and high winds blowing from both directions. Once off the Edge it was a downhill trek all the way to Roaring Brook. The sun was now out again and Roaring Brook served as a perfect natural ice bath for some tired and shaky legs.

The Devo and Regional Teams approached Baxter Peak from a different direction and summitted just in time for some stellar views. It was a first for many of these youngsters. A job well done, especially with the 4:30am wake up!

Hanging out at the campsite skippig rocks and watching the sunset

A nice view from the top just before the clouds rolled in

The final push to the summit

The Knife’s Edge

Leif checking out the views below

Big Joe Bard livin it up

Corrine all smiles as usual

Ben enjoying his first time up Mt. Katahdin

July 1, 2010
Mt. Katahdin

The MWSC Team (Deveopment, Regional, X-C, and Biathlon)came together this week to tackle Maine’s highest point. Mt. Katahdin stands tall at 5,267ft. and is a highly active place as it represents the finish line of the world famous Appalacian Trail. Photo: Looking up towards the summit

We met up the night before to camp out just on the outskirts of Baxter Park. After some tasty smores it was off to bed as an early morning awaited everyone. 5:30am camre around quicker than most of us thought, especially since it was 4:30am when then young Devo Team decided enough is enough and it was time to get up! After a quick breakfast, we were off and on the trail by 6:45am heading first along the Katahdin Stream and then turning up towards the Hunt Trail all the way to the top. Three hours of up and we found ourselves standing on top and just for a short while we were able to take in some of the spectacular views before getting swallowed by the clouds. We headed down the Knife’s Edge which was a narrow ridge of boulders with steep drops on both sides and high winds blowing from both directions. Once off the Edge it was a downhill trek all the way to Roaring Brook. The sun was now out again and Roaring Brook served as a perfect natural ice bath for some tired and shaky legs.

The Devo and Regional Teams approached Baxter Peak from a different direction and summitted just in time for some stellar views. It was a first for many of these youngsters. A job well done, especially with the 4:30am wake up!

Hanging out at the campsite skippig rocks and watching the sunset

A nice view from the top just before the clouds rolled in

The final push to the summit

The Knife’s Edge

Leif checking out the views below

Big Joe Bard livin it up

Corrine all smiles as usual

Ben enjoying his first time up Mt. Katahdin

July 1, 2010
Mt. Katahdin

The MWSC Team (Deveopment, Regional, X-C, and Biathlon)came together this week to tackle Maine’s highest point. Mt. Katahdin stands tall at 5,267ft. and is a highly active place as it represents the finish line of the world famous Appalacian Trail. Photo: Looking up towards the summit

We met up the night before to camp out just on the outskirts of Baxter Park. After some tasty smores it was off to bed as an early morning awaited everyone. 5:30am camre around quicker than most of us thought, especially since it was 4:30am when then young Devo Team decided enough is enough and it was time to get up! After a quick breakfast, we were off and on the trail by 6:45am heading first along the Katahdin Stream and then turning up towards the Hunt Trail all the way to the top. Three hours of up and we found ourselves standing on top and just for a short while we were able to take in some of the spectacular views before getting swallowed by the clouds. We headed down the Knife’s Edge which was a narrow ridge of boulders with steep drops on both sides and high winds blowing from both directions. Once off the Edge it was a downhill trek all the way to Roaring Brook. The sun was now out again and Roaring Brook served as a perfect natural ice bath for some tired and shaky legs.

The Devo and Regional Teams approached Baxter Peak from a different direction and summitted just in time for some stellar views. It was a first for many of these youngsters. A job well done, especially with the 4:30am wake up!

Hanging out at the campsite skippig rocks and watching the sunset

A nice view from the top just before the clouds rolled in

The final push to the summit

The Knife’s Edge

Leif checking out the views below

Big Joe Bard livin it up

Corrine all smiles as usual

Ben enjoying his first time up Mt. Katahdin

July 1, 2010
DP Pics

A few pics from impulse strength on Wednesday night. Was definitely favoring the low-angle shot.

The group looked STRONG.

July 1, 2010
O Race

As it is a recovery week this week and we were in need of a little mental recovery too after the first 6 weeks of training, we opted to do our high intensity session on Tuesday night in the form of an orienteering race. Pretty fun and definitely a new challenge to the group. Prizes included match box cars, really cheap foam-dart guns (will break within a day), yoyos that apparently don’t work (operator error?), and self-inflating whoopee cushions. Yeah, pretty awesome.

Results (10 min penalty for each missed checkpoint – 8 checkpoints total):

1. Neill and Kipp 58:12 (no penalty)

2. Vanya and Skeeto 59:31 (no penalty)

3. Megan and Hannah 60:02 (no penalty)

4. Ian (aka Rambo) 61:26 (no penalty)

5. Dan and Stefan 61:40 (no penalty)

6. Kelsey and Werner 63:06 (incl. 10 min penalty)

7. Lizzy and Eliza 90:23 (incl. 50 min penalty)

8. Kira and Pat 93:21 (incl. 20 min penalty)

9. Helen and Jade 125:46 (incl. 40 min penalty)

Some pics:

A test of fitness…

…Map Skills…

…More map skills…

…Strategy (stalk another team)…

…and teamwork.

July 1, 2010
happy thoughts

Tomorrow I’ll be having my second leg operated on. So I decided to post some ‘happy’ pictures because… well… just because I could use a smile and I hope it will make you smile too!

my beautiful heirloom tomatoes

I LOVE BEETS!!!

there’s a dog in my zucchini!

Topper. what a cutie.

June 30, 2010
happy thoughts

Tomorrow I’ll be having my second leg operated on. So I decided to post some ‘happy’ pictures because… well… just because I could use a smile and I hope it will make you smile too!

my beautiful heirloom tomatoes

I LOVE BEETS!!!

there’s a dog in my zucchini!

Topper. what a cutie.

June 30, 2010
happy thoughts

Tomorrow I’ll be having my second leg operated on. So I decided to post some ‘happy’ pictures because… well… just because I could use a smile and I hope it will make you smile too!

my beautiful heirloom tomatoes

I LOVE BEETS!!!

there’s a dog in my zucchini!

Topper. what a cutie.

June 30, 2010
happy thoughts

Tomorrow I’ll be having my second leg operated on. So I decided to post some ‘happy’ pictures because… well… just because I could use a smile and I hope it will make you smile too!

my beautiful heirloom tomatoes

I LOVE BEETS!!!

there’s a dog in my zucchini!

Topper. what a cutie.

June 30, 2010