FasterSkier

Category: XCFeeds

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

  • And so it begins…

    Today I embark on the first journey of the season. Once this trip begins I may not stop rolling until March. And maybe not even then. The nominal reason for this trip is a training camp over in Lake Placid, NY, but I am going to take advantage of a rest week and take my time getting over there. The current plan includes brief visits to Yakutat, Gustavus, Sitka, Ketchikan, Prince Rupert, BC, and Nanaimo, BC, before ending up at the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid and getting back to the hard core ski training.

    I put Nanaimo on the list of places to visit because it’s the birthplace of Nanaimo bars. Utter deliciousness. My traveling partner foolishly left the planning up to me so we’re going to find ourselves in places like Nanaimo. If anyone knows of any other points of culinary interest that I should put on my list of to-visit places, please, let me know. I only happen to know about Nanaimo because my mom makes Nanaimo bars during the Holidays.

    Two weeks in Lake Placid and then the race season will be approaching fast. Assuming I don’t indulge in too many of Nanaimo’s namesakes, I should be ready to hit the races hard. I can’t wait. I stayed in Alaska ALL summer and I have been anticipating being back on the road. Back on the road, living from a bag, wandering from town to town, without a permanent address. That’s home.

  • Fe

    a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PPMeqZXka1Y/Sr4Si1n3CbI/AAAAAAAAAp8/wCvmHao4wsM/s1600-h/images.jpg”img style=”margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 126px; height: 111px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PPMeqZXka1Y/Sr4Si1n3CbI/AAAAAAAAAp8/wCvmHao4wsM/s200/images.jpg” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385762594100808114″ border=”0″ //aAs a female, endurance athlete living at altitude, I have three strikes against me when it comes to Ferritin.span style=”” /spanA ferritin score indicates iron storage in the body.span style=”” /spanA normal range for Ferritin is between 8 and 250. For a healthy female athlete, I have been told I should shoot for 65 (20 being the ABSOLUTE lowest). p class=”MsoNormal”!–[if !supportEmptyParas]– !–[endif]–o:p/o:p/p p class=”MsoNormal”Iron is important because it is responsible for getting oxygen to my muscles and also for cell growth.span style=”” /spanA week ago, my Ferritin was at 11.span style=”” /spanTranslation = I failed the test miserably!span style=”” /span/p p class=”MsoNormal”!–[if !supportEmptyParas]– !–[endif]–o:p/o:p/p p class=”MsoNormal”I have blood work done at least once each year to keep me honest on just this sort of thing.span style=”” /spanWith two months until the first races I won’t lie – this slip is not good.span style=”” /spanIt makes me weak in my training and slow with recovery.span style=”” /spanI do have time, however to make amends.span style=”” /span/p p class=”MsoNormal”!–[if !supportEmptyParas]– !–[endif]–o:p/o:p/p p class=”MsoNormal”Liver and onions, who knew that something so nasty looking, sounding and smelling could be half good.span style=”” /spanOkay, not quite half-good, but I will give it an honest 38% good.span style=”” /spanLiver is on the top of the list of iron-rich foods, lucky me.span style=”” /spanOysters and beef round out the top three Heme (from animals) iron options.span style=”” /spanSoybeans, lentils and molasses are some of the highest Nonheme (from plant) choices.span style=”” /span/p p class=”MsoNormal”!–[if !supportEmptyParas]– !–[endif]–o:p/o:p/p p class=”MsoNormal”Of course it is never as simple as just eating a steak – Iron bonds to Calcium, which inhibits the body from absorbing either element.span style=”” /spanThere goes my refreshing glass of milk after dinner!span style=”” /spanRed wine contains tannins, which also decrease absorption (so that glass of red wine with red meat needs to be rethought too).span style=”” /spanThings like vitamin C and white wine help the body absorb iron but lets be honest, a glass of OJ just doesn’t cut it with steak!/p p class=”MsoNormal”!–[if !supportEmptyParas]– !–[endif]–o:p/o:p/p p class=”MsoNormal”I am at sea level this month, which will help me boost my Ferritin too (I hope).span style=”” /spanI will get re-tested upon my return home (October 15supth/sup).span style=”” /spanResults from that to come – you can hardly stand the suspense, I know./p !–EndFragment–br /Thanks for reading,br /Katediv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4299718529371785873-7068164315691154509?l=in-the-arena-kate.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

  • Oberhof Ski Tunnel

    Today was a great day I was able to get on to snow for the first time this year and I was able to do it in an amazing ski tunnel located here in Oberhof.

  • Salomon joins in the BERGKÖNIG Trail Run

    I have Great News!  Salomon has just become a sponsor of the BERGKÖNIG 8K Run at Lapham Peak on October 17th.  They have donated 2 pair of running shoes that will be awarded to the top male and female participants overall.  There will also be Salomon water bottles available to the first 100 participants to register.  Register now HERE.

    Thank You Salomon!

    IMG_0602

    Check Out Bryan's Kicks–The new Salomon XT WIngs

  • Autumn

    img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/Srw6kvgH7MI/AAAAAAAAAQI/TLWSLuJ0g4c/s400/AA1.jpg” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385243657329175746″ /br /br /You either love every minute it ~ or you are expecting rain.br /br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/Srw7gnyy0OI/AAAAAAAAAQg/NGcvceXzaiI/s1600-h/IMG_7464.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/Srw7gnyy0OI/AAAAAAAAAQg/NGcvceXzaiI/s400/IMG_7464.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385244686052151522″ //abr /br /Water and waves. There’s something so special about the ocean. You can head out into it with a certain attitude. You leave with another. This reminds me of the Mahatma’s saying. “Each night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn.” br /br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/Srw7gOypENI/AAAAAAAAAQY/xzqXvzUp1i4/s1600-h/IMG_7491.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/Srw7gOypENI/AAAAAAAAAQY/xzqXvzUp1i4/s400/IMG_7491.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385244679340626130″ //abr /br /The green hills of California. West of Hemingway, South of Steinbeck country.br /br /br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/Srw7fpfmZSI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/W0Js3Mfyjn0/s1600-h/IMG_7460.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qy8LpbgYOag/Srw7fpfmZSI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/W0Js3Mfyjn0/s400/IMG_7460.JPG” border=”0″ alt=””id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385244669328647458″ //abr /br /But where will these tracks lead me? Like Odysseus. Out on an odyssey, headed, but not yet ready to head home. With ‘no direction home.’div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2691525267872963085-4884446027387921319?l=in-the-arena-torin.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

  • split screen

    pobject width=”320″ height=”266″ class=”BLOG_video_class” id=”BLOG_video-bcdee4a5ed99c639″ classid=”clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000″ codebase=”http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0″param name=”movie” value=”http://www.blogger.com/img/videoplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv23.nonxt2.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Dbcdee4a5ed99c639%26itag%3D5%26begin%3D0%26len%3D86400000%26app%3Dblogger%26et%3Dplay%26el%3DEMBEDDED%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1265430836%26sparams%3Did%252Citag%252Cip%252Cipbits%252Cexpire%26signature%3D62693910B63FF26718139165B2F1966BBDC6DA8A.1D04F81D18ED5B07099EF0E25DB3CB84B3AA9C51%26key%3Dck1amp;nogvlm=1amp;thumbnailUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2FThumbnailServer2%3Fapp%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Dbcdee4a5ed99c639%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw320%26sigh%3DYnKP8ogKTQBDAJ3J5E2brR2zyd0amp;messagesUrl=video.google.com%2FFlashUiStrings.xlb%3Fframe%3Dflashstrings%26hl%3Den”param name=”bgcolor” value=”#FFFFFF”embed width=”320″ height=”266″ src=”http://www.blogger.com/img/videoplayer.swf?videoUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fv23.nonxt2.googlevideo.com%2Fvideoplayback%3Fid%3Dbcdee4a5ed99c639%26itag%3D5%26begin%3D0%26len%3D86400000%26app%3Dblogger%26et%3Dplay%26el%3DEMBEDDED%26ip%3D0.0.0.0%26ipbits%3D0%26expire%3D1265430836%26sparams%3Did%252Citag%252Cip%252Cipbits%252Cexpire%26signature%3D62693910B63FF26718139165B2F1966BBDC6DA8A.1D04F81D18ED5B07099EF0E25DB3CB84B3AA9C51%26key%3Dck1amp;nogvlm=1amp;thumbnailUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2FThumbnailServer2%3Fapp%3Dblogger%26contentid%3Dbcdee4a5ed99c639%26offsetms%3D5000%26itag%3Dw320%26sigh%3DYnKP8ogKTQBDAJ3J5E2brR2zyd0amp;messagesUrl=video.google.com%2FFlashUiStrings.xlb%3Fframe%3Dflashstrings%26hl%3Den” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash”/embed/object/ppWe’ve got this nifty video system at our range that helps us analyze our shooting. I am shooting prone on the two bottom screens and my teammate Susan is shooting standing on the top two. This system gives a closer look at our shooting techinique and position during a workout, and on this particular day it was a threshold skate technique specific combo interval workout. From this video I wanted to be able to watch my breathing cadence; some of the questions I ask myself as I am watching is – do I stop my breathe and hold/aim on the target long enough before taking the shot, are my breathes quick and controlled enough? /pdiv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1362992899157556571-34377562113125906?l=comeskiwithme.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

  • Races

    Well the running races are over. For me the races went alright, and I learned a lot so they were successful in that respect. I did not do as well as I would of liked but keeping everything in perspective they were good. My teammate Sam Morse had a couple of great results. I have known Sam for a long time so it was good to see him do well, and it’s always great to have a fellow New Yorker out there getting after it. Sam is originally from Camden NY and now splits his time in Camden and Jericho VT as he is in the Vermont National Guard. Doug, and Danny also did very well and were great leaders on this trip, they are veterans of the sport and made things a lot easier for Sam and I as they knew the routine. Steph was running well but here shooting fell apart and she was not able to get the results that everyone knows she is capable of achieving. She will be back though!!!!br /divbr /Results can be found here:

  • Getting Lean

    div style=”text-align: left;”Sometimes you need to burn off a little extra fat. My most recent training partner and I have been working on this. After our September training camp I took advantage of a $59 Sun Country flight to Washington for my brother’s second wedding. Pork is on the menu, we are down to one bag of food and the pig Chad and Alieta bought in the spring should feed about 140./divbr /Pigs are intelligent animals and it is relatively easy to train them to walk, turn, and stop with a cane. Pork has a rather high fat content so taking a pig for a walk or run and leaning them up before they go to market can make a big difference.p align=”center”span style=”font-size:85%;”span class=”Apple-style-span” style=” color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-size:16px;”img src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_9V9RUbOlZzs/SruLz8Ro1rI/AAAAAAAAAOY/84LcdD9Rinc/s400/CnASeptWed+021b.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385051503921256114″ style=”display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 306px; height: 288px; ” //spanBack in high school, the Gregg kids had a little known talent for raising, fitting, showing and selling hogs./span/pspan class=”Apple-style-span” style=”color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; “img src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_9V9RUbOlZzs/SruL0JEepSI/AAAAAAAAAOg/05BmAQ8753U/s400/pig.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385051507355723042″ style=”display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; ” //spanp align=”center”span style=”font-size:85%;”The pigs gained about 200 pounds in 4 months (photo from June 1)/span/pp align=”center”img src=”http://www.xcskilife.com/images/CnASeptWed%20034.JPG” width=”480″ height=”640″ /br /span style=”font-size:85%;”Tara and I gave the newlyweds a RolyPig Composter to help ease the loss of the real pig. These things are pretty cool. Check out the demonstration video at

  • Vakava Race Team 2009-09-23 22:21:00

    OK this is my test since I’ve never written a blog before. My prior posts were actually emailed to Nate and he published them for me so here goes:br /Training is going pretty well. I think I’m a little behind last summer at this time due to a strained ab muscle and a few other things but I’m feeling good now and hoping I can have a good fall. I did intervals yesterday with my new heart rate monitor – yes, I guess I am a technology resistor – and was surprised that I could not get my HR above 170. I’m either a wimp or I have a low max HR. Regardless, I figured that today should be a recovery day. I lifted weights in the AM and this afternoon went out for a relaxing skate in North Oaks, throwing in a couple of pick ups. During one fast pickup on the flats I flushed an owl. A big one. As I watched it take flight right in front of me I noticed a snake dangling from it’s beak. Most of my memorable wildlife sightings are great all around experiences but this one left me with a puzzling combination of awe and eww.div class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1572647974447867713-6710574507690981878?l=vakavaraceteam.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

  • MWSC Biathlon 2009-09-23 15:58:00

  • The Johnny Klister You’ve Got to Be F@king Kidding Me File:

    …and you thought it was sweet when the local club got a van.  The Swedish Ski Team Plane.

  • via Natron’s twitter page.   (Simon Brygg- Ostersund…

    img src=”http://16.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kqfv08do9r1qzt3xbo1_500.jpg”/br/br/via Natron’s twitter page.   (Simon Brygg- Ostersund Photography)

  • FIRST SNOW

  • Rolling and running at SMS

    a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrlwkIoewGI/AAAAAAAABIQ/XHduqyiZ1XI/s1600-h/100_4864.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrlwkIoewGI/AAAAAAAABIQ/XHduqyiZ1XI/s400/100_4864.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384458595593011298″ //abr /We had a nice sunrise welcoming us to morning sport. We did one hour of technique, specific strength and pick-ups. It is a great way to start off the day (if you don’t mind getting up in the dark). Breakfast is at 7:30 and classes run from 8:15 until 2:45, so if you want to train twice, you better get to bed early.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrlwMNubd4I/AAAAAAAABII/E5wd0A_FYRw/s1600-h/100_4876.JPG”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrlwMNubd4I/AAAAAAAABII/E5wd0A_FYRw/s400/100_4876.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384458184643278722″ //abr /Sky-dog striding out before breakfast.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrlvytruHNI/AAAAAAAABIA/6W85Ji6lFRs/s1600-h/100_4883.JPG”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrlvytruHNI/AAAAAAAABIA/6W85Ji6lFRs/s400/100_4883.JPG” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384457746545253586″ //abr /Austin getting up and forward.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrlttHVksuI/AAAAAAAABH4/RB3kqZvqqbY/s1600-h/Bridger1.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;” src=”http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrlttHVksuI/AAAAAAAABH4/RB3kqZvqqbY/s400/Bridger1.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384455451329213154″ //abr /Bridger leading the pack out of the start in our race at Grafton this afternoon. Our boys team was thin due to the cold that hits every year 3 weeks into school, but they did quite well with Skyler, Bridger, Tyler and Mac finishing 3,8,13 and 19.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrltlEe_NHI/AAAAAAAABHw/E0zU2jZc4qo/s1600-h/tyler2.jpg”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrltlEe_NHI/AAAAAAAABHw/E0zU2jZc4qo/s400/tyler2.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384455313124439154″ //abr /Tyler was much faster today!br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrltZI0lqVI/AAAAAAAABHo/kLvwMhVvLxo/s1600-h/boobar.jpg”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrltZI0lqVI/AAAAAAAABHo/kLvwMhVvLxo/s400/boobar.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384455108130351442″ //abr /divbr //divbr /divCoaching is fun.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrltRJWToeI/AAAAAAAABHg/DPMOiSuW-Bk/s1600-h/girls_start.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;” src=”http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrltRJWToeI/AAAAAAAABHg/DPMOiSuW-Bk/s400/girls_start.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384454970832822754″ //abr /br /Girls start. The SMS girls won the team event again with Rachel, Heather, Gage, Pheobe, Hallie and Lena placing 2,3,5,7,8 and 23, but racer of the day goes to Mary Kate Cirelli from Rutland. She won by over 1 minute!br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrltKaYUzWI/AAAAAAAABHY/aHYMc0KrD0Q/s1600-h/rachel1.jpg”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrltKaYUzWI/AAAAAAAABHY/aHYMc0KrD0Q/s400/rachel1.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384454855145606498″ //abr /Rachel running well.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrltBeN1QEI/AAAAAAAABHQ/x3eMR6u3-7E/s1600-h/heather_gage2.jpg”img style=”float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/SrltBeN1QEI/AAAAAAAABHQ/x3eMR6u3-7E/s400/heather_gage2.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384454701556514882″ //abr /Heather and Gage bringing it home.br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Srls4pGsu2I/AAAAAAAABHI/5uRHUgUmbxI/s1600-h/Hallie1.jpg”img style=”float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;” src=”http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Srls4pGsu2I/AAAAAAAABHI/5uRHUgUmbxI/s400/Hallie1.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384454549860563810″ //abr /Is Hallie smiling?br /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Srlsu6jCOaI/AAAAAAAABHA/RATcY6nzSw4/s1600-h/3amigos.jpg”img style=”display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_H2SCM3lmKm8/Srlsu6jCOaI/AAAAAAAABHA/RATcY6nzSw4/s400/3amigos.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384454382744123810″ //abr /Done for the day. Classic OD tomorrow.br /Thanks to Herve Pelletier for the running pictures./divdiv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4680416899705879324-5980625102852379405?l=smsxc.blogspot.com’//div

  • Not my day

    Sometimes you have great days. Sometimes you have days that could have been better. And then there are those days where you wonder what you did to piss off your guardian angel. Today was one of those days…

    It started with a early morning trip down to the hospital in Salt Lake City with Liz Stevens to get our blood drawn (to make sure our iron stores are high going into the racing season). And for those of you who don’t know, I have a major phobia about getting my blood drawn. I have trouble sleeping the night before a blood test, and then at the hospital I shake and cry when its my turn to give up the goods. I am suprised I didn’t break Liz’s hand as she was holding mine, because I could hear the nurse saying she was having trouble sucking the life out of my body. So after that stressful start to the morning we ate our breakfast in the car while driving back up the mountain to Park City to meet up with coach Pat, Noah Hoffman, and Evelyn Dong for a sprinting workout.
    So once we got up there we headed out on our rollerski to do some sprints on a nice road that doesn’t have much traffic on it… only to be stopped by a security guard telling us it was a private road and we had to get off immediately. So we turned around and rollerskied over to a different neighborhood, and after half an hour we found a side road that would work well for our sprints. I was ready to get right into the sprinting, so I stepped up to the imaginary start line and had Noah start me. Ready, Set, Go! And I made about 3 quick strides before my quad felt like it had been struck by lightning. My coach said it was like watching a big track meet, when you see a sprinter explode out of the blocks and then immediatley grab their leg in pain and grimace in pain as they limp off the track.
    My coach drove me to the US Ski Team’s Center of Excellence and I had the Physical Therapist check out my leg. I pulled my quad, and I am not supposed to use my legs for a few days to make sure it heals quickly. The good news is that its not a terrible pull. I didn’t lose any strength or mobility in the muscle, it just hurts. So for the next few days I will be using the double pole machine (maybe I’ll get to do some workouts with Morgan Smyth, who is recovering from her compartment syndrome surgery and has been the double pole machine master the last several weeks). I will also be doing some quality resting, icing, and compressing!!!

  • Marquette Nordic Walking

    Maria dropping some Nordic Walking knowledge

    Maria dropping some Nordic Walking knowledge

    Yesterday Bryan, Maria, and I completed our first of 3 nordic walking clinics scheduled for this week. We had a modest turnout (11 people) and enthusiam was high. We started working through the basics of walking with poles then pregressed to some uphill/downhill terrain. Everyone showed considerable improvement throught the clinic and most sounded as if they were hooked. Afterwards, the group took a stroll around the NMU soccer/football fields (no small feat) to hone our skills and chat a bit. If anyone in the area is interested, our next clinic is 9/22 at 6pm in the NMU Peif. Thanks to NMU for the organizational help and to everyone who attended!

    Drill Sergeant Cook issuing comands

    Drill Sergeant Cook issuing comands

  • The Woes of Roller Skiing

    We roller ski day in and day out…we put our skis, boots, poles and helmetbr /a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/Srlq4HhVWOI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/E2kQhYsOqvU/s1600-h/helmet+002.jpg”img style=”margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/Srlq4HhVWOI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/E2kQhYsOqvU/s200/helmet+002.jpg” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384452341822216418″ border=”0″ //aon an walk out the door to do what we do every day, TRAIN! We rarely think about the possible consequences of roller ski safety. For those of you who don’t know much about roller skis, they do not have breaks and even the smallest about of debris, such as pebbles, rocks, pine cones and leaves can cause huge problems.br /br /In Sun Valley, it is mandatory for athletes to wear a helmet roller skiing at all times, even on the bike trail. This past summer we’ve had our fair share of roller ski accidents. Today I topped it off with a hard crash on the pavement. I waa onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SrlrunODXxI/AAAAAAAAAdY/ANCsBqClAPw/s1600-h/helmet+crack.BMP”img style=”margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bfd1dFDmRWA/SrlrunODXxI/AAAAAAAAAdY/ANCsBqClAPw/s200/helmet+crack.BMP” alt=”” id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384453278044217106″ border=”0″ //as 20 seconds into an interval, carrying good speed when a pine cone got lodged into the front wheel of my ski. My entire body catapulted forward, leaving my feet and skis behind. I came down and hit my head hard on the pavement! I immediately felt a sharp, cracking pain in my head. Tears came instantly as the pain seemed almost unbearable. I slowly made my way back to my feet and found a crack in my helmet! Whew! After eventually collecting myself and grasping the pounding headache, I managed to finish my workout with a cool-down.span style=”font-style: italic;”br /br //spanAll I can say is I am really glad I was wearing a helmet! A headache all day long hardly compares to a concussion or even head trauma! It definitely saved my head!br /p class=”MsoNormal” style=”font-family:arial;”span style=”font-size:100%;”o:p /o:p/span/pspan style=”font-size:100%;”br /br //spanp class=”MsoNormal”span style=”;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;” /spanb style=””o:p/o:p/b/pdiv class=”blogger-post-footer”img width=’1′ height=’1′ src=’https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5903545846797966075-2543568481721337586?l=in-the-arena-nicole.blogspot.com’ alt=” //div

  • Lapham Peak Trail Run Fundraiser

    ***NEW: Click HERE to read about and participate in the 1st annual BERGKÖNIG 8K Trail Run at Lapham Peak State Park on October 17th, 2009.  Online registration can be found HERE or the mail-in registration form can be downloaded HERE.

  • Signs that the Apocalypse is Upon Us. (via Eric Pepper)

    …seen in a Boulder bookstore window:

  • Photo

    img src=”http://20.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kqbn4kpHuC1qzt3xbo1_500.jpg”/br/br/