One race down, two more coming up fast... PLUS weird weather and fun on the road!

Canadian Nationals continues to be somewhat unpredictable, but a good time nonetheless! When we arrived on Thursday it looked like the sun and warm weather might melt the snow away before the first race even got underway.  Since then we've experienced downpours of rain, high winds, and fog, as well as colder weather and fresh new snow, and all these weather variations continue to frequent our forecast. On Sunday my teammates raced the team sprint, despite flooding in the stadium and start postponement.  I had anticipated racing, but sat out due to a head cold and sore throat that latched on following our two days of travel.  No points are awarded for that race, since it's a team event, and it seemed best to get over the worst of the symptoms before the distance races.

Monday was the 5km skate race.  The course was changed from a hilly, rolling one to a super fast course that felt like it was over before it even started.  It was decidedly a cleaning-out-the-cobwebs race.  My body was pretty shocked when I demanded it go fast, especially for a short 5km, which right now feels like a sprint.  It would have been nice to use the team sprint as a warm-up for the rest of the week, but instead the 5km served this purpose.  Considering the course profile- only two hills to speak of, the first and only major one being in the first 500 meters- it was a decent race for me.  My body finally started getting into the racing groove by 4km, and then there was the second, and final hill, and 200 meters later, the finish line! Finish times were in the realm of 15 minutes, a short effort for the long distance skier that I am.

So tomorrow is the 10km classic.  The course is supposed to be the one we were scheduled to do for the 5km free (hilly with technical downhills), plus we get to do it twice!  My head cold is still hanging on, but I think it shouldn't impact my performance much.  The biggest frustration is that it's hard to sleep at night.  Being horizontal doesn't do great things for my sinuses- and I don't feel super good in the morning.  But after going hard on Monday, I'm really looking forward to a longer, more challenging race.  Each race on the schedule for me is progressively longer, so good things are on the horizon.  If nothing else, this is a great warm-up for US Distance Nationals in Fairbanks later this month.  Plus, with the tricky conditions, I'm getting to test/race on skis I haven't had the opportunity to use this winter.

So the trip has been fun so far.  The team has had some great experiences, from dining in Detroit and getting slightly lost driving up here to skiing in 60F one day and 40F and pouring rain the next.  We're a pretty flexible, fun group, and we have incredible, hardworking coaches! In fact, my skis in the 5km freestyle yesterday were likely some of the fastest skis I have ever raced on in my life!  Mostly it's just fun being on the road again.  I love this lifestyle and really appreciate the hard work of the people that make this possible- the race organizers and hosts, my coaches, and my family, supporters, and sponsors.  

Thanks for your interest.  I'll do my best to keep frequent updates coming!

Back to racing... and spring has sprung!

So I'm jumping back into racing after a mid-winter training break.  I left Alaska on Wednesday bound for the Canadian National Championships in Duntroon, Ontario.  I've never raced this far east in Canada and also have never flown into Detroit on a ski trip.  (We drove from Detroit to Duntroon, rather than flying into Toronto, since the ticket was really expensive flying into Ontario).

We left temps in the 20s F in Alaska and found mud, puddles, and lots of melting snow/slush here in Ontario.  The course is deteriorating fast, but the organizers are hard at work and have backup plans ready in case our snow melts before we get to race on it.  Considering it was 60F at the top of the course today, and with 2.5 inches of rain in the forecast, it is a distinct possibility that backup plans might be utilized.  It's also quite likely that we'll be racing in t-shirts!  Spring is coming here fast.

The Championship kicks off on Sunday, March 8th with a freestyle team sprint, followed by a 5km freestyle race the next day.  On Wednesday we race 10km classic.  Friday is the classic sprint, although I'll sit that one out to prepare for the 30km freestyle race on Sunday, March 15th.  Then I'm back to Anchorage for a week before the season finale, US Distance Nationals in Fairbanks, Alaska at the end of March.

I'm glad to be back to racing!  I'll try to post consistent updates, but without internet at the house we're renting, it's a little more challenging.

Weekend Recap

Justyna Kowalczyk winning the 3okm freestyle event on Saturday at the World Championships.

(Photo credit: fasterskier.com)

Yesterday was the last women's event at World Championships in Liberec, CZE, the 30km freestyle race.  At this time in my career it is likely my favorite event- skating has historically been my stronger technique and longer distances are my forte. World Champs was a goal of mine this season, one which I, sadly, did not achieve.  While I've moved passed that disappointment and am looking forward, being absent from that 30km was still a little agonizing. I woke up early Saturday morning, checking the FIS website to see how the race had played out. Justyna Kowalczyk of Poland won (shown above), ending the championships with an impressive two golds and one bronze medal.  The photo above really made an impression on me. I was fortunate enough to get to race with (or against, I supposed) Kowalczyk in the World Cups in Whistler, and her grit and determination is inspiring.  She comes from a small ski nation, not one of the Nordic "powerhouses" and is pretty much a one person team, yet she's become a force.  I'll undoubtedly be watching the race in its entirety online on universalsports.com, and you should too if you want to know exactly how it played out (note: for the first time this season you can watch all world cup races for free at that website). 

On Saturday I logged a hard effort of my own, though it was thousands of miles from Czech. Normally it almost wouldn't be worth noting, but considering how few races I've done in the past few weeks, it felt like a big deal.  It was a low-key APU team time trial at the Hillside Trails in Anchorage...mass start of both men and women on a two lap course (5km/lap for a total of 10km).  It was a hard course, pretty much either up or down (as the trails are built into the hill right next to our mini local alpine area).  Because of the number and length of the climbs relative to the amount of moderate/flat sections it would have barely been a legal course by International Ski Federation (FIS) standards.  Meaning, it was basically a good hard course, a definite indicator of fitness. To make things just a little more challenging, it snowed all day Saturday, and we didn't start until 4pm, so we had a good six inches of fresh powder to plow through (and it continued to come down as we raced).

As is the case with almost any endeavor, when you don't do something frequently you get rusty. Whether it's just that you think you're rusty or you actually are, there can be some nervousness involved when you jump back in.  Well, I was admittedly a little jittery.  Racing becomes automatic when you do it every week, back-to-back days, weekend after weekend.  Since it's just what you do, you just do it.  But I had all day on Saturday to think about our little, insignificant time trial, and I realized how nice it is when racing is just so normal that you don't even think about being nervous.  Nonetheless, 4PM finally came around, and feelingly slightly like a dog let off a chain, I went!

The good news is, the nerves were for nothing.  Pushing the "reset" button was a good idea after all.  My body felt good at race pace for the first time in months, and on a few of the long climbs I had glimpses of the amazing effortless floating feeling that I get when I race well. More than anything being out there was a great confidence booster.  I'd decided just the night before to race at the upcoming Canadian National Championships in Ontario (coming up in less than two weeks), and this time trial indicated that getting on that plane will be a good decision.

Teammate Kate Fitzgerald on a snowy ski...no it wasn't the day of the time trial (the trail pictured here is way too "groomed" for it to have been our TT course, but it was just as snowy on Saturday).

By this morning the snow had stopped, and Anchorage was covered in a beautiful coat of powder.  Sunday is my overdistance day (OD)- a long distance ski, measured in time rather than kilometers.  It's also probably my favorite day of the week to train because, no matter the time of year, the mornings are always quiet and sleepy.  In the summer the roads are less crowded, making rollerskiing and biking much more peaceful, and in the winter, the trails are often vacant.  This morning I didn't see a soul until nearly 1.5 hours into my 2.5 hour ski.  Kincaid Park was empty and still, the sun was rising, the snow crystals were glimmering in the early rays of light, and the trees were laden with snow.

For the second time this weekend I broke trail through newly fallen snow- this time on my overdistance ski this morning at Kincaid Park.

This long ski was the cap of a nearly perfect weekend (perhaps a nearly perfect week, in fact). I skied almost every trail at Kincaid during my OD and none of them twice.  These kinds of workouts make me feel so lucky to have such incredible training opportunities where I live, and on top of that, I get to enjoy incredible views while I ski the endless kilometers of ski trails in our vast parks.  I took the Coastal Trail for a portion of my ski this morning, enjoying the gorgeous scenery of Turnagain Arm, the mud flats and sea ice right next to the trail, and Fire Island in the distance (photo above taken from the Coastal Trail).

Setbacks and Success

Tomorrow is a team time trial- not a big deal, but a good chance to test myself.  Except for the 30km skate race last weekend, I haven't really logged many race efforts lately.  Training has been going well.  The trend is good, and it will be nice to go time trial and see how my body has responded to this "reset" period.

Yesterday, while sitting in my car waiting for practice to start, I noticed a quote printed on one of my reusable grocery bags from the store Lululemon Athletica.  It's covered in all kinds of great little wisdoms, but one seemed particularly relevant...

"Life is full of setbacks.  Success is determined by how you handle setbacks."

This season has been a little abnormal, but the setbacks have made me appreciate ski racing that much more.  With time, patience, and continued belief in myself, success will come.

 

Even in an individual sport, it's teammates who inspire...

Earlier this week my teammate on the US Ski Team and Alaska Pacific University Elite Team, Kikkan Randall, became the first American women to win a World Championship or Olympic medal.  She claimed silver in the 1.3km freestyle sprint in Liberec, CZE, and in doing so, accomplished what we've all believed to be possible for a long time.

Kikkan (left) receiving the first World Championship medal ever by an American women.

(photo credit: fasterskier.com)

Ever since I woke up early Tuesday morning, rolling out of bed to turn on my computer in anticipation of the results, I haven't been able to get this momentous accomplishment off my mind.  Before I knew Kikkan, she inspired me as one of the local legends in Alaskan sport.  Then I joined the Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center team, and Kikkan took me under wing.  Since then we've grown as friends- traveling together for racing and leisure, living together when she first purchased a house, and overcoming huge obstacles in our pursuit of the sport of cross-country skiing.

The dream Kikkan realized this week was not only an incredible turning point in her life, but in the history of American cross-country skiing.  I am sure I am not alone in saying that her medal has been a huge inspiration to me, helping me see that even in this decidedly individual sport, teammates can inspire you to believe in yourself and your own dreams in ways you never imagined.  In light of this incredible event, I've put together a photo essay of sorts, having come to understand even more the inspirational power of team (and teammates).

Like Kikkan, I've dreamt of success in sport for as long as I can remember, looking to heroes in sport from the time I began skiing.  And even then, I was active because of the camaraderie, the interaction with my friends, and the support of my teammates.  

Talkeetna Elementary School cross-country runners, inspired by the fun of it and each other.

From Elementary cross-country running to junior nordic skiing, it was about the fun team, the inspiration that comes from sharing an exciting and competitive experience with others...

Denali Junior Nordic "Snowmads"

(photo credit: Arthur Mannix)

From these recreational programs designed to instill passion for activity and sport, I moved on to more competition-minded programs and came to realize the power in numbers.  There's nothing more inspiring that a group of driven training partners who share a common passion and desire for success...

The APU team out on force at a sprint time trial at Hatcher Pass, Alaska.

(Photo credit: Karen Mannix)

US Ski Team girls out on a long run in Park City, UT.

These teammates are the ones who push you to be better during every workout, every day of the year.  They're training partners and friends, a continuous source of external inspiration.

US Ski Team girls during a rollerski workout in Park City, UT.

(photo credit: Pete Vordenberg)

APU teammates going head-to-head in a sprint time trial, Hatcher Pass, AK.

(photo credit: Karen Mannix)

At times these teammates are also your competitors, making you work and hurt as you push toward your goals.  These same teammates are also the people you have fun with.  They're the ones you share experiences with... 

Off the trails (for instance, on the playground)...

On the trails, whether you're training or playing on skis...

In between sessions... and on Halloween!

You get to know these teammates, bond with these people in so many ways, and from these interactions your dreams become shared.

US Ski Team dinner on the lawn at a training camp in Park City, UT.

You adventure together...

(photo credit: Jeff Ellis)

Train hard together...

(photo credit: Pete Vordenberg)

Compete together...

Succeed together...

Support each other in victory...

And celebrate your successes together...

Cross-country skiing is an individual sport, but goals cannot be accomplished without the support of teammates.  Teams are our lifeline, and whether we see it our not, we cannot get there without them.  From the time we are small our "teams" inspire with group fun and games.  As we grow older teams become a source of inspiration thru our shared experiences, common bond, and mutual dreams.

Kikkan's accomplishment is close to my heart because I feel like I am a small part of her success.  She has lead the way, and I hope to follow....Congratulations Kikkan!

A busy weekend- racing, baking, recovery...

Sunday was the last race in the local Alaska Mountaineering and Hiking Anchorage Cup, the Sven Johansson freestyle race at Kincaid Park here in Anchorage.  The event features a 2.5km fun youth race and 10 km and 30km races.  The 3okm is known as the "tour of Kincaid," as the course basically covers all of the trails within the park without repeating anything.   It was my first shot at racing in nearly a month, since the World Cup, and I had no idea what to expect because my body has been a little "under" lately.

APU women in blue (Kate Arduser, Tazlina Mannix, Katie Ronsse).  

Photo credit: Barry Johnson

But I couldn't have dreamt of a nicer day to get out and go long.  At our noon start time it was about 20F, blue sky, and sunny.  The course was perfectly groomed, and the turnout was great.  The race organizers convinced me to start in the elite men's wave, rather than the elite women's, which went out after the second men's wave.  The other ladies on my team joined me, as did a few other local women, and we had a great time mixing it up with the men!  For such a long race it helps to ski in a pack, because people around you- especially teammates- help you along.  Racers take turns leading and drafting, because so much more energy goes into skiing solo or leading a group.  

I skied with two of my APU teammates the entire race (as seen in the above photo).  We all have decided strengths, and we took turning leading when we were feeling good.  For instance, it was noticeable that one of us had much faster skis on the downhills, making her a good person to jump in behind and draft.  I felt particularly good on the climbs and would try to take the lead and charge on the hills.  In the end, we all fought it out for the win.  Having misread the small print on the map, I thought we had one climb to go before the finish, when all the sudden we were spit onto a shortcut and were nearly at the finish.  I knew I hadn't started my final surge soon enough, being a distance skier I need to begin my final sprint in advance of many of my competitors.  I put the hammer down as soon as I realized my mistake and managed to get a gap, but on the slight downhill grade towards the finish one of my teammates began creeping up, and she managed to get me by .6 seconds at the line.  

In all honesty, it was anyone's race.  The three of us worked hard and worked together all 30km.  More importantly for me, it was good, both mentally and physically, to get back in the "game" again.  This effort indicated that I'm climbing out of the rut I've been stuck in.  I'm not out yet, but some training time has been exactly what I've needed!

  

After a wonderful afternoon on the trails, I came home and immersed myself in a little bread baking.  I'd promised a loaf of cinnamon raisin bread to some good friends, grandparents of sorts, who I've missed seeing lately.  After a brief visit last weekend, I was inspired to bring them a loaf of my favorite sweet corn raisin bread- a yeast-risen cornmeal loaf with plump raisins and a hint of honey.  For the sake of experimentation, I made the larger loaf (shown above) with approximately 75% white whole wheat flour in place of the white flour, in an attempt to make a more hearty breakfast bread.  The smaller, more golden loaf (shown below at right) was made solely of white flour and cornmeal.  My afternoon of baking was enjoyable and rewarding as always (as was the nap between risings).

Today a loaf was delivered as promised to my Anchorage grandparents, and from what I hear, even toasted for a late breakfast.  Apparently they enjoyed it just as much as I do every morning, which made my day!

I treated myself to a massage this morning, something I've done less of during racing season, despite the important role it plays in the recovery process.  It felt good to make time for this.  Even now, just a few hours later, my body is evidently quite appreciative.  Today, a rest day, will be concluded with a nap and an easy run in the sunshine this afternoon... and then I'm back into another week of training!

Racing is now on the horizon, so I should have actual race and travel updates for you one of these weeks... 

Another rest day, another update

By rest day number 2, I had run out of things I really wanted to do with myself... Bread had already been made, house cleaned, errands run.  Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of things for me to do, but instead I made muffins...

While I generally love training, I do look forward to rest days because they can be unscheduled and unstructured.  Like many people relish the weekend, I  like a day off once in a while.  Usually I plan something with friends, do errands, clean my house and prepare for the week ahead, and I always make my bread for the week.  But I find it curious that most often my rest days are never as exciting as I expect they will be.  I tell myself I like the down time, like the lack of structure and the break from routine, but usually my day ends feeling incomplete.  Why?  Because in the back of my mind I'm yearning to go for a ski, a hike in the mountains, a short run or at least a little spin on the bike inside.  The truth is, rest days are the hardest part of the week for me because I really do like the routine of waking early, getting out of the house for AM practice, coming home to stretch, eat, take a nap, and then heading out again for another session.  My day is full, and it is active.  The rest time between sessions is usually pretty much all I need to do whatever else it is that needs doing. I've come to realize that no matter how much I look forward to full rest days, they're just never going to be as glorious as I imagine.  I'm lucky that skiing is what I do...

So on my second non-training day, instead of doing paperwork and errands, I did the next closest thing to skiing.  I worked on skis and prepped them for the week.  Skis love a little love, in the form of wax, and so, in anticipation of skiing, I put a few coats on a few pairs...

 

My fast Fischer fleet

My wax box, complete with Swix kick and glide wax, tools, apron, iron, etc...

Some quality time spent with the ski bench.

I haven't been skiing on most of my race skis in training lately, because I've been worried about rocks on the trails.  With pretty good conditions right now and freshly groomed trails, I decided to pull out a few race pairs to train on.  

The training experience feels that much better when you're on well prepared, fast skis.  Warm temps and fast skis enable me to cover much more ground each session than I otherwise would.  That's important, because a fast training pace teaches the body (muscles, heart, lungs) to tolerate fast skiing, preparing a skier that much more for racing.  Plus, by skiing fast, the movement patterns often are much more similar to those at race pace, again teaching the body (this time especially the muscles) how to sustain itself at that speed.  It's important to ingrain the feelings associated with fast skiing, good technique, power, speed, and agility.  So if you want to ski well at race pace, it's important to simulate those feelings (technique, power, etc.) as best you can in training at any speed.

So I'm looking forward to getting back to the trails, on the freshly waxed skis and logging some fast distance skiing.  Stay tuned...