Normally when I'm not racing much, at least I've been doing fun, interesting training things. Well, I needed a break, so I haven't even been doing that. And I came to the conclusion that without some sort of obsession taking over all your free time, life is pretty boring. What do people DO all day if they have an extra like 8 hours each week? Work more? Oh wait, other people watch tv. We don't have a tv. Maybe I should start knitting.
Rest weeks suck, in my opinion. Some people like them. I recognize that I need to rest to go fast, but beyond that, there is no love between me and my rest weeks. I hate not training. I hate sitting around, knowing that other people are out there working hard, and you're sitting on your butt feeling like your muscles are melting away into nothingness, wondering what normal people do with all that spare time.
It struck me, yesterday, the enormity of what I'm trying to do. I live in Boston. We get maybe three inches of snow each winter? And I'm training to be a pro what? Yeah there is a disconnect somewhere, but for some reason I haven't realized it yet, and I'm still plugging away, ready to wrap up some mediocre results. I should either learn to be happy with what I got or start my excuses list now. I was injured. I was sick. I didn't do enough summer intensity. I rode my bike too much. I don't train enough hours. I don't have the hills to train on. I don't have a team. I don't have the talent. I don't have the genes. I don't have the results. I am a nobody on paper, a nobody with these lofty expectations that can only be shot down and ground into the dirty snow by a herd of other middle of the pack skiers rushing by. I have left that gray area of "an athlete with lots of potential", and I'm moving into masterblaster ranks, where at least I can win age group shit since there aren't any women masters (I apologize to the couple exceptions, you are extraordinary women and I admire you for continuing with this crazy sport). Who will put money into an athlete who has never really shone, in a sport that is slowly dying, in a country where sports are appreciated on tv, not in the big scary outdoor world?
This is why I hate rest weeks. I start thinking.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
I'm a superstar!
Well, not really. Kris Dobie got these new fancy flash thingies, and wanted to test them out, so I took my cross bike out to a park and we played around. I feel like such a hotshot now.
Jaaysus look at my bicep. I shall flex, and my competitors will quake with fear! Or laugh, because they don't have to carry that shit uphill.
Jaaysus look at my bicep. I shall flex, and my competitors will quake with fear! Or laugh, because they don't have to carry that shit uphill.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Ski Camp Wrapup
The NENSA camp ended today, with a 7.5k (for the girls, 9.3 for the boys) time trial up Franklin Falls road. This is the course that the US ski team uses, and it goes uphill. Jess did this one back in the June camp, but I'd never done it before. We started warming up and I noticed that my hips were still pretty sore from the no-pole intervals we'd done two days ago (six hours of training ago). I also noticed that my left quad was super tight, but assumed that would work itself out, as it had just been compensating for my gimpy right knee. I guess playing ultimate frisbee is a bad idea when you can't really run without limping.
After about 25 minutes of warmup, we all line up, in surprisingly humidity-free weather. Everything looked so sharp and in focus. I guess thats what happens when you aren't looking through a fog. Will said "GO", and we all took off. For about three strides, I thought I might ski with Jess. I quickly figured out that if I didn't ski my own race I wouldn't be finishing this one, though, so I backed off. I definitely felt the past week of training, even though I hadn't felt too tired doing the actual workouts. I figured everyone else was just as tired, so I tried to V2 as much as possible on the gradual winding uphills in the beginning. I kept tipping over towards my left side, still no idea why that was happening.
It felt like the short flat part before the climbing took forever. It was like I was going through the motions, putting power into the motions, and nothing was happening. Its like when you push the accelerator in my car... you give it gas but it don't go nowhere. Eventually, despite feeling wobbly and weak, I made it to the uphill section. This is sort of when the problems really began. First my left calf cramped up. I fought down the panic that it was my shin (the compartment syndrome one I just had operated on), and loosened my boot a little. Soon afterwards, as I tried in vain to push in a strong, rhythmic tempo off both legs, my hips started to seize. I thought I could work through this one, but it quickly became faster to doublepole up the hill than to V1 it.
The first section of climbing leveled out, and I thought maybe I could recover on the flat part and do some V2. This is when my left quad gave a feeble squawk of protest and stopped working. I managed to not fall down, and proceeded with project straight-legged skate. This doesn't work very well, so soon I was double poling again. The hill kicks up pretty steeply about halfway through the course (I think), and this was pretty bad. I maybe have been at a standstill at some point. I started alternating 10 strides of V1 and 10 double poles. My shoulders were pretty tired, but they weren't cramped up into the knots that my hips and legs were.
The climbing finally flattened out, and my double pole started to move me forwards again. I tried to keep my attitude a little less negative than it was tending towards, and that probably staved off the tears of frustration. There is nothing like training really hard and being unable to perform. Yeah, it was a long camp, but everyone else went through it too. I guess I could blame the antibiotics.
Anyway, I rolled across the line, trying not too look too pathetic, although I think Tom caught some of the double pole pathetic-ness on camera. ah, well, I swallowed my pride when I decided to come to this camp sick. My knee has now swollen to about twice the size of the other one, so I think some time off and lots of ice and ibuprofen is in order. I think it was probably the 2 hr hike/run followed by the 1.5hr "recovery" run (we got lost and 45 minutes got doubled by mistake) followed by spenst and ultimate frisbee was just a recipe for disaster... will I ever learn?
This camp was good though, because it is always motivating, if sometimes in a negative way, to see what other athletes are doing at any given time of year. It was too bad that there were so few girls, but Jess and I had a good time anyway. I felt like I learned a bunch, picked up some valuable technique changes I should make before snow falls, and I've reaffirmed my need for some quality rest. Especially before cross season and ski intensity picks up... Very glad I'm not racing GMSR this weekend...
After about 25 minutes of warmup, we all line up, in surprisingly humidity-free weather. Everything looked so sharp and in focus. I guess thats what happens when you aren't looking through a fog. Will said "GO", and we all took off. For about three strides, I thought I might ski with Jess. I quickly figured out that if I didn't ski my own race I wouldn't be finishing this one, though, so I backed off. I definitely felt the past week of training, even though I hadn't felt too tired doing the actual workouts. I figured everyone else was just as tired, so I tried to V2 as much as possible on the gradual winding uphills in the beginning. I kept tipping over towards my left side, still no idea why that was happening.
It felt like the short flat part before the climbing took forever. It was like I was going through the motions, putting power into the motions, and nothing was happening. Its like when you push the accelerator in my car... you give it gas but it don't go nowhere. Eventually, despite feeling wobbly and weak, I made it to the uphill section. This is sort of when the problems really began. First my left calf cramped up. I fought down the panic that it was my shin (the compartment syndrome one I just had operated on), and loosened my boot a little. Soon afterwards, as I tried in vain to push in a strong, rhythmic tempo off both legs, my hips started to seize. I thought I could work through this one, but it quickly became faster to doublepole up the hill than to V1 it.
The first section of climbing leveled out, and I thought maybe I could recover on the flat part and do some V2. This is when my left quad gave a feeble squawk of protest and stopped working. I managed to not fall down, and proceeded with project straight-legged skate. This doesn't work very well, so soon I was double poling again. The hill kicks up pretty steeply about halfway through the course (I think), and this was pretty bad. I maybe have been at a standstill at some point. I started alternating 10 strides of V1 and 10 double poles. My shoulders were pretty tired, but they weren't cramped up into the knots that my hips and legs were.
The climbing finally flattened out, and my double pole started to move me forwards again. I tried to keep my attitude a little less negative than it was tending towards, and that probably staved off the tears of frustration. There is nothing like training really hard and being unable to perform. Yeah, it was a long camp, but everyone else went through it too. I guess I could blame the antibiotics.
Anyway, I rolled across the line, trying not too look too pathetic, although I think Tom caught some of the double pole pathetic-ness on camera. ah, well, I swallowed my pride when I decided to come to this camp sick. My knee has now swollen to about twice the size of the other one, so I think some time off and lots of ice and ibuprofen is in order. I think it was probably the 2 hr hike/run followed by the 1.5hr "recovery" run (we got lost and 45 minutes got doubled by mistake) followed by spenst and ultimate frisbee was just a recipe for disaster... will I ever learn?
This camp was good though, because it is always motivating, if sometimes in a negative way, to see what other athletes are doing at any given time of year. It was too bad that there were so few girls, but Jess and I had a good time anyway. I felt like I learned a bunch, picked up some valuable technique changes I should make before snow falls, and I've reaffirmed my need for some quality rest. Especially before cross season and ski intensity picks up... Very glad I'm not racing GMSR this weekend...
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Pictures from NENSA camp
At the top of Cascade mt:
The setup:
The flip:
Someone jumping off a giant rock into Ausable Chasm:
Paul having a classic "Paul Stone" moment:
The setup:
The flip:
Someone jumping off a giant rock into Ausable Chasm:
Paul having a classic "Paul Stone" moment:
REG camp part 1
So I'm up in Lake Placid, enjoying the humidity and heat with about 15 other skiers. Its been super humid, but that might be just because we're training while the sun is up or something. At least the swimming holes are good and the water is cold...
I've been taking it pretty easy--using the shortest possible option for workouts and keeping strictly in the zone I mean to be in--and doing this at a training camp really, really, sucks. You finally have a chance to ski with people, and you have to cut yourself off... at least I figure this is probably the smartest decision I've made all summer (not training too hard).
The first day we got together and did a short classic rollerski, followed by some strength. Friday was hill bounding and ski walking intervals in the morning, and then a distance skate ski in the heat of the afternoon. Saturday we did a distance double pole with some accelerations to max power in the morning, and went for a hike/run in the afternoon. Training posts are boring, I know, but I find it interesting to see what elite skiers do at a camp :). We eat, we train, and we rest... its glamorous, let me tell ya.
The OTC hasn't changed since I was last here, still great endless food and posters from like 1970 that I wish I had hanging on my walls. The coaches here are Janice Sibilia, Chris Cook, Paul Stone, and Andrew Johnson just arrived last night. Most of the skiers are college skiers, there are three guys still in highschool, and a smattering of post-college skiers (if Dave Chamberlain can be called post college).
So, yeah, training, woot! Pictures of people jumping off of giant rocks to come.
I've been taking it pretty easy--using the shortest possible option for workouts and keeping strictly in the zone I mean to be in--and doing this at a training camp really, really, sucks. You finally have a chance to ski with people, and you have to cut yourself off... at least I figure this is probably the smartest decision I've made all summer (not training too hard).
The first day we got together and did a short classic rollerski, followed by some strength. Friday was hill bounding and ski walking intervals in the morning, and then a distance skate ski in the heat of the afternoon. Saturday we did a distance double pole with some accelerations to max power in the morning, and went for a hike/run in the afternoon. Training posts are boring, I know, but I find it interesting to see what elite skiers do at a camp :). We eat, we train, and we rest... its glamorous, let me tell ya.
The OTC hasn't changed since I was last here, still great endless food and posters from like 1970 that I wish I had hanging on my walls. The coaches here are Janice Sibilia, Chris Cook, Paul Stone, and Andrew Johnson just arrived last night. Most of the skiers are college skiers, there are three guys still in highschool, and a smattering of post-college skiers (if Dave Chamberlain can be called post college).
So, yeah, training, woot! Pictures of people jumping off of giant rocks to come.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
More stupid decisions
Tomorrow, I head to the Regional Elite Group (REG) camp in Lake Placid. These camps are awesome--some of the best coaches from around the country come and coach you for six days, and you get to train and hang out with other like-minded skiing fiends at a facility specifically designed with athletes in mind. Its a pretty great setup. On the agenda are multiple technique sessions, intervals, a time trial, a trail run, OD rollerskis, strength sessions, technique analysis... these are a packed six days.
You'd think, given my last couple weeks of wimpiness, that I'd be over the whole whining thing. Well, apparently the reason I felt so crummy yesterday was because I have some sort of bacterial throat infection... they ruled out mono (thank god), and ruled out (95% certainty) strep, but whatever it is, they said that after 24 hours on antibiotics, I'm not contagious. Which, to me, means I can go to the camp. Smart? No. But since I don't think I've made a smart decision yet this month, I'm going anyway. Not only did I have to pay money for this camp, its way too valuable an experience to miss. We'll see how I feel... As long as noone else gets sick, I'm happy. Nobody touch my gatorade this weekend!
You'd think, given my last couple weeks of wimpiness, that I'd be over the whole whining thing. Well, apparently the reason I felt so crummy yesterday was because I have some sort of bacterial throat infection... they ruled out mono (thank god), and ruled out (95% certainty) strep, but whatever it is, they said that after 24 hours on antibiotics, I'm not contagious. Which, to me, means I can go to the camp. Smart? No. But since I don't think I've made a smart decision yet this month, I'm going anyway. Not only did I have to pay money for this camp, its way too valuable an experience to miss. We'll see how I feel... As long as noone else gets sick, I'm happy. Nobody touch my gatorade this weekend!
Monday, August 20, 2007
Race report... HA!
I set myself a 20 mile curfew from my house last weekend. Basically, I was doing too much racing, too much travel, too much training... and I got sick. And stayed sick. And realized what I already knew: I was doing too much.
So having a gimpy knee all last week gave me an excuse to train only 6 hours. I don't think I've had a week this low (not counting April) since possibly sophomore year of college. I slept in and ate strawberry waffles on Saturday. And then I took a nap. I contemplated going for a ride, and ended up taking another nap.
Sunday, I went peach picking. They charge you extra if you overfill your cardboard box of peaches, so Anna and I made sure we got our money's worth by eating 3-4 peaches each, repacking our box twice to make sure we had the maximum number of peaches in there, and stuffing a couple extras in our pockets. Cheating the system? Maybe, but I don't think I'm any stranger to that...
Then, we went rollerskiing. We did the two hour CSU loop. Anna mostly no-pole skated because of her gimpy shoulder, I mostly double poled because of my gimpy knee. It was a very relaxed, mellow sort of ski. And now its Monday, and this is the first Monday in a very long time where I haven't felt completely beat by the previous weekend. Its nice, in a way. But I can't wait to race again.
So having a gimpy knee all last week gave me an excuse to train only 6 hours. I don't think I've had a week this low (not counting April) since possibly sophomore year of college. I slept in and ate strawberry waffles on Saturday. And then I took a nap. I contemplated going for a ride, and ended up taking another nap.
Sunday, I went peach picking. They charge you extra if you overfill your cardboard box of peaches, so Anna and I made sure we got our money's worth by eating 3-4 peaches each, repacking our box twice to make sure we had the maximum number of peaches in there, and stuffing a couple extras in our pockets. Cheating the system? Maybe, but I don't think I'm any stranger to that...
Then, we went rollerskiing. We did the two hour CSU loop. Anna mostly no-pole skated because of her gimpy shoulder, I mostly double poled because of my gimpy knee. It was a very relaxed, mellow sort of ski. And now its Monday, and this is the first Monday in a very long time where I haven't felt completely beat by the previous weekend. Its nice, in a way. But I can't wait to race again.
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