It was a 3 Ski Race Week

I had been doing about 10-11 hours a week training, but this past week (Feb 18-24) was only 8-9 hours. Not much in the grand scheme of things. However, I did mix in 3 good races. I posted my fasted time ever at the Sleepy Hollow 6k (15:35) and then raced a solid 12th at the Eastern Cup Finals in a tight race (20 seconds out of 3rd) and then I capped the week off with a 4th place at the Stowe Derby. Eric Tremble was 3rd at the Derby - so it was a good race for the Northwest Vermont Nordic Club. He and I are teaming up in this coming weekends Rangeley Lakes 50k skate race to try and kick-ass and take names.

So, they start the Derby half-way up the Mountain at Stowe and you finish right in the center of town at the start of the bike path. The race starts at 10:00am and I had to be at work by 11:45am. I raced as fast as I could into town, caught my breath, ate a bag of Madhouse Munchies they were giving away, and then hopped into the car with Helen and jetted back to Burlington.On an exciting, cool note - I'm going to Seattle in a couple weeks for a Brooks running shoe symposium. Their headquarters are out there and they invited 2 people from the Skirack. So, Emily (the shoe buyer at the Skirack) is of course going and me too! I'm packing my bags and heading out to Seattle for a couple days. Yahoo. Coffee COFFEE.


Monday: -40 minutes on trainer w/ stretching and situps & pushups
-2 Cycles of Strength Exercises

Tuesday: -90 minutes skate skiing
-20 minutes running w/ stretching and situps & pushups

Wednesday: -70 minutes skate skiing w/ streching and situps & pushups
(Sleepy Hollow Practice Race - 1st place)
-30 minutes on trainer w/ streching and situps & pushups
-2 Cycles of Strength Exercises

Thursday: -60 minutes on trainer w/ stretching and situps & pushups
-35 minutes running w/ stretching and situps & pushups

Friday: -30 minutes on trainer w/ stretching and situps & pushups
-1 Cycle of Strength Exercises

Saturday: -90 minutes skate skiing
(Eastern Cup Finals - 12th place)

Sunday: -50 minutes skate skiing
(Stowe Derby - 4th place)

In a groove

So, I'm really happy with the way my winter training is going right now. This past week felt good. I'm having pretty good sensations while skiing and indoor biking is still chugging along with a little bit of jogging. I do need to start biking a little bit more soon. I'm not too worried about it though - it is going to be hard to keep myself off the new Time VXR I have (waiting to get built up) all spring and summer long. This is going to be one amazing bike.

Monday: -25 minute run w/ stretching and situps & pushups

Tuesday: -95 minutes skiing w/ stretching and situps & pushups

Wednesday: -60 minutes skiing w/ stretching and situps & pushups
(Sleepy Hollow Night Race - 1st place)
-30 minutes on trainer w/ stretching and situps & pushups

Thursday: -120 minutes skate skiing w/ streching
-30 minutes running w/ stretching and situps & pushups

Friday: -2 Cycles of Strength Exercises

Saturday: -120 minutes skate skiing
-60 minutes on trainer w/ stretching and situps & pushups

Sunday: -60 minutes on classic skis (teaching touring lesson)
-30 minutes on trainer w/ stretching and situps & pushups
-2 Cycles on Strength Exercises

Lake Placid Loppet

So, I managed to put together a pretty decent race and get 4th at the Lake Placid Loppet. For those not in the know - the Lake Placid Loppet is a 50k ski marathon on a very hilly course. Last year I did the half-loppet (25k) and the course definitely caught me off gaurd and ill-prepared. This year I've been doing some focused long hard skis (thanks for the company Dan!) since I got back from Egypt and it definitely paid off.

The course is 25k long and is a figure-8 shape. So, last year I did 1 lap in 1:30. This year I did 2 laps in 2:41. That's progress. Helen raced as well and she improved her time as well by 6 minutes for the 25k - even though she said she felt like she skied the race easier than the year before!

The start of the race gave me good confidence as the early pack in the first couple kilometers included Eli Enman and Eric Tremble - 2 guys who I sometimes train with on the skis. Eli went on to take his first victory in Lake Placid (hip-hip-hooray) and Eric ended up in 3rd spot. Eric and I both ski for the Northwest Vermont Nordic Ski Club.

Probably the best part about the Lake Placid race apart from the challenging course, is the banquet afterwards. The food is plentiful and actually really good (I think - its hard to tell though because a piece of wood could taste good after a 50k ski race). Its a fun atmosphere to just sit around with everybody and talk about the race that just happened.

In other news here are a few other things I've done lately:
-Went to the Banff Mountain Film Festival (at UVM put on by the Skirack)
-Taught a free Sunday morning skate ski lesson at Bolton Valley (10:00am every Sunday)
-Won a Wednesday night practice ski race at Sleepy Hollow (Its fun under the lights)
-Traveled to Boston for the CCB team mid-winter pow-wow dinner at Steve Pucci (my equipment is way too good for me!)
-Went to an on snow demo down at Stratton to try out next years x-c ski equipment (somethings I loved and somethings I just liked)
-Scheduled my late winter VO2Max Test up at UVM for biking (oh wait, I need to do that)

go Go GO - Jake

A Good Skiing Week

Monday: -25 minute run w/ stretching and situps & pushups
-2 Cycles of Strength Exercises

Tuesday: -120 minutes skate skiing w/ stretching and situps & pushups

Wednesday: -60 minutes skate skiing w/ stretching and situps & pushups
(Sleepy Hollow night race - 1st place)

Thursday: -150 minutes mixed skate and classic skiing
(Stratton on snow demo)

Friday: -35 minutes on trainer w/ stretching and situps & pushups
-1 Cycle of Strength Exercises

Saturday: -180 minutes skate skiing
(Lake Placid Ski Marathon 50k skate - 4th place)

Sunday: -45 minutes on trainer w/ stretching and situps & pushups

The Winter Rolls On

Monday: -25 minutes running w/ stretching and situps & pushups
-60 minutes on trainer w/ stretching and situps & pushups

Tuesday: -150 minuts skate skiing w/ stretching and situps & pushups
-2 Cycles of Strength Exercises

Wednesday: -90 minutes on trainer w/ stretching and situps & pushups

Thursday: -35 minutes running w/ 2 x stretching and situps & pushups

Friday: -105 minutes skate skiing w/ stretching and situps & pushups
-45 minutes on trainer w/ stretching and situps & pushups
-2 Cycles of Strength Exercises

Saturday: -Off

Sunday: -60 minutes skate skiing
-60 minutes on trainer w/ stretching and situps & pushups