The last few weeks have been awesome! Training is moving along nicely and although I am starting to feel the last three weeks of a tougher block I feel like I have made a ton of positive gains! To top it off most of the skiers in the valley have been taking advantage of the ski loop at the Nordic Centre and although its small, its a much needed break from slamming my poles into cold pavement!
Canmore of course was beautiful today, we finally had a sunny day! today we did a combination run/ski workout. We skied around for 2 hrs and then ran up the highline trail to finish off a volume day. There is a ton of snow on the highline which made navigating some of the rocky sections a little challenging.
We leave for our first races on November 21st to West Yellowstone. I am pretty excited to start racing as I have worked really hard on my weaknesses this summer and I am hoping it will translate to faster skiing.
I hope you have great day!
Brooke
NEWS
ABOUT ME:
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Its Been a While
Wow, its been a while!
Honestly I just didn't have anything to write about other then how training is going and well, for me training is always going well- I love it! I have always maintained that even when I stop racing I'm pretty sure my training will increase because then I wouldn't have to worry about optimum recovery or trying to peak. BUT for now I am pretty happy to just keep following the program and trying to find a way to get fitter and faster everyday.
Canmore has been pretty cold and snowy, so our rollerskiing has been thrown off a bit, and I will admit I didn't dress well enough or warm up well enough for our first intensity in the cold, but I am adjusted pretty well now. I love running in the snow! Everything looks so clean and in the forest it muffles the sound of your footsteps its just beautiful.
Obviously I would have liked an extra few weeks for rollerskiing, but this weather isn't so bad for training, in fact I rather like it a lot- it means the season is coming up and that means an opportunity to chase my dreams!
have a great day!
Brooke
Honestly I just didn't have anything to write about other then how training is going and well, for me training is always going well- I love it! I have always maintained that even when I stop racing I'm pretty sure my training will increase because then I wouldn't have to worry about optimum recovery or trying to peak. BUT for now I am pretty happy to just keep following the program and trying to find a way to get fitter and faster everyday.
Canmore has been pretty cold and snowy, so our rollerskiing has been thrown off a bit, and I will admit I didn't dress well enough or warm up well enough for our first intensity in the cold, but I am adjusted pretty well now. I love running in the snow! Everything looks so clean and in the forest it muffles the sound of your footsteps its just beautiful.
Obviously I would have liked an extra few weeks for rollerskiing, but this weather isn't so bad for training, in fact I rather like it a lot- it means the season is coming up and that means an opportunity to chase my dreams!
have a great day!
Brooke
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Kind of funny
This is a photo from the Calgary race (Ambulance Chasers Charity Run) we did last weekend...
Monday, June 15, 2009
Canmore Challenge Update
The Canmore Challenge chewed me up and spit me out. The course trashed my legs and my ego! There is nothing more humbling then getting you but kicked by nature and happily paying $40.00 to get it kicked!
The race went well I did what I could with what I had on that day. The women took the race out hard and from less then five seconds in I was racing for survival. At one point I forgot I was racing and just had "up and over" running through my head. I didn't have anything in the tank for a speedy finish as I had hoped, but I was happy with the almost puking, just want to lie down and sleep feeling after- that was the point afterall! I am still recovering...apparently I'm getting old!
This race was also the qualifier for the World mountain running championships and although it is tempting to hop on that plane for an Italian holiday I think staying here and staying focused on skiing is the best thing. Mountain running will be there next year and the year after!
We have a mellow week this week! and then testing week next week. The race I did on Saturday served as a "prep" for our V02 Max test which is running and although I gave it my all on Saturday I will have to get myself in a whole different zone for the V02 test.
off to work!
Brooke
The race went well I did what I could with what I had on that day. The women took the race out hard and from less then five seconds in I was racing for survival. At one point I forgot I was racing and just had "up and over" running through my head. I didn't have anything in the tank for a speedy finish as I had hoped, but I was happy with the almost puking, just want to lie down and sleep feeling after- that was the point afterall! I am still recovering...apparently I'm getting old!
This race was also the qualifier for the World mountain running championships and although it is tempting to hop on that plane for an Italian holiday I think staying here and staying focused on skiing is the best thing. Mountain running will be there next year and the year after!
We have a mellow week this week! and then testing week next week. The race I did on Saturday served as a "prep" for our V02 Max test which is running and although I gave it my all on Saturday I will have to get myself in a whole different zone for the V02 test.
off to work!
Brooke
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Trail Racing Season!
(K-Country/Delta lodge 5 peaks 2008)
Trail racing is my favorite sport next to sking. I love everything about it! The only time I don't love it is when I am on my own and there are "Bear in Area" signs-this is usually the time I start sprinting and an easy workout turns into a race.
This weekend is the Canmore Challenge weekend. I have never actually raced in the Canmore Challenge! I have done a few 5 peaks races and a Zugga Invitational (also a cult fav!).
I haven't been running too much this spring as I am trying to work on my weaknesses which is mostly anything to do with upperbody strength. So I've been hanging out in the gym and then dragging myself around the pavement with my arms. Some one actually commented on my shoulders so I must be getting stronger! However, as most runners know, too much muscle is not a good thing and I have this terrible fear that I now "run like a nordic skier".
Running like a Nordic skier isn't a bad thing...it just means you don't look as pretty when you run. Finesse and flow are replaced by power and not as much efficiency.
That all said I am so excited to race! The Canmore Course is relentless and it definetly allows you to find your limits (and push past them). The key is to stay relaxed enough climbing that you can focus on the downhill and rooty section- you don't want to be so smashed at the top of a climb that you can't put it in full throttle for the descent!
Good luck to everyone racing! It looks like we are going to have a nice dry course!
ciao!
Brooke
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Silverstar- Camp #1
The skiing was better then it was last November minus the cold! However we did get quite a bit of fresh snow the first few days we were there which at first I wasn't overly thrilled about, but as soon as the sun came out, the camp seemed like a holiday (that may be a bit of a stretch, but for those who work full time/flex time you will probably understand me when I say that training camps are like holidays!).
Most of the time I come out of training camps feeling better then when I went into them, this is mostly due to the fact that I actually have time to do the little things, something I need to do a better job of while at home.
The new team is great! It was amazing to see the improvements in everyone and also the lack of complaining that accompanied most training sessions last year. Overall I think we are coming into the spring a whole lot fitter as a group then we were last spring.
We also had our first time trial/ race. To be honest it felt pretty good and although I was dead tired the next day, it was so fun to push hard!
...now its time to see if Canmore decides to have a summer, right now it doesn't appear that way!
Most of the time I come out of training camps feeling better then when I went into them, this is mostly due to the fact that I actually have time to do the little things, something I need to do a better job of while at home.
The new team is great! It was amazing to see the improvements in everyone and also the lack of complaining that accompanied most training sessions last year. Overall I think we are coming into the spring a whole lot fitter as a group then we were last spring.
We also had our first time trial/ race. To be honest it felt pretty good and although I was dead tired the next day, it was so fun to push hard!
...now its time to see if Canmore decides to have a summer, right now it doesn't appear that way!
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