Training Log Archive: igoup

Before heading out in the morning.

We delayed getting started because it was a good bit chillier this morning. Got going at 1045 and I think it was still only 5F. However, the air was calm and the sun was bright so it felt quite nice. Only wore my Brynje shirt, thermo short, and solaman jacket.

Since it was so cold and the snow likely a little slow I thought I'd do some classic skiing. I upgraded to rent so domo skis -- got some Fishers with twin skins. If I had the opportunity to ski more and could justify buying my own classic skis, I'd go with skins.

I think my technique was ok given. Would obviously take more practice to get good drive. And I think I was sometimes cutting my glide a little short and rushing back to the other ski -- that's a balance thing. But all and all I think I move along ok.

Downhills were another story. These dang classic skis don't have any edge whatsoever making turning really dicey. Even going straight was a more of a challenge because they didn't track as well. Ended up taking a few hard spills.

Overall, a really nice outing. Nice trails and some incredible views. Waxwing is a really nice trail.

(Added 350m and 3min due to inadvertent watch stoppage.)

3 loops. 2 on warm skis that had LF7 and 1 with cold skis that had LF4. Temp was in high teens. Seem to me that the warm skis again felt a little better. But they also seemed edge better. Mostly I conclude that I generally don't know what I'm doing.

Back to skating. Due to my extensive ski+wax testing I waxed my warm skis with LF6 and headed out. Still sunny and now high teens. Brynje, shirtk, Voler shirt and I was perfect -- head and face got chilly on the downhills.

I was dragging and had to keep taking breaks. I decided to just keep on my gradually uphill route for 5k and then turn around and zip home. Outbound was about 40 min and the return only 20. Another nice ski was pretty views and nice trails.

As I said, I was dragging and felt a little over-exerted in the evening. Maybe because I was skiing classic and I'm not practice at that. Maybe the falls in the morning took something out of me. Maybe the extra cold temps were draining. Maybe I'm just tired and working hard.

At Ski Granby Ranch for Lisa's first time ever on downhill skis. Spent most of the time with her guiding on the green slopes. Got in 2 runs solo on blue slopes and they easy; a couple more runs I'd be back on black. Very nice day and a good rest day from XC.

Before. Too tired after.

First night I woke up about every 90min, which was darned annoying. Didn't feel too bad during the day though. Last night only twice, which was much better. Didn't have any troubles falling asleep in either case.

Grand Lake Nordic today. Smaller place with a golf course as a core. However, there are plenty of blue and black trails in some really fun terrain -- would be great orienteering. The trails were narrow, twisty and had a lot of punchy hills. Good Birkie training and a nice change from Snow Mountain and Devil's Thumb. I really enjoyed it. However, I did get turned around and was going clockwise on some trails when I thought I was going counter clockwise, with the end result that I was confused and thought I was in the twilight zone. Eventually I just skied.

Snow was good and I felt like I could ski and didn't suck. Worked a bit on climbing with my left leg as drive (my weak side). I do suck at that.

Just like the previous two days I forgot to hit my watch at the start and have add a couple hundred meters and a couple of minutes.

More nice skiing, with more ups and downs and twisty turnies. I was tired though and tipped over for no reason 4 times.

Before and after.

Snow Mtn Ranch. 13F. Everything nicely groomed but slow going -- except for the even older folks who skied right by me going up hill. Lots of work but pretty trails. I like that those trails to the N and NW -- lots of big trees covered in snow. Some zippy and curvy downhills that are a lot of fun. Just a whole lot of work to get to the tops.

Worked on committing to each ski. I'm not as good to the left though. I think this is partly due to my knob toe and just a bit of asymmetry in how I'm built -- not much I can do about that. I think that is why I am much more comfortable driving off the right leg when climbing.

Ate lunch and relaxed for a bit. As it happens we ran into a big part of the Birkie clan: Coach, 'Todd and his boys, Rob and his boys. Hopefully we'll be able to get together some night this week.

Skied with Lisa for a little bit and then off on my own. I was hoping the warm afternoon temps would make the snow less grabby but it was still work -- lots of little breaks. Worked on shortening my stride so that I could always have good strides or as best I could. Finished plenty tired .

Quick at the the car before skiing then normal back at our AirBnb.

Woohoo! Up at 0400 for an 0700 flight. Because Lisa is a traveling badass she got us upgrades to B class. I was out before the plane left the ground. Heading west and up by 0930. Lunch, groceries and skiing at Snow Mountain Ranch at 1308.

Before we got going Lisa was being annoying by reminded me of the thing I told her to remind me of but that I no longer wanted to remember even though it was still the smart thing to do. And that would be to control my effort the first couple days so I don't hit a wall and crash on day 3. I tried.


Good snow! Accumulating through the morning after they groomed so there was 5-10cm of light stuff on top. Had to lift my feet but it was good skiing. Very good. I ended up climbing a route that I didn't even attempt until mid week last year. Started feeling tired at about 80 min but squeaked out a few more km's to hit 15k. I never got super winded -- before that would happen my HR alarm would go bezerk; not sure the physiology going on there.