Training Log Archive: coach ld

Mono's trails got ruined by the rain and warm winds so their race got moved to Highlands where the trails were also decimated but they got enough snow to cover the glaciers that formed in the flash freeze - just. There were a few patches of very hard bumpy ice near the sugar shack but up top conditions were remarkably good - thanks to lake effect snow and Chanse. Poor guy started grooming at 10 last night and went all night to get a course groomed for the race as well as trails for the public. Hero.
But there were limits to the system. Really only the yellow and blue were good enough for a race. The old ladies had to go up and down the escarpment twice! There were no real flats - but it was also quite cold so we stayed warm:)
I felt great but I'm slow. Mrs. Huet smoked me again but it was fun and I felt fast even if I wasn't. The sun came out too which was nice. What a great group of people the volunteers are to stand out in the cold so we can rip around.

C • Slow? 2

Crazy weather day. Rain +12 overnight, no snow left, then a drop in temps to 0 by noon and freezing rain, sleet, ice pellets, then big fat flakes then fine snow and wild winds. Managed to get a walk in this morning with my umbrella and rubber boots. The river was up almost over the banks with big ice floes. So, an indoor core workout and stretching seemed like a good idea.

Torture at the hands of Anna. Extreme pain and then an amazing release and relief. Hopefully I can stay this way for a while. Although a 15+hour car ride next week may undo all that therapy.

Goose and I got up to Highlands to enjoy the snow before the rain came. It was still -10 when we arrived but the sun was shining and the trails were sweet. A bit of sunshine on them made them like butter and skating was fantastic:). We did the full red with the Woolner Loop at a good pace then I stayed up and did 3 repeats of the Millenium Loop fast down, hard up, recovering on the flat. Skied hard up the first finger and second and then repeated the Quarry loop x 3. Without a water pack. Then I felt hungry and suddenly remembered I had forgotten to eat breakfast. Otherwise I felt good and the gliding was so awesome I went out the back red with a big smile on my face.
EFI ski :) And now I am tired.

C • Wow 2

Squeezed in a very short, bumpy skate in the park and a bit on the river before a meeting with Tman's new household. While we were there we got a call that he had smoked his face on a counter at the day program and his nose was bleeding badly and his mouth. They had called 911 and were waiting for the ambulance. So that meeting was pretty much over, and then it was a couple of hours in emerg at Brampton Civic, in line with about 10 other ambulance gurneys. Luckily Tman was his tough self and despite probably having a whomping headache seemed ok - until they tried to glue the cut on his nose shut. That took 4 of us. Well now they are getting to know him:)

C • Oh NO! 3

10 x 100m double pole sprints
1-minute intervals x 10
then relays and agility slalom.

Easy flat ski on the river that despite the above 0 temps was solid and pretty smooth. There were a few slushy spots but it wasn't as bad as a couple of days last week. The back was tight but ok at low intensity.

Positively balmy today!! We poled over to the playground and made mashed potatoes of the snow there but had fun playing tag to tromp down the snow then balance work and relays.

Midland Loppet today at Mountain View It was still bloody cold this morning but with damp air moving in which made it feel chillier for some reason. Conditions were excellent though. great grooming and a good course. However, I sucked. The mass start was ok. I was where I'd expect to be and climbed the big hill with another woman in my category, stayed with her to the top and then my back just seized up? I could hardly stride and double polling hurt. We skied for quite a while around several big open fields so I could see everyone pulling away from me -seemingly effortlessly, gliding beautifully. It was another great day for classic skiing. I was in agony every time I tried to pole hard to step forward. An 11 year-old whop started 5 minutes after me, skated by :(. i cheered her on and resigned myself to just getting through the first section of the race. I figured I had to get down to the start/lap area anyway, and then I'd drop out. Then my back seemed to loosen and I was suddenly passing the 11 year-old. So I didn't drop out. The final 5km is on rolling terrain through a golf course and I was ok in there until about 3km in and then my back seized up again. I finished, and did a cool down - at the same speed I raced!

C • Back trouble 3

Warm up and cool down with Mrs. Huet - who kicked my a$$

Wanted to get on skate skis as the snow was warmer this afternoon after I helped with the wee Jackrabbits. I was tired but felt I hadn't skated much at all recently so I went out to work on technique and balance and to see if it hurt my back. It was ok and did few short "speed" pieces but stayed on the lower loop. Repeated it 6 times working to one skate into and then pop up the one small hill.
The southwest winds were crazy. It blew 2 of my Jackrabbits right over! In the trees it was fine but in open places it was whiteout conditions. 124 was closed and Airport was pretty sketchy coming home with so many people returning from holidays and getting diverted off 124. Goose is good though:)