5 Peaks- Kananaskis 12k Trail Race

Today I ran my first trail race in a while. I haven't actually done a pure running intensity or workout in quite some time. As part of the Salomon trail team this year, I thought I would scope out one of the 5 peaks races before we head into our third training camp tomorrow afternoon.

The race was held at the base of the Delta lodge/Ribbon Creek trail system. Consisting of all double track trail, this was a pretty amazing course. Oh and not to mention in one of the most beautiful venues, it is still so hard for me to comprehend that I live here and the mountains are in my back yard.

With some music pumping we headed out for the 12 km trek. Lately I've been working on not going out quite so hard and saving a little for the end- or atleast not redlining at 1km in. The race climbed for 3.5 km from the start- so I had to practice a little self control. I would say I was successful in holding back, but I still have some work to do in pacing as panic sets in when I can hear others breathing behind me.

Then we had a sweet downhill (3km) bombing back down approximately to where we started and then took a sharp left and headed out for some more gradual climbing coulpled with some short steep climbs to add a little bit of an insult (haha). There was another awesome downhill section before we headed for home.

I finished 1st and then 10th overall. 55min at altitude with a ton of climbing. I think it is a pretty good time, its hard to tell?! Don't compare it to the road thats for sure!

To top it all off I tried out the new salomon Speed cross 2, they have a pretty narly tread on them! I would say these are sweet for racing, but you might want something with a little more cushioning for training such as the xt wings shoe!

I feel like I am in pretty good shape now, for sure some work to do, but I'm happy with where my fitness is.

ciao
xb

NEW SPONSOR ANNOUNCEMENT: SILVERTIP RESORT

I am very excited and honored to announce that Silvertip Resort in Canmore, AB has signed on to sponsor me this year! I want to extend a huge thank you to Ross Jansen, Eric Ommundsen and Jim Little for their support and enthusiasm for my pursuit to make the Canadian team for the World Cup, World Championships in Liberec, CZE and the 2010 Olympics. Please click on the logo in the side bar of this blog to visit Silvertip's website.

The financial support will help pay for the Alberta World Cup Academy team costs, as well as offsetting the time I miss from work.

CALL FOR SPONSORSHIP

Ah yes, that time of year again!

Financial support in amateur sport will always be a bit of a struggle- I could give you the sob story of how I eat tuna fish out of a can, but it is not true. I'm not a starving athlete! I train hard, work hard and manage to make ends meet the best I can while still having a bit of room to breathe. However, this year, with x-c.com putting the breaks on their racing program I have been left with a substantial amount of costs with the World Cup Academy. Don't get me wrong, every penny I put into this sport and the Academy is worthwhile- and I am not in it for the money. I love this sport beyond what any tangible or monetary item it could bring. That said, reality is, I need money to pay for the coaching, travel and Academy fees.

If you or if you know of anyone interested in sponsoring an athlete please send them my email address or forward this link- I have a sponsorship package and a dvd full of photos and proposals to make a financial relationship work...I also like long walks on the beach and candlelight dinners...in all seriousness though, there are a few options to ensure that there is something gained from sponsoring me, and of course I am always open to suggestions.

brookegosling@yahoo.com

Regards,

Brooke

SILVER STAR SPRING SNOW CAMP 2008

Well April is done! That means rest is done and playing and having fun...just joking, the real fun just started!

After making the switch to the Alberta World Cup Academy this spring, two days later I was on my way to Silver Star, BC with the rest of the 15 new team members and two coaches.

I will be honest here and say that I was not at all prepared to go from blasting around the trails with my uber fast running friends and dancing it up on friday nights to being back in athlete mode. So the first three days of the camp I spent being grouchy and not sleeping. The mistake I made was trying to seperate the two "lives". So on day four I decided to stop fighting the fun vs. business sides of sport and just let the two coexist- after that I was back to my normal self- even throwing in a bit of a hammer ski and a trail run. BALANCE YOUNG GRASS HOPPER!!!

We worked a ton on classic technique- however my quote on day two of the camp was "I just don't feel like absorbing technique or taking constructive critism" yes, that was my nice way of saying "leave me the *^&% alone"...note to coaches and teammates, I have a mean streak! (sort of?)

It puked snow on two occasions, leaving us with a beautiful, perfect winter wonderland!...on May 9th!!!....but it didn't really stop me from loving it! My favorite conditions are deep wet snow- so I was all up for a good day of cruising slowly!

Canmore is warming up nicely and I'm happy!? to report I did my first rollerski intensity yesterday- I forgot how much I love to hammer!!! This is going to be a great summer!

cheers,
Brooke

MAY 1- giddy up

What am I doing this year?? by this year I mean from May 1- April 1 (the Nordic skiier calendar).

I just accepted a spot on the Alberta World Cup Academy! After a month of debate and questions and worry about how I will be able to financially afford this I decided that it is the best option for me at this point in time!

However, I don't want to sign off before making a point of expressing how amazing my parents are. After phone call after phone call filled with tears of not knowing how to proceed with the 2008/2009 season (see previous posts) today they told me that they would help make it work. This is not the first time that my parents have seemingly found a way to believe me more then I think I believe in myself. Afterall this is just as much their pursuit (without the sweat of course) as it is mine and if I do well then it is something that echos through my family and similarly if I get my heart broken (and I'm not talking about guys) they are the first to scoop me back up on my feet and tell me to try again.

My priorities this spring have changed drastically and my love for the sport as grown exponentially because of this shift in thought. Instead of skiing being the be all and end all of life, it has become a part of my life and something that complements who I am- it doesn't define me.

This april has been so refreshing and I think I have mastered the perma-grin. There is not one thing I would change! Life can be so amazing if you allow yourself to enjoy it!- who knew!!!???

May 1st!!!! GAME ON!!!

That Time of Year...

Down time is definetly not my strong suit. Atleast in the past two years it hasn't. Last year I took 7 days off and then started racing mountain bikes. This year, was a different story- I haven't been on my bike and I took a FULL three weeks off completely from training! I was exhausted.
The past season was awesome! I improved a ton and I got to race in my first World Cup and then I travelled to Europe with Dasha and some others.

However, today they posted the National Team. I didn't make it. I knew that it was going to be a a bit of stretch, but I will say that I am still a little upset and there were definetly tears- I guess I just kept believing up until today and my heart kind of just did a dive bomb. A lot of people have told me that I had a great season and I was so close and that I should be on the team, but I'm not, and I know I need those coveted world cup points to have made it. At the same time I am a bit confused about what I need to do. I can't be bitter, its a waste of energy. So now I just surround myself with the people I love and those that understand and see what happens- this is the life I chose and supported by the National Team or not I have to find a way to be the best!

The cool part is that I know I have improved and I know I have a lot left in me. During February and march I could feel that I was getting stronger and that it will just take another summer of training, of focusing on every step and training with a purpose and goal everyday. I know I can make the Olympic team, I believe I can.

The thing is the realization of knowing I need to believe and then implementing that unwavering confidence in yourself seems to be where I get a little lost. Okay very lost. I bombed the world cup for no other reason then I was completely and utterly petrified. How can you be petrified of a dream? or furthermore of a dream that you are living and chose to live? the only answer I have to this is that failure and doubt just immobilize you to the point that it screws up the habit all of us Nordo's and endurance athletes have worked so hard to make a habit- the ability to just push and go into a pain cave. What I realized at the World Cup is that I am just as fit as any of those girls, I have great technique, but I am still scared of pushing it and taking a chance when it matters. Its kind of odd because I take chances all the time in training and smaller races. Sometimes I blow up, but more often then not I don't. So the biggest goal this summer will be to take more chances in intensity and race simulations- I can't play it safe anymore.

I should have confirmation of what I will be doing for the summer and 2008/2009 season shortly and will let you know the direction then.

However, what I do know is that I am hungry to win. I'm hungry to race and that more then anything is what is important to me!

Thanks to everyone for the support this year!

Final Standing in Canada: 6th Distance (moved from 12th last season), 7th Sprint (moved from 26th last season)...thats pretty awesome!!! :) FIS world Cup Eligibility!!! WOOOHHHOOOO

And I wonder why I take bad action shots!!...