QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Perhaps the greatest human tragedy of all is watching people abandon their innate personality and simply discard themselves along the side of life's road"

Jump in with both feet, fight to reach your potential and above all believe that anything is possible if you are willing to work hard enough for it.

SKIING IN LAKE LOUISE!

SNOW!!
We are finally skiing!
The World Cup Academy are staying at the Lake Louise Inn in Lake Louise. Currently Moraine Lake Road is groomed and in perfect condition! It feels awesome to get on snow and see how the strength work I have done this summer has paid off. So far, my classic skiing seems to huge difference, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I almost enjoy it more then skating now.

We have had some beautiful days and I am so excited to wake up in the morning and hit the trails.

Tomorrow we have some intensity or a sprint race simulation! I think the biggest thing for me when working on speed is just to keep my technique in control. Sometimes by trying to just go fast without thinking about keeping your legs and arms in line it seems to make it worse and frustrating.

Have a great day!
Brooke

VO2 Testing Photo...its not pretty!

Testing, Ego's and Belief

Today was day two of testing week.
On Wednesday I did a V02 max test in Calgary which was pretty interesting. I'm definetly fitter and stronger then I was in May, and thats really the key thing about testing! However, I will say that I was pretty nervous because really its you against a treadmill and most of the time, regardless of your physiology, if you can muster up enough courage you will always find that you can push harder then you thought.

Today was the uphill double pole test. I felt pretty good and because of the dual start I was able to ski with Kate who has a lot higher tempo then me, and that is definetly something I had to work on. There was a pretty annoying head wind which for most of us except for Kate would mean that our pb's would remain at arms reach, but I am trying to not think so much about that, but rather the effort and if I could have done anything differenly to earn some precious seconds back that I lost to two of our ankle biters- my ego took a bit of beating. HOWEVER, I have to say that back in May I was not even close to them and I don't think I EVER predicted in my wildest dreams that I would want to win or be the fastest in a double pole...anything. So even though I am a little bummed that I didn't "win" I know that I have improved so much this summer and I am definetly pumped to get on the startline and to FINALLY have confidence that I can hold my own in double poling!

The other thing I noticed about myself after this test today is that I can go WAY harder then I thought and I also have more in me after that effort, the thing is it didn't come from me being fitter. The difference was that I think I am finally grasping the idea of believing. On Wednesday during the VO2 test I wanted to stop, I didn't think I could bare andother second on the treadmill (I'm sure my caveman like form is proof of this) but I just started repeating to myself "you got this, you so have this" and voila I was able to prove to myself I am strong and I am capable of anything I put my mind to...this of course was coupled with the Kate, Mike and the two lab people screaming at me...however it kind of sounded like they were yelling in slowmotion!

Then today when Mike said we had to do another lap up the hill after what I thought was our last round I had to quickly switch gears and say to myself "I can handle this"...and you know I still could push through a lot of the lacate that had built up in my arms and now that I new what tempo was, the third time up actually felt a lot more in control and stable.

So yeah, its been pretty fun to know that at 28 I am still improving and to gain some confidence back in my speed and power. I am definetly curious to stand on that startline and see where my body will take me!

snow should start flying soon!
b

wow, what a start to the week.
Right now I am trying to eat as much as I can I feel like a train has hit me. Yesterday I ran a 5km time trial on a track...yes, I just said that evil word. We decided to see what kind of speed I had in me because I've been running well on the trail, and I also wanted to use it as a test to not be intimidated by the track. For all the years I spent running, I dreaded track, and lived for cross country. I really only ran track because I had to and because my friends were on the team!

We had set out to run between 18min and 18:30, which I think I am capable of, however I fell off the pace pretty hard, I just didn't have that extra gear to turn it over the the last 12oom and so I was a little off the pace. BUT the good thing is that I am about 10lbs heavier then I was when I ran track, so its a good gauge of fitness for this time of year. It was also great to have the Foothills YRG kids out running around the track too.

Today we had a 5hr overdistance planned for highwood pass. Thankfully Mike drove me down as there was no way I was rolling down! I would say that this was a good workout for me because at the start I was pretty much convinced that I wasn't going to be able to do much more then an hour, but ipods and drink mix do incredible things, coupled with the boys who were double polling, I could keep up with them on my skate skiis.

Other then that I think I am recovering quite well- we'll see how tomorrow goes!

5 Peaks- Canmore 13.7 km Trail Race

On saturday I raced my second trail race of the year. The race was held at the nordic centre which is definetly a plus! I've made it my mission this year to get as fit and confident as I can on this course, mostly for the ski season, but running and bounding are also great measures of how hard you can push on the world cup courses. Lately I've been surprising myself as places I would normally heed the advice of the voice saying "take it easy here" I have been pushing it aside and trying to find an extra gear or to just trust that anything is possible if you believe in yourself enough to just try it!- usually you end up finding out that the sky is the limit and you are the only one who can make the decision to go harder and dig deeper and once you figure out that you are in control of that, it makes racing a very different ball game!

I would love to say I took this race out tactifully and easier and that I made a plan of attack. When the gun went off any race plan I had made went right out the window as there was a girl from the university of Calgary Track team who basically took off from the start. I had a moment of thinking about letting her go, but decided to go with her and give her a run for her money. Basically the only thought I had was "this is MY course", I love the downhills and I love the relentless climbs. I looked down at my heartrate monitor at km 2 and it read 185...but I kept on the heels of the girl in front of me, knowing that once I hit the single track and downhills I could try to put a gap on her. I was actually shocked at my confidence- normally I think something is wrong if I'm with the leaders. This time I felt I belonged!!

I managed to put a small gap of about 150m into her until the 11km mark and she went blowing by me at warp speed. Oh yes, I forgot that track runners are fast on flat land if given the chance! So I had to muster up the courage and try to find some speed in my legs- I didn't quiet catch her, but for me, it was definetly a great race! I haven't ever felt in control or confident in my physical ability, so this was a very big turning point.

I'm pumped to race again- whether it be running, rollerskiing or bounding, but I want to keep on developing this new found feistiness and eventually I know I will be able to hold it until the end!

see you on the trails!

The race season is coming up FAST.
Get obsessive.
Be Relentless.