The Cold

The last week in Canmore has been an interesting one. When we got back from Silverstar we were greeted with frigid temperatures. Canmore was like a ghost town, no one was walking around on main street, no cars were driving and evidence of our van that had turned into an icebox around lake louise definetly all pointed to a very uncomfortable arrival home.

Even the first two days, I tried to remain positive, but after not being able to fullfill the volume block of training on my plan, I started to panic a bit. Then I started thinking about intensity and how I would keep things moving forward from the first races and well all I could think about was how much I wanted to go home to Ontario.

It is now only -14 in Canmore. Which is much more tolerable and I can do intensity in this weather too. We did do a 60 min z3/4 pursuit yesterday in -18 which is legal for races, so I figured I would have to get used to racing in the cold, slow snow. I was pretty tired at the end, but happy that I did it because I feel a lot more confident on this snow then I had other years.

The nordic centre is still taking their sweet time with opening the world cup loops- I am very anxious to get on these and do some intensity!

We have lots of workouts planned as a group which will keep things sharp.

have a great day!

Brooke

Haywood NorAms #1 and #2

Hi There,

We just returned from two weeks in Silver Star for the first two NorAms of the season. Overall they went really well, I feel like I've been able to transfer a lot of my strength from the summer and fall onto skiis and I am definetly a lot fitter then I was last year.

The skate sprint was great! Although after the qualifer I wasn't all too happy. I had qualified in 17th and had to claw my way through the heats. I have actually never skiied that aggressive and without so much as a negative thought and then all of a sudden I was lining up on the startline for the final. I noticed I was a lot calmer through the heats then I have normally been and I think this saved my energy! I ended up 4th on the day, my best sprint result ever!

The 10km skate individual start was pretty good. I followed my race plan to a tee. My lap times were about 2 seconds apart. So I think that maybe I could start a bit harder. Lesson learned. I ended up 4th again. Bitter sweet because I was only 9seconds off of a medal! BUT I am very happy and content with where my skating is for this point in the year and also that we haven't let up on training at all. So I am pretty excited to start to taper a bit!

The 15km skate mass start was okay. From and effort standpoint I did what I could on that day with what I had. Unfortunatly it wasn't enough to hang with the pack and I finished about 1minute back, which I am not overally happy with, but I know that I have to just trust that when things come together they will really come together. It was more of a battle with myself and knowing that I had to be tough and that is what would pay dividends later.

The classic races were a bit tougher for me. It took a few days to recover emotionally from the distance race, but when I looked at objectively I really can't be too upset. There are no excuses for the performance, but I definetly have to dress warmer for cold weather and start to read the terrain better so that I don't burn my arms out, I think it is also important in adverse conditions to just keep your blinders on and race your own race. I was racing everyone elses race except my own. So a tough result, but a good lesson!

Its pretty cold here in Canmore, but it seems that everyday its warmer then -20 it seems to be like a balmy sunny day! After the NorAms the one thing I'm sure of is that I need to learn to race and ski better in cold conditions, so I decided to stay here for Christmas and just aclimatize and work.

I think the first set of NorAms went pretty good. Of course I want the win and I can feel it getting closer. I'm pumped for trials and I'm excited to just improve again.

See you on the trails!

Brooke

Some Thoughts

wow, I'm impressed with my blog updates this week...I'm sure I will forget soon enough. Sometimes I like to write things here because I know I can go back to it when I forget...

This year is going to be hard. There are no easy days or easy races. Everyday I pull that bib on I have to go into the race ferocious and ready to fight. There should be no thoughts other then "what can I do to get there the fastest". Fight for seconds- the field WILL be tight, lots of women have stepped it up and there are lots of youngsters coming up. On race day age, past races won or lost, experience, or injury fade away. Its you against yourself- dig deep and tuck a little longer, free skate out of the downhill, propel yourself over the top of the hill, challenge yourself to go faster in the middle of the race, fight through the sticking points, accept and relish the pain, know that the pain is only temporary and you can always overcome what you inflict on yourself.

Go for it. Stomp it. Claim it.

Cheer for yourself. Believe in yourself.

Be Relentless.

and don't forget to smile. If your a nordic skiier you already know its the greatest sport out there and you already know that there is no better job that that of a full time athlete!

Get ready to pounce!

Brooke

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