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Massive Placid Post

Final Lake Placid update including race and training shots.

The race gets underway. For details on the race and the results see: www.nysef.org and go to the nordic tab. Thanks to NYSEF for putting on the race. 110 racers were registered. That's huge.

The leaders stretch out the pack... look at all those rollerskiers! The road up Whiteface Mtn. was closed for the race.

Two days before the race we did a session of 1km double pole intervals on a road that rolled up hill - sometimes fairly steeply up. Here the women hammering up the hill. We have skiers and coaches from all over the US at this camp creating a great environment for everyone to both learn and teach.

Here the men's group double poling intervals - VO2 intensity. Though it is great to train alone much of the time it is important, especially as races become more mass start and sprint oriented, to surround yourself with others and learn to stay calm and collected in the storm of poles, skis and egos.

Here is a good start position for the double pole. Weight forward, high hips and hands, reach with the elbows (not the hands), head down, upper-back round. Here comes the power.

The day before the race we went for a long easy skate out on... um... this road. What? For real.

The race started just below this sign and ended around 4867 ft. Sweet race, great workout, beautiful day.

About 1.5miles in.

And 3.5 miles to go. In an all up hill race pacing is important - it is tough to recover if you go under.

Freeman at the transition to ice... and to winter.

There are X number of days until you either realize your big goal or miss it. There are X days until you either realize your intermediate goal or you miss it. There are X days until you either realize your short-term goal or miss it. Between missing and realizing your goals there is one day. And that day is always today.

The day after the race we took a long easy classical ski. For training this was our stadium, our gym, our track...

Together we are creating a culture of preparation - not just a ski culture where lots of people ski - but a culture of skiers who use the process of preparation to develop themselves as exceptional individuals and valued members of a team that works together to become the fastest cross country ski racers in the world.

The leaders in the women's race. There are many different speed of rollerskis and this race had everything from the fastest to the average. A rollerski race is not a ski race. But any race is simply the opportunity to go as fast as you can - regardless of how fast your skis or rollerskis are or if you feel great or totally blow up. If you are healthy, to race and do anything but go as fast as you can on that day is a wasted opportunity.