This is the basic outline of the camp.  The idea was to get in all the testing first and then get into some good training.  The training is not meant to be killer.  The load of the skier’s training at this level must be kept up consistently and so a huge training camp could be counter productive.  These sessions are all meant to enable the skiers to work on specific technical goals as well as to learn pacing (mostly an exercise of restraint) in training.

Not all of the skiers did this schedule to the T.  Andrew Johnson did many more interval sessions and Kris Freeman much more volume.  Others added, removed or changed some workouts as they needed to accomplish their specific needs.

Monday: Velocity Testing and distance rollerski.  Distance Run.

Tuesday: VO2 testing.  Distance Run.

Wednesday: Rollerski distance.  Rest.

Thursday:  Skate Threshold Intervals.  Distance Run.

Friday:            Strength test and strength workout.  Run/Soccer.

Saturday:  Doublepole Threshold Intervals.  Easy Distance.

Sunday:  Long Run.

Monday: Water Skiing, Surfing, Wakeboarding (not a “true” rest day).

Tuesday:  Skate threshold intervals.  Strength.

Wednesday:  Classical Time Trial.  Distance Run.

Thursday:  Distance Skate.

Friday:  Skate Threshold intervals.  Strength

Saturday:  Distance double pole.

As reported in the last camp update everyone had improved their treadmill test over their past tests.  The improvement over May was dramatic in all cases, but even more encouraging was the improvement (for those who tested last year) over last July and in many cases even over last October.

In training the skiers were better this camp at nailing the right intensity level in the intervals.  Training at the right intensity level in distance skiing is something all these skiers know how to do.  The more experienced ones have the restraint to stay in that intensity level.  This is important.  In training you get what you pay for – the physiologic adaptations you get are the ones you train to get.

Psychology was another task we took on, but which is something we have a long way to go with.  A part of this is team atmosphere.  In this department we have done very well, but this too is something we have to work on quite a bit before snow falls this winter and races bring different levels of stress to the group.

Thank you goes out to Claire Casey who cooked for us at this camp.  She put together three squares a day, each of them extremely healthy and created for athletes in training but which were also straight up gourmet.  Sarah Walker also helped Claire out – Thanks Sarah.

Thank you also to Justin Wadsworth for his extremely hard work at this camp in spite of having four broken ribs.  Thanks also to Pat Casey, Matt Whitcomb and Chris Grover who convince me daily that they are The Answer.  Awesome job guys.

Thanks to our sports science and medical department who are always there for us when we have questions, and who are ever willing to do the poking and prodding to get the right answers for each of our athletes.  This crew works hard – and I appreciate it greatly.

Thanks finally to the athletes who are the team and who have made and who will always make the team what it is.  While all the helpers do their helping, the cooks do their cooking, the coaches do their coaching and the scientists do their poking and prodding it is the athletes who are accountable for their preparation, their training and resting, for the quality of the team’s environment and who are fully in charge of their own destiny.  The athletes are boss.

Thank you team.

It’s a long road and there isn’t one day to lose. 

(Images to be put up soon - computer issues!)