The 2008-2009 training year ended this past Sunday and the 2009-2010 year started a day later on Monday the 27th of April.  CXC has wasted no time at all and our first training camp started this week.  We have been doing some baseline testing along with some light workouts and individual/team meetings.

For those that are interested I ran my 3000m in 9:47.  I believe it is my second fastest 3k.  What does this mean… I think it means I didn’t allow myself to get too out-of-shape after the conclusion of the ski season.  I am hoping for great results this year and am happy to start training a little more systematically after doing whatever I felt like during the month of April… usually short runs, riding my bike or wrestling with Grant.

This past weekend included my annual participation in the Trail Mix 50k Team relay.  I have raced with my team, the Nordic Ninjas, for the past two years. Each year the Nordic Ninjas manage to win the overall team event.  This happens for two reasons.  One, we are all decent runners.  Two and probably more important, all the really fast runners pair up with some less speedy folks or do the individual events. 

This year I was a little more prepared than last year and had about 30 miles on my legs since the ski season ended.  Last year I went out conservative and felt good for my 8 miles but this year my plan was to hang onto the lead for as along as possible.  This leader was the speedy Gear West runner, Brooks Grossinger.  By 2 miles into the race my eyes were already rolling into the back of my head… did I mention Brooks beat me by over 3 minutes last year!  About the time I was ready to blow up Brooks slowed way down and stopped.  We looked around and realized we had missed a turn.  After standing around and trying to decide what next, a runner from behind passed by and yelled “didn’t you hear this is an orienteering race?”  About 15-20 of us followed him as we bushwhacked through the woods and we eventually found our way back to the racecourse.

Once back on course the race finished well. Every year I forget how sore I can get after my first running race.  Yesterday I couldn’t move and today I skipped my normal bike ride into work.  Maybe next year I’ll learn and do a few running intervals before I jump into racing!

I have mixed feeling about this time of year.  I am excited for some warm weather and a nice break from structured training but sad that I won’t be on snow for another 7 months.  Maybe I’ll find some snow someplace in the Midwest before it all melts.

This past week has been tough as the entire family has been fighting a cold.  Grant’s illness turned into croup which is a very scary sounding condition.  His lympnodes in his neck swelled up so much he could barely breath and every other breath he sounded like a barking seal… really weird and the docs couldn’t do anything for him. 

He was feeling good enough by Easter to go on an egg hunt…

Yesterday I managed to get back home after dodging the volcanic eruptions of Mt. Redoubt.  Alaska Airlines was canceling their flights as my NWA flight was boarding.  We took off right before all flights were stopped from coming or going.  Our flight crew had been stuck in Anchorage for 8 days so I felt pretty luck to get back home in one very long day.  Grant and Marybeth were very excited that I was not stuck in Alaska; I had told them the day before that it may take me a few days to get home.

The day before was the last ski race of the season, the 50k classic national championship race.  I wish I had been healthy enough to race but during my ski the day before it was apparent I was not in condition to race… so I helped with some waxing and gave feeds.  It was a fun race to watch and all of my teammates did very well.  Even though I was not able to compete in the last two races of the season I am very happy with my winter of racing and am excited to start training hard later this spring.  Thank you to all my family, friends and supporters who help get me in a position to make next year’s Olympic team.  I am not there yet but will be training hard this summer in preparation for racing next winter.