Summer Training

Happy summer, solstice, and strawberry moon! Even though summer only officially began the other day, the last two weeks in Vermont have felt like the perfect summer weather. With the exception of a few bugs, it's been pretty close to perfect with warm (but not too hot) temperatures, low humidity, and plenty of sunshine. As a team, SMS has been able to take advantage of these ideal training conditions with a lot of volume training. We've trained on our usual rollerski and running loops around the Stratton area, but have also gotten out for some new routes on skis, feet, and bikes.

One of our OD runs out to Stratton Pond (erika photo)

Doing some distance skating with Goob (Pat photo)

Mtn biking on some new trails in Dorset with Izzy and Kate

Skiing out to the town of Stratton with the girls and Cork on the bike (Pat photo)

We're incredibly lucky to have such a strong training group with so much support in Stratton. Almost every day of the week we have at least one group workout that is supported by our coach Pat and U.S. Ski Team coach, Jason Cork. Matt and his girlfriend, Steffi, came to visit last weekend and we had Matt and Jason on the bikes supporting us and Pat driving the van and hiking up the mountain with extra water. To say we are well taken care of is an understatement. Not everyone's plan is exactly the same, so we still are able to get in some alone time training, which is also nice every once in awhile, but I find it much easier to motivate myself for training when I get to do it with a group of friends and teammates. It's nice to be part of this team that is so open and willing to help each other turn our weaknesses into strengths by learning from each other. I never hesitate to ask Annie for lifting technique or striding advice, to double pole behind Jessie as she breaks the headwind so we can keep up, or ask Erika to lead me in an uphill skate interval and I know they feel comfortable doing the same with me because that's how we're going to get better as a team.

Dirt road rollerskiing (pat photo)

Finishing our OD on top of Stratton with KO (Pat photo)

This tree fell to the ground ten meters in front of us when we were skiing one day. Had we been three seconds faster, we would have been a big SMS pancake breakfast! Instead, we decided to do some tree work and move it out of the road (Jason photo)

My sister and brother have both now officially made the move out west, but it was nice to have my sister home for a week before she headed out. Here we sport our matching t-shirts that were given to us separately in the same week!

We have been doing quite a bit of training with the SMS high school and Devo crew as well. We lead agility sessions before strength 2-3 times a week and also get in an interval session or distance run with them when it fits and we're in a place safe enough for a large group. Several times a summer we hop in our 2 mile uphill run test and one mile uphill double pole test with the SMS kids to see how our strength and fitness are progressing. I've done two running races this summer and have been lucky enough to have a bunch of the SMS junior boys to try to hang on to until I blow up. I was psyched to set a PR in the uphill run test and I probably owe a lot of that to the junior boys I was chasing!

Jessie and I led some foot agility and showed the juniors some of the exercises we've learned with the U.S. team (Pat photo)

Simi lining up with our Devo crew to do some hurdles (Pat photo)

Fin practicing his slalom (Pat photo)

Hurdles (Pat photo)

Cheering Jessie on as she does the uphill run test again (Sver photo)

Start of the uphill run test (Sver photo)

 In addition to a lot of training, we've been able to do some fun non-training summer activities like summertime grilling, swimming, and venturing out of southern Vermont. We're only two weeks away from our camp in Alaska and my two weeks will be a mix of some more volume training and plenty of recovery before camp. I'm looking forward to being reunited with my U.S. Ski Team teammates in Alaska, but first I'm crossing my fingers for two more weeks of summer days like these in Vermont.

Enjoying a sunny afternoon at my parents' house

Pat making sure he gets enough protein

Adventure up to Burke to do some mountain biking and hang out with Matt, Steffi, and Sim at Matt's cabin 

Jessie taking a dip in Hamilton Falls