Getting back to business

It hasn't really been the kind of season I was hoping for so far this year. Going into a senior season, one hopes they won't be sidelined by injuries for the first month, only getting back to their freshman form with three races left.

I've been battling some Illiotibial Band (IT Band) issues since the beginning of the season, keeping me from participating in many team practices, and limiting my running to only a couple of days per week. As any athlete can tell you, being apart from your team can really get to you, missing out on big events because you physically can't do them. Luckily, I've been able to keep active through cycling, but it's still taken its toll.

Dinner.

Another thing an athlete can tell you is that when you pull them out of athletics, it will affect them in their daily life. For a student, this can mean classes, personal commitments, or just daily function. Trying to pull yourself out of a funk when you just aren't there is one of the biggest struggles you can have, and sometimes you just need to take a break.

This weekend, we hosted the VT Intercollegiate Cross Country championships, where after four weeks of disappointing races, I was able to finally break the elusive 28:30 mark again, having cracked it first at this race in 2013.

Now that I feel that I'm going somewhere with my training, it's time to figure out everything else.

What a time...

These past few weeks involved some heavy racing, some flying, a lot of driving, and snow...

I never thought about how much time I actually put into my competitions, but having spent almost more time away from campus in the past few weeks than I have on campus, it's been a weird period.

Scott Nichols photo

Things led off with the first Saint Michael's carnival since 2011. It was nice racing at my new home course, even though it was a double classic weekend. The races didn't go all that well, it was bitter cold and snowing all weekend, but I managed a 49th place finish in the 10k, while my relay team placed 28th.

'Twas a cold and snowy day... (Silke Hynes/EISA photo)

Dartmouth was better, much better. Day one was a skate sprint, which, although not my forte, did not go horribly. I ended up 104th overall in the Supertour results (52nd in collegiate). The men's sprint course at Craftsbury is a doozy, with a tough climb through the 1k mark. It was there where I somehow managed to pass the starter in front of me.  Neat.

It was also cold for the sprint. (Silke Hynes/EISA photo)

Day 2 was also skate (a nordic combiners dream). Even better, it was a 10km. When I woke up that day, I honestly wasn't really ready to race. My legs still felt tired from the day before, and it was still pretty chilly. But somehow, everything clicked. 

The Craftsbury 5k Race Loop is one of my favorite courses to ski, and I loved it that day. I ended up 64th in the SuperTour, and recorded my first top-40 finish on the Carnival Circuit, coming in 33rd.

I was the eighth starter. I was the third one across the line. (Silke Hynes/EISA photo)

That night, I was in Salisbury, CT, prepping for the Eastern Ski Jumping Championships the following day. It was a long drive. The jumps went alright, as it was my first time jumping since August. 

In flight. (Scott Nichols Photo)

That night I drove back, in a storm, from Connecticut back to Burlington. Ugh.

Jump to this past weekend. Middlebury Carnival double 10k weekend. 10k classic, 10k skate. This weekend, I had my career best classic finish, a 46th place that felt about accurate. It was cold, so cold that they delayed the start of the race by 3 hours.

Why has it been so cold!!! (Silke Hynes/EISA Photo)

Following this was the 10k skate. Yes. Mine again. I surprisingly did not feel that great, nor did I look great out on course, but I somehow pulled out another top-40, coming in 39th, in a tight group where 30th was only 15 seconds away.

Still cold. (Silke Hynes/EISA photo)

After Midd, I travelled to Holderness, NH for the Cheri Walsh Memorial Classic Race, another 10k and my last shot at qualifying for Junior Nationals. I did well, 38th overall, but not well enough to drop my points. Oh well. Now to focus on the rest of my collegiate season and planning my spring skiing adventures!

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Getting into a Rhythm.

Alright, so here is a look at what the last week or so has brought us here in Winooski.

Late last week (actually right before the last post), the Nordic Team went down to UVM for the first round of a movement study by the University of Auckland!

Saturday was race day (see last post), and Sunday was a nice easy shakeout day around Instant Park.

By Friday, my leg was acting up, so I decided to go for a nice chilly ride around Colchester. it was a cloudy day, and not much for sights up there.

On Saturday came one of my favorite workouts, UVM Track repeats. I felt pretty good during my set with Tyler and Mike, 12:00 at :90/lap, 800m recovery, 9:00 at :85-:87/lap, 800m recovery, then 12:00 at :88-:90/lap + hard lap at the end. After the 9 minute set my calf started to act up, but throwing on a compression sleeve helped for the last set, which I held steady at :88 for the last 6 minutes.

Also on Saturday was the 'Grand Opening' of the new MetroRock Climbing Gym in Essex, so naturally I went to get some vertical with Jamie, Julie, and Chris.

And Sunday, the coldest day of the week, Coach had me do a 2hr ride rather than the hour and a half run, take the pressure off my knees and calf for a little while. Although it was freezing, I still had a blast trying out a new route. 

I think I have finally found my rhythm this year, with the added commute from the north edge of campus every day to the new major. This Saturday MXC is racing at the Middlebury College Aldrich Invitational, a rather new one for the team.