Slovak Direct on Denali

https://youtu.be/QUMHPnV8qz0?si=pTOhRlosLErV1Fx-

A GREAT ESSAY … Is skimo as silly as it seems

http://t-dawgspeaks.blogspot.com/2015/11/is-skimo-as-silly-as-it-seems.html

A possible PR on yesterday’s run up Mount Van Hoevenberg

Hard to tell exactly, as I have no frills version of Strava, and I was not taking the most direct route to the state trail. But, it surely was a good run, and a great view.

BLAST FROM THE PAST … the blatten chapel

Lenny and I stopped in, during our hike up to Furi in March 2023.

The Blatten chapel, called the "Maria Rosenkranzkönigin" is always open.  The chapel stands on a small rise, on the "Blatten" – a rock ledge in the eponymous hamlet below Furi, at an altitude of 1,740 m. This chapel is one of the best known in Zermatt.

The baroque chapel with recessed choir was built in 1640. The entrance was originally located on the north side, where its outlines are still clearly visible. It was moved to the east side in 1704 and protected with a porch, and massive pillared arcade. 

The interior and exterior of the church were renovated in 1983.
The stone-vaulted chapel is dedicated to Mary, Queen of the Rosary. The small altarpiece is from the early baroque period.
The altar is crowned with a simple statue of St Joseph. 

The original Madonna is missing; it was replaced long ago by a plaster figure. The Zermatt priest Oswald Perren made the chapel a gift of its current Madonna from southern Italy. A simple Stations of the Cross without inscriptions decorates the chapel nave.

Lots of rain but managed some good training

In between bouts of rain, this past week I managed to log 14.5 hours of exercise, on 149k (114k bike, 32k run, 3k ergometer), and 4100' vertical. I also managed two strength workouts and two yoga sessions.

What does fatigue resistance depend on?

It's worth clicking on the link to the second study conducted with pro cyclists, and the full research abstract that is provided.

https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/endurance-and-fatigue-resistance/

BLAST FROM THE PAST … old sketchbook and planner

I found this stored in the Fossil Cabin, it dates back to the summer Jon was born, when I ran the Adirondack Trail Improvement Society's, summer day camp. That was also the summer I met Ben Runyon, a Rutgers student, who was a counselor on my staff. After his final semester the following fall, Roger Loud hired Ben as an NCS teacher.

Nice run on the Jackrabbit Trail

Some great bouldering possibilities if the glacial erratics were cleaned up!

Excerpt from Rick Ridgeway’s book

https://www.patagonia.com/stories/life-lived-wild/story-102412.html?utm_source=em&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=050324_nomader&utm_klaviyo_id=01GQMSY133HGKT7KSCB0CMAK2H&_kx=VOA8zu5fg4rURwSosHy2WlWapQ1Ue6IQgCg0iNyBd8g.YgU9me

Another book from the Hock Alpine Library .., Ultra- marathon Coffee Table Book

A profile of 13 of the world's best races (100k-160k), 16 portraits of elite runners, and 13 short essays about important issues in the sport. But, a slew of terrific photographs!

All are well out of my range, so no doubt I will gift it to my daughter, who did her first ultra foot race last weekend. However, I still hope to be on hand again for another UTMB week to run out on the course and watch all the action. I also have on my bucket list, to camp out in Silverton for a few weeks before Hardrock, so I can run the trails, and rub shoulders, with everyone as they acclimatize.

Potential Adventure Goals For 2024-25

In this post, I'll just list some of the options which are further afield, more or less, they are all on my bucket list. Just hoping to find partners and the necessary cash!

NORWAY … attend the Holmenkollen World Cup, ski hut to hut, or do the Birkie
CHAMONIX … various trail runs, climbing at Gaillands, as well as some bouldering
ZERMATT … summer/fall ski, VK trail race, climb Breithorn and maybe Pollux
CASCADES … nordic in Bend, skin Mount Bachelor, and some of the Three Sisters
COLORADO … Gothic Mountain, various skimo races, or trail running at Hardrock
BANFF … Film Festival, Frozen Thunder, and backcountry ski touring
YOSEMITE … trail running on Valley floor and ski touring Glacier Point and Badger

Lucy Wins The Big A 50k

Lucy jumped into a 50k on Saturday, just as on over distance workout. She won, with the third fastest time in the 13 year history of the race.  The race had just under 6000' vertical climbing.

Excellent start to the new training year

Officially, it was a short training week, as the data was compiled into two different training years. However, if you lumped it together the full week yielded: 16 hours of exercise, 136k (99k bike, 34k run, 3k row), with just under 5500' vertical. I also logged two strength workouts and two yoga sessions.

Simple power test for fossils

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/22/well/move/strength-30-second-power-test-aging.html

TRAINING GOALS FOR 2024-25

Ideally, I would like to average about 15 hours a week of training, with maybe 4500' vertical, coupled with three stretching/balance sessions, and 2-3 strength sessions. Ideally, I would also like to have at least 120 days on snow, with the rest equal combinations of running, hiking, and biking. In annual numeric targets - given fluctuations from injury to periodization for big events - that means about 750+ hours, 225k vertical, 130+ stretching, plus 100+ strength sessions.

Within those basic parameters I would also like to add more ergometer warmups, climbing (bouldering and easy snow climbs) as well as MTB (rail trail recovery rides).

Outside magazine book review of EVEREST INC.

Seems like it might be interesting.

https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/books-media/history-guided-climbing-everest/?utm_term=ool&utm_campaign=ool-longreads&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8N0nTUdh8pI7RmLEoN7uXGXmnk_1qe9j7CB81p9G3EMli_nohWuk51cwi6GcmIJse-doMnBZ-3156UFJwbGO7k6lCwjw&_hsmi=305337974&utm_source=newsletter

Quick analysis of my 2023-24 training year

It was another good year, in that I met most of my goals. I exceeded important goal parameters in total volume (700+ hours), total accumulated vertical (200k+), total yoga sessions (120+), annual days on snow (110+), more yoga than previous years, and a 20% increase in strength sessions. Additionally, I continued to race, logging five events, and where I continued to perform well. My best race was the Stratton Skimo, where I finished sixth (but 4th to the top). I also finally got to bike in the Prouty with my buddies.

However, as always there were disappointments. Despite making the best of a very crappy winter and hitting the low end of my targets, it however was my "shortest ski season" in awhile. So, there was more cross training without vertical, fewer annual days on snow, incrementally less riding lifts (although I think my downhill improved, and with the exception of the toll road, almost no backcountry skiing!

Walmsley … excellent new video

Well, as they always say "fifth time is always the charm."  A great - full length - documentary about his journey. Wonderful race footage, superb scenery, and nice look at his taking up the sport of skimo, and becoming "one with the poles."  The video got me psyched for the Broken Arrow VK in June, and my trip to Chamonix in October. 

https://youtu.be/MbXwKTZoLQ4?si=4RN7o_WAO30RYaVX

Last day of 2023-24 training year

Yesterday, I managed some good training in between rain showers. I started the day with a PT strength session at Sports Med, then did intervals at Whiteface (he picture was looking out toward Vermont after my last lap). This afternoon I did a 25 minute warmup with Stash and then an hour on the exercise bike.

The top line data from last year's training log were as follow: 723 hours of exercise, 218,661' of vertical climbing, 118 days on snow, combined 264 running/hiking sessions, 264 biking workouts (MTB and exercise bike), 152 yoga sessions, and 62 strength workouts.