9/8/10
Two weeks of rest and recovery training has my body feeling refreshed and re-energized.
Coming off of the sugarloaf camp my body definitely felt the stress of having trained my highest ever volume week of my life. Last week was spent catching up on a great deal of needed rest and recovery. I spent most of my time stretching, doing yoga, working with the Physical Therapy department at Cary Medical and getting massage work from BethAnn Chamberlain. I also took some time off from rollersking to give my legs a break from the stresses rollerskis can cause. At the end of the week we completed a VO2 max test to see the progression we have made as athletes since May when we last tested. My test went well, despite not being able to completely max out due to my legs giving out on me before I had reached my true max. My numbers were still very solid with my VO2 max well over 4 liters which shows I have the engine, now all I need is the technique.
This past week was a transition week used to get back into training, but still giving my body a bit of a rest. I was able to get a few solid upperbody sessions in through paddling, swimming and double pole workouts. I also had some very good intensity sessions and I am feeling back to my normal, energized self.
At the end of the week my boyfriend, Matt Bard and I took a mini-vacation to Southern Maine which was the perfect end to the past two recovery weeks. We were able to visit with some good friends and family, spend time at the ocean and attended a beautiful wedding right in Old Orchard Beach. After getting in some solid runs, soaking up the sun and eating lobster by the ocean we headed back up to the county relaxed and ready to get back to reality.
I plan on doing the 3rd Annual Harvest Classic Bike race in Caribou this coming Sunday, September 12th and hope to see lots of you there. I am only around for another nine days at which time I am flying out West to head to Wyoming for our first team altitude camp. I am really excited and I can't wait to write about and update all of you in two weeks. Until then enjoy my favorite season of the year, Fall.
August 24th, 2010
The past month has flown by with the past two weeks being my highest ever volume weeks.
I never quite realized how wonderful it is to do nothing sometimes. As an athlete you get so used to training every day and when you wake up and you don't have to train something seems terribly wrong. However, after the past two weeks of 25 hours and 20 hours my body was quite content to wake up and spend the day cleaning the house and gardening. I apologize for the long delay in an update but I promise to be much better and keep one going every two weeks.
This past month was incredible for training. The highlight was a team camp in Sugarloaf, Maine. We stayed at the brand new dorms at Carrabassett Valley Academy and had the most amazing cook for the entire week, which when you are training high volume means a lot. While in Sugarloaf we went on multiple team hikes, took advantage of the hills for intensity sessions and even had the opportunity to use the Skeet Shooting range. My favorite part of the camp was hands down the last hike we did on the Friday before we left. It was a base to base hike from Sugarloaf Alpine Lodge to Saddleback Alpine Lodge that covered 20 miles, climbed 8000+ vertical feet over 6 peaks and took 7 hours. We covered many miles on the Appalachian Trail, rested at some amazing river pools and ended the hike above tree line from Horn Mountain to Saddleback Mountain with views of the many lakes that Rangeley has to offer. Afterwards Will took us to an little country store in town and bought us the most amazing smorgasbord of snacks from fresh farm peaches and plums to mouthwatering birch beer soda. Needless to say the next morning I woke up exhausted and spent the entire day in front of a coffee shop quite content to read a book and play around on my computer. I do have a new favorite coffee now as well, Carrabbassett Coffee company. The entire week was incredible and I logged at total of 25 hours which was a new personal high. My body seems to be handling it really well and I am feeling really strong.
Getting back up to Aroostook County was a great feeling and I realized over the past four months the county has truly become my home. We had a great week of training and ended the week taking part in the Caribou "Under the lights" running race. It was a blast and so neat to see so many kids and parents out there supporting all the runners for just a fun event. I also ran a solid time which was pretty motivating as well because it definitely showed me the gains I have made in my overall fitness and that I am truly in the best shape of my life.
This week is a rest week and we have VO2 max testing at the end of the week. When I first arrived here in May we did baseline testing, so I am excited to re-test and see what kind of gains I have made with the past four months of training. It is crazy to think that September is right around the corner and that school has started and the leaves are changing. Summer flew by and I am really excited for fall training, which is my favorite time of year to train. There is nothing like the smell of fall leaves and a cool-crisp fall afternoon running through the trails. It also means snow is right around the corner.
Until next time enjoy the fast-approaching fall weather and the cool evenings which makes for quite excellent sleeping.
Sunset over the Marshes in Old Orchard Beach
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Getting ready for a morning run
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All dressed up for the Wedding. Pier in Old Orchard Beach
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Southern Maine (Cape Elizabeth near Scarborough, Maine)
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