Back to Business!

 

Another spring has flown by and I am now back to my normal training routine. Although I stay active throughout the month of April, May 1^st always marks the official start to the training season. This year our first team camp also started on May 1^st here in Lake Placid.

 

Although I love my job, it is always important to get a little time away during the spring and re-charge the batteries for the next season. During this time I really try and step away from all things related to sport. This can be very hard for me, as I am always thinking about ways to improve for the next season. Of course I don’t completely stop training during April, but I just don’t follow and set training schedule. If its a nice day and I want to go for a run, then that’s what I do!

 

Last spring was tough for me because of my compartment syndrome surgery at the beginning of April. Because of this, I was never able to truly get away for a vacation. So this year I wanted to make up for that with a big vacation. Along with my girlfriend and three other friends, we rented a sailboat in the British Virgin Islands for two weeks. This proved to be an incredible vacation and a great way for me to get away from sport for a few weeks. What we lacked in sailing skills (only one person really knew how to sail) we made up for in enthusiasm. By the end of the two-weeks we had everything down pretty well! It was great to relax on the beach, snorkel and of course fly-fish but by the end of the two weeks I found myself thinking more and more about training. That’s how I knew it was time to come home and get started again.

 

I arrived back from vacation to find it still snowing in Lake Placid. Luckily, this week it seems that winter has finally given up here and we are back to some normal spring weather. I will be here in Lake Placid for another two weeks and then we are heading to Bend, Oregon to join the US Ski Team for an on snow training camp. I have only been to Bend once and I remember it as having incredible spring skiing so I am definitely excited to go back. It will also be great to have the chance to train with the Ski Team. Only positive things can happen from sharing training experiences and ideas!

Progress

The racing season is now officially over for me and I am back home in Lake Placid.  After over four months on the road, it feels great to be back in my own bed.  All in all I am pleased with my season this year, especially when I consider where I started….

After a tough start to the season, I gradually picked up the pace and ended up with some solid results.  Plus I got to race in some pretty cool places!

But now it’s time to recover and plan for next season.  I definitely feel like I am capable of better results and I look forward to the challenge of making that happen.

Thanks to everyone for all of your support this season!

 

Ruhpoding World Champs

I am now in Ruhpolding, Germany for the start of World Championships.  My racing will begin tomorrow with the mixed relay and I am hoping to race five more times over the next 10 days.  This will definitely be a busy schedule but I am feeling ready for the challenge.

 

I spent the past two weeks training at altitude in Northern Italy.  My camp went very well and I feel like I am in peak shape for these Championships.  Of course it’s always tough to tell how you will feel without actually racing, but it seems like I am on track.

 

With biathlon being Germany’s most popular winter sport, they are expecting huge crowds for every race.  The stadium will be packed and I expect it to be very loud both in the shooting range and on the tracks.  This should make for some exciting racing and I can’t wait to get started!

Back to Sunshine!

I arrived back to Antholz, Italy last night after spending the previous two weeks racing in Norway and Finland.  It feels great to get back down South, see some sunshine and eat something besides fish and potatoes!

 

The past two weeks of racing were a huge success for our team as we posted many team and personal bests.  After struggling a bit in the middle of the season, it felt great for me to get back on track with some solid results.   I finished under the top-15 in the last 5 races and was part of the 6^th place mixed relay in Finland.  This had to be one of by best blocks of racing and I am excited to carry this momentum into World Champs in a few weeks.

 

As can be expected for February in Scandinavia, the past two weeks of racing were very cold.   When we arrived in Finland the temperature during training days was around -13F.  Fortunately, the temps warmed slightly for the race days but it was still quite challenging.  My body handled the cold temps pretty well, besides some minor frostbite on one finger.  Unfortunately, I had a lot of problems with my rifle in Finland due to the cold.  During the sprint race in Finland I was forced to call for help on the range and clear my rifle using a screwdriver before I could start shooting.  This was very frustrating considering I only finished 38 seconds back.

 

We now have a two-week break before the start of World Championships in Ruhpolding Germany.  During this time I will prepare in Italy before traveling to Ruhpolding a few days prior to the first race.  So far everything is going well and I am looking forward to what the team can accomplish in a few weeks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Antholz, Italy

I am now enjoying a week off from racing after competing 8 times in the last 18 days.  I decided to stay right in Antholz, Italy after the last races for my off week.  Antholz is the perfect place for the week with great Italian food, beautiful mountains, sunshine and perfect ski tracks right out the front door.

 

The last week of world cup racing went pretty well.  I was happy with my 12^th place in the sprint but I was also a little frustrated because I clearly could have reached the podium with better shooting.  The same could be said for the Mass Start on Saturday where I had the best ski shape that I have had all winter but I did not combine this with solid shooting.  This is why biathlon can be such a frustrating sport!  So much has to come together on the same day to have a chance at a top result.  But I guess this is also what makes it so special on those days when everything works out.

 

After a few easier recovery days, I am back to a full training schedule for the week.  With World Championships still over a month away, it is important to keep the training volume high in order to be in top shape when it counts.  Training longer hours is no problem when you are in a place like this!

 

On Monday I will leave Italy for Norway and the next round of the World Cup.  Of course I enjoy training but I am already looking forward to the next race!