It is not often you can go shirtless, at night, in November but that is exactly what more than a few did last night as temps remained in the 60’s after a record 74 degree day. I was going to take my shirt off as well but after several pleaded with me not to so I acquiesced, I did not want to gross anyone out.
31 skiers joined in a 29 rep crescendo of bounding as we built both the intensity and focus of the night (see HRM graph). For the large group of younger skiers joining us for the first time last night it was an eye opening moment. There is no Entitlement Generation on the hill. The influx of newcomers dramatized the need for and the disparity of technical skills within such a group. Simply put, a big motor still needs a transmission. XC skiing is too hard a sport to just try to muscle it through, you also need technique (and fast skis and a cool suit).
The conditioning level is improving quickly. This was week seven and the difference is dramatic but hard to notice as we have upped the intensity and quantity. Above/Below is an interesting graph of an undisclosed person who looks like Steve P. Click on it to enlarge it. Note the easy (?) build up in to the kill (red/anaerobic) zone. One is only able to survive at that peak for a few seconds that is why it is hard to get a feel for it. The Lactate Interval at the end takes those few seconds and stretches it out to a minute or more. They are important minutes as they give you a taste of what it takes to maintain technical composure while tired. Note the mini plateau at the workout midpoint. That is our OBLIQUE Scissors. The HR stays at a high level where you are stressing the system but not getting much recovery. This is where a lot of folks train all the time yet in too large a dose it may be counter productive. Of course for our use it is strictly an exercise in power and control….that and I like to see people suffer.
It was a very solid effort and things are coming along. Winter returns by the weekend so we will not have to see me shirtless. We start at 5:28pm. Bring a friend.
Stump Farm Trail Run is this weekend. See http://www.xcskiwinn.org/ and Birkie Class sign up continues at http://www.incompetition.com/.
31 skiers joined in a 29 rep crescendo of bounding as we built both the intensity and focus of the night (see HRM graph). For the large group of younger skiers joining us for the first time last night it was an eye opening moment. There is no Entitlement Generation on the hill. The influx of newcomers dramatized the need for and the disparity of technical skills within such a group. Simply put, a big motor still needs a transmission. XC skiing is too hard a sport to just try to muscle it through, you also need technique (and fast skis and a cool suit).
The conditioning level is improving quickly. This was week seven and the difference is dramatic but hard to notice as we have upped the intensity and quantity. Above/Below is an interesting graph of an undisclosed person who looks like Steve P. Click on it to enlarge it. Note the easy (?) build up in to the kill (red/anaerobic) zone. One is only able to survive at that peak for a few seconds that is why it is hard to get a feel for it. The Lactate Interval at the end takes those few seconds and stretches it out to a minute or more. They are important minutes as they give you a taste of what it takes to maintain technical composure while tired. Note the mini plateau at the workout midpoint. That is our OBLIQUE Scissors. The HR stays at a high level where you are stressing the system but not getting much recovery. This is where a lot of folks train all the time yet in too large a dose it may be counter productive. Of course for our use it is strictly an exercise in power and control….that and I like to see people suffer.
It was a very solid effort and things are coming along. Winter returns by the weekend so we will not have to see me shirtless. We start at 5:28pm. Bring a friend.
Stump Farm Trail Run is this weekend. See http://www.xcskiwinn.org/ and Birkie Class sign up continues at http://www.incompetition.com/.
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