My Cross Country Ski Training |
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This series shares my cross country ski training activities, and here we are in Week 8 of this training year (which started the first week of May). My workouts are still not yet ski specific, except for a few of the strength exercises that build tricep and pulldown arm strength for poling. However, I did get into the kayak for some core and arm work, and mainly because it's fun to be out on the water.
Before getting into this week's training log, here's info. about the photos. Here I am digging deep at the finish line of the running race this week. In the last hundred yards, I heard the pitter patter of fast feet behind me, so I did my best and finished ahead. In the circle image, that's my racing friend Georgia, sharing some post race laughter. As for the top-of-page image, that's me racing in a raging snowstorm at the Yellowstone Rendezvous Cross Country Ski Marathon.
This is the last week of a 4-Week Block of early summer training. This block features basic aerobic training, with a few ski specific activities, so you will note that the strength workouts have some tricep and arm pulling that mimics ski poling. There are usually two intensity sessions per week, but they are mostly Level 3 aerobic and not into Level 4 much yet, although this week's race did get into Levels 4 and 5 for sure!
Even though last year I was roller skiing and kayaking a lot more during this training week, I am just now starting to kayak and will get on the roller skis a little later as well. I'm generally following the Central Cross Country Ski Association plan for cross country ski racers, and ski specificity is not required just yet, even though last year I started roller skiing immediately during the first week of May.
This year I am hoping to benefit more from working on my leg speed and power by running and cycling more during early training, and then to ramp up with roller skiing and other very ski specific forms of dryland training a few months later. So stay tuned for those workouts, because they are fun and productive.
This blog is based on my cross country ski training, and the info. is provided just for those who are curious about the kind of training cross country ski racers enjoy doing to get ready for winter fun at Lake Tahoe and beyond. You can view more of my training log by clicking on one of the navigation links below.
So let's check out Week 8...
| Week 8 | AM/PM | Mode | 4th of a 4-Week Block: a variety of modes, bike, run, may kayak or roller ski if desire. 1-2 workouts/week @ L3. Can go into L4 gingerly. Add some weight, ski specificity & plyometrics. Goal 9:20 (of 40 for the 4-week period) | Hours: |
| Mon | AM | OFF | ||
| PM | OFF | |||
| Tue | AM | Run | Intensity pre race tuneup intervals: warmup 15min L1, 3min L2, 3min L3; then 1,2,3,2,1min.ON/2min.OFF L3+ My coach says, "This is not much of an intensity workout but just waking up the body. You don't really need a hard intensity this week, as you had a big one last week and the important thing is too feel good for the race on Sunday! Find flat terrain, either pavement or a dirt road. You want to focus on quicker turnover running and not trail 'slower' running. Still make sure this run is super easy though - the flat terrain will assist in quicker turnover." | 1:40 |
| PM | WT RM | Strength:
15min cycling warmup then 1minON/30secOFF 1.Short step hop running R-L-R-L for 20 hops; 2.Hop scotch short step hop L-R in, L-R out etc for 20 hops; 3.Hop scotch both feet in, both feet straddle up hill 20 hops; 4.Sideways hopping scissor legs for 20 hops; 5.Russian Twists v-sit w. 10lb. weight; 6.Quick step ups onto box, lift knee up in front; 7.Standing curl, weight behind head up&down, work triceps; 8.Tricep bench dips; 9.Tricep pushups; 10.Partial pullups; 11.Front plank; 12.R and L plank; 13.Pulldowns on weight machine R then L; 14.Leg extensions on weight machine; 15.Waist-to-hips pulldowns on weight machine. |
0:45 | |
| Wed | AM | RdB | L1 cycling w. 6x20sec. accelerations | 1:38 |
| PM | ||||
| Thu | AM | Run | Overdistance: trail run 15min. FastWalk then 2x (50minL1/10min.Walk) | 2:20 |
| PM | ||||
| Fri | AM | OFF - Taper Day 2 Days Before Race | ||
| PM | OFF | |||
| Sat | AM | KYK | Pre-race day, save my legs, kayak ez, first kayaking this year :-) | 0:45 |
| PM | WT RM | Strength:
15min tr. Running ez then 4x20sec accels then 1minON/30secOFF 1.Short step hop running R-L-R-L forward; 2.Hop scotch short step hop in-in-out-out; 3.Hop scotch both feet in, both feet straddle; 4.Sideways hopping scissor legs; 5.Russian Twists v-sit w. 10lb. weight; 6.Standing curl, weight behind head up&down, work triceps; 7. Partial pullups bottom-middle; 8.Tricep bench dips; 9.Tricep pushups; 10.Partial pullups; 11.Front plank; 12.R and L plank; 13.Pulldowns like classic ski on weight machine R then L; 14.Low pulldowns waist-to-thighs on weight machine; 15.Weighted situps 10lb on chest. |
0:45 | |
| Sun | AM | Run | Race Day: 10K road and trail. Warmup: 15min L1, 3min L2, 3min L3, 4x20sec accelerations, then Race! | 1:31 |
| PM | Mowed lawn, easy walking | |||
| Total Hours | 9:24 | |||
KEY: The references to L1, L2, L3 and L4 in the spreadsheet refer to heart rate zones, with L1 being lowest heart rate. A general way to think about these heart rate training zones is: L1 is Level 1 - very easy to talk, L2 is Level 2 - easy to talk, L3 is Level 3 - difficult to talk marathon race pace, L4 - cannot talk 5K race pace, L5 - WFO sprint pace maximum speed. Key to modes of training: Ski Walk/Bound SW/SS, Ski Skate SSK, Ski Classic SCL, Rollerski Skate RSSK, Rollerski Classic RSCL, Road Bike RdB, Mountain Bike MtB, Kayak or Row KYK, Double Poling DP, Weight Room/Strength WTRM. (For in-depth information about training plans, periodization of training and all the details that go into making up a training year, please look for CXC Academy or another training organization for that kind of detail.)
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DISCLAIMER: All sports including Cross Country Skiing have inherent risks. This training page is provided as information only. It is not a prescription for training. It is provided without the benefit of assessing the reader's health, fitness or skill. It is not a substitute for qualified personal coaching. Obtain a doctor's medical assessment before engaging in strenuous exercise. By reading this page, you agree to indemnify the author and any associated entity from any harm you may incur if you decide to follow the training program, and you agree you are at your own risk and that you hold harmless the author and any other associated entity.
- First Woman Overall in the following races: Kneissel Rendezvous Marathon, President's Cup Marathon, Ridge to River Iron Woman, Pepsi Challenge 10K, two consecutive years: 10th Mountain Division Biathlon, and Muskoka Loppet
- First Woman Overall and First Mixed Team wins for three consecutive years: Ski to Sea and Ridge to River multi-sport races
- Second Woman Overall in the following races: Ski Jeep Challenge Series, Gatineau Loppet 27K Worldloppet Race, Superior Ski Classic Marathon, Grand Marnier Cup Marathon, Yellowstone Rendezvous Half-Marathon
- Third Woman Overall: Payette Lakes Ski Marathon
- U.S. Ski Association Cross Country Ski Championships results:
- 26th Place Women All Age Classes in 20K Freestyle
- 32nd Place Women All Age Classes (3rd in Class F30-39) 25K Freestyle at Royal Gorge
- 51st Woman All Age Classes 15K Classic at Lake Placid
- 2nd Woman Overall in the Masters Category Age 30 and up (First in Class F30-34) 20K Classic at Royal Gorge
- U.S Ski Association Masters Nationals results:
- First Woman Overall 25K Freestyle race
- 6th Woman Overall 10K Freestyle race
- 6th Woman Overall 20K Freestyle race
- American Birkebeiner 53K Worldloppet Race Elite Wave starter for two consecutive years finishing 22nd and 29th Woman Overall (5th in class F35-39 both years).
After moving to Lake Tahoe, Mary Kay won several Top 3 Woman finishes in Far West Cross Country Ski events. She joined U.S. Biathlon Association and won two consecutive years Overall Woman at the 10th Mountain Division Biathlon, and was runner-up in her third year. She won Top Gun at the Washington State Biathlon Championships, out scoring all men and women. Currently, Mary Kay is a member of Ishpeming Ski Club and frequent competitor in cross country skiing, bicycling and kayaking events.
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