Training Log Archive: SarahD

Tedious journey home, but met RH (who had skated Fredags Birken) at the gate in Oslo which was great for a natter / post race chat.

Birkebeinerrennet.
Brilliant. Great experience in amazing conditions. Tracks held up to the 10,000 amazingly well, with just a few short softer messy bits.
Race went absolutely as well as I could expect and was really happy with basic aerobic fitness. Found myself passing lots of people on the climbs, then as soon as the double poling started I went backwards. As for the descents, I call it a win as I managed to stay upright and was even brave enough to break 40kph. Needless to say everyone else was going a lot faster though! Felt cramp in my quads just as I reached the top of one of the steep descents from Sjusjoen, but I think the panic of cramping half way down actually helped me relax the muscles and I got away with it. My only amateur mistake was to carry a standard platypus and even before I started the pipe had frozen in the minus a lot conditions. So I carried an extra kg all the way round :-) With no liquid I stopped at all the feeding stations and lost a few mins queuing at the first, but after that they were quick enough and a lot easier than faffing trying to get things out of rucksack pockets on the move.
Big fat tick :-)
90km Vassaloppet? - hmm would definitely need some serious work on my double poling for that.

C • Brilliant 2

Short ski test from Rena Skole accommodation up to the start and back

Decided to get my skis prepped after watching a guy gliding away from me on a gentle downhill yesterday. Which means no skiing today. Which is good as I am still quite sore from Tues ski. And it's snowing (again) anyhow.

C • Chilly 1

Lots of stretching and keeping moving through the day

Took the bus up to Sjusjoen then skied out to Kvarstad and back. Kvarstad is just over half way, so I am now familiar with the second half of the course which is great. Beautiful blue sky day with the pistes in awesome pre BB condition. Would have been rude not to enjoy this, so just took it steady and stopped when I felt like it on the way out. Nothing too technical on this section at all. Climb back up from Kvarstad is quite long, but only a few short steeper sections. Back from Kvarstad in 90'. Chatted and skied for 5' with an older guy who caught me up and was relieved that he didn't burst into laughter at the prospect of me doing the race (although telling me at the same time that he was too old and it was too long...)
Out for 3h.
Bonus on the way back when the bus driver waved me on without paying as he didn't have any change :-)

Much needed... lots of tightness in expected places, but feeling better for that.

Lillehammer - Sjusjoen return.
Having some massive self-doubt issues as I headed up to find the trails out of LLH. Not quite where I expected or remembered, but eventually found myself climbing up towards the BB stadium and race finish area. Once past there I started to settle a little. Next 5km was very pleasant, but then the climb began. And just seemed to go on and on. Should have just chilled, taken my time, stopped more, but was eager to get up there and put it behind me. Stopped at Sjusjoen for hot choc and some food and felt a lot better. Then the descent back to the BB stadium was really quite enjoyable and much less scary than anticipated. Did the 13.4km from S-BB in 65', which is useful to know although I expect it to take a while longer on Sat.
From BB arena tried and failed to find another route back to LLH. So ended up with a scary descent down steep and narrowish not very well groomed piste. Glad that's not part of the race.
Well pooped by the finish. Probably more than I should be doing at this stage, but needed it for my head, which certainly feels a bit better now. Out for 4:40 total. Will keep it easier + shorter tomorrow.

C • It'll go fine 2

Travelling