I've started training for next season....

[Woodserson]

Good luck, let us know. I find this all inspiring to kick myself into high gear. I was sick as a dog most of all last year with an undiagnosable ailment that flattened me. I recently passed where I was fitness wise before it started, so now I want to really keep this crush going. CRUSH

[lowangle al]

I think your cardio is fine. If you want to increase your chances to keep up with alpine skiers i will suggest again to do some strength training.

[bauerb]

yeah, I need to increase leg strength. tele skiing is basically a series of 1 leg squats. I will be introducing some plyometric work, jumps and lunges. my plan is to work up to a few minutes of continued jumps and lunges to simulate a ski run....the draw to compete in trailing running is strong however....I did a 5 mile trail run today. it was nuts because it was so crowded. I'm used to running all over Big Sky and maybe seeing 1 other person all day...

[greatgt]

Been working my arms and wrists by using my claw hands holding a beer...Lots of repetitions there....playing golf today...At Barton...It's a workout....Not a flat course....been driving the Wrangler on dirt washboard roads....Have not hit my head on the roof so still alive.....Been cutting wood....damn that was a body breakdown....Took a hike up and around the Woodbury Quarries....Real training begins when the snow flies...Think in terms of 1-2 inches of snow and rippin..... dippin...sweat like a ocean....poles to hold me up....slashed by brush....skid off rocks....slide on tree trunks....But it helps....sorta....naw it just hurts....Get in shape boys, it's close...TM

[bauerb]

I wish I could train like that. my problem is that I was dormant for 10 years. last winter proved I needed a radical change. so basically I've spent the last 6 months trying to become 35yo again.

[bauerb]

I have my first trail 5k this weekend. its so short my biggest concern is getting my diesel engine up to speed before its over. next weekend is a trail 10 miler which should suit me better.

[bauerb]

5k yesterday was tough because I exploded my heart rate. I followed up by running 6.5 miles today which felt great. today I managed my HR to a "long distance" range. yesterday I just let HR go through the roof because the distance was so short. I realize now that I have the endurance for the 10 miler as long as I keep my HR in the right range. that will mean power hiking the hills for sure.

[CwmRaider]

Since last autumn I'm also training cardio again relatively seriously after a 15+ year gap during which I was active (skiing, cycling, hiking) but not really training purposefully.

Most of my runs are aerobic in zone 3 or 4 (aerobic), but I find that short hill sprints are great for training high intensity. Warm up, 20-30 seconds sprinting all out with 3-4 minutes break (slow jog or walk) between intervals. Repeat 6+ times. Uphill because you're less likely to get injured (shorter strides for all-out sprint). This is called "Wingate HIIT". It works for me.

[bauerb]

I agree with the speed work once a week or so. around where I live there are basically no hills, so speed intervals are important. they don't exactly replicate the muscles used on hills, but its close in terms of cardio exertion. I'm still trying to figure out a weekly training plan since I am racing every weekend through October. I'm not fast in my races( despite somehow winning my age group last weekend), but for me races make training more interesting. but I seem to be quickly approaching an inflection point where I want to get more into trail racing, and ski fitness will be a byproduct....

[bauerb]

ran my first 10 mile trail race today. went very well. miles 7-10 felt great. I've learned that if I just keep my HR at 85-90% of max, the distance is no problem. when I get my HR above that, I can only hold it for short distances and then need recovery . I have 2 half marathon trail races coming up later this month. looking forward to them. seems like ages ago when I couldn't manage running 1 mile, 3 times per week, but that was April this year!