Time Flies!

Time has really flown this winter, and though it feels like the first Eastern cup was yesterday, I find myself reporting on the last Eastern cups. Due to a lack of snow in central New Hampshire, the races were moved to Craftsbury where there was a solid amount of snow, and a challenging 5k loop. The Thursday before the races we welcomed 6 norwegian athletes that joined us for the next few days: one coach, three Nordics, and two alpiners.

Saturday was a 5k classic and it did not go particularly well, but the 10k skate race was AWESOME! It was a mass start and it was really fun. I really enjoy racing in packs and playing around with group tactics. I skied the whole race with a bunch of people that I have known for a while and ended up with my best result of the season, and that is always fun!!

Climbing out of the stadium in the classic

Staying relaxed before the start

Getting ready

And off we go!

Charging!

Happy faces

Some of our victorious Norwegian guests!

Upon returning to campus, we welcomed more guests as we hosted a training camp on campus. The school was on break, so we nordics had the run of the place! It was a great training camp, and we had some great distance and technique workouts and the Norwegian coach, Bjorn, showed us a cool strength workout that World and Olympic champion Marit Bjoergen does 3 times a week! We ended the camp with a great sprint time trial. It was really fun to train with some new people and do some different workouts. At the end of the camp, I headed home to recharge, kick a head cold, and spend time with my family. I had a fun trip at home and got to catch up with my friends and ski at Waterville, Craftsbury and Trapps with my family. 

Gals skiing in a line

Group photo after a glorious workout at Mt. Hor. That's the other side of Willoughby Gap, Mt. Pisgah in the background

Marit Bjoergen's core workout

I’m back on campus now, and lucky for us, it snowed about 6 inches this weekend! There are some big races going on up on the hill, and competitors and parents are arriving from all over the country, and in some cases, the globe. Some of my  teammates are traveling and racing and I’m planning out the rest of my season; it is a very exciting time!!

Thanks again to the Hills and Pete for the photos!