Pre-Vacation Throw Down

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and shouting 'WOO HOO what a ride!'"

This moto comes to mind as I think about this past week.

I decided to take the opportunity to go out to western Alaska this July work as a commercial fisherwoman during the peak of the red salmon run. The work out there will be physically demanding and tiring but I will have little aerobic activity, so I decided that it was OK to thrash myself this past week. Here's what I was up to:

MONDAY
am: r-ski(sk) 4x5' L4 intervals up South Park Bluff w/ Elite team
pm: jog with junior team and be a quality control nazi for their strength testing
pm: r-ski(cl) 5x3.5' L4 intervals up Potter Hill. Set personal record on course.

TUESDAY
am: run w/ poles 4x4' L4 intervals up Gasline w/ Elite Team
pm: jog with jrs in wup/cool down and cheer as they time trial up the gasline
pm: bike Kincaid Loop Circuit RACE!--30miles in the rain.2nd place Expert women.
pm: celebrate teammate's birthday

WEDNESDAY
am: bike to/from weight room, do strength including max pull up test-- surpassed mid-summer pull up goal of 17.
pm: r-ski(sk) with jrs and watch them smash their old PR's
pm: r-ski(cl) easy double pole on coastal trail

THURSDAY
am/pm:a 24 mile mountain run on the Crow Pass crossing (a traverse from Girdwood to Eagle River) with group of talented
ladies. 4hrs 26min.
pm: lethargically walk around Costco and Fred Meyer, pack coolers and box up food.
pm: try to sleep but lie awake sore, satisfied, and exhausted. Write this blog post instead.

FRIDAY
Fly to Ekuk Bay (near Dillingham, AK) to spend 10 days off the grid. Get back to my rural Alaskan roots. Sleep when there's time between the 6hr ocean tide cycles. Spend time with great people. Help the Libby family catch hundreds of thousand of pounds of fish!

In past years taking 10 days "off" from training is something I would've opted to pass up due to ski training commitments. But this year Im more cognizant of the mental freshness aspect of training and life's balance-- and I am thrilled I'm getting to include this trip in my summer plans.

I've still had a high amount of ski specific load of training so far this year, but I've been taking a more balanced life approach to training compared to what I did last year. I've been taking adventure trips or jumping in various races if that's what I need to keep me enthusiastic and excited to train. Coaching for the junior team has also been refreshing and fun.

So far the adjustment in my mind-set and approach has been working out just fine-- I've been feeling strong, I am excited to push myself hard in intervals/races, I've been setting personal record times. Im not sure how this less traditional training approach will pan out by the time the ski season comes around-- but it will be a good experiment. If nothing else I'm having a heck of a good time.