Wednesday, December 07, 2011
Rhino Report + Befuddlement
There's really not nearly enough snow in the mountains for the resorts to open, but Amber and I found enough powder up on Blacktail Mountain for some laps. Rhino came along and proved himself a most excellent ski companion. His only flaw was his inability to distinguish between us and another group of skiers in terms of his responsibility of making sure the last person made it down. We therefore had to wait for the last girl in another group to come down the mountain before Rhino rejoined us.
It's quite possible that this was one of the top days in all of Rhino's year of doggie life. He seemed to really have a lot of fun -- or maybe it was just that I was having so much fun and assume it's fun for everyone.
I started to put a training calendar together for Susitna but the truth is -- I don't know exactly what I should focus on, other than some walks in the snow. I feel ready right now, and doubt I will lose too much endurance between now and February, particularly if I remain moderately active. On the heels of my Grand Canyon R2R2R, I think a long run in December and a long run in January might suffice (with my regular shorter runs, some gym work and skiing being the meat of my activity). This isn't to say I'm in shape to destroy Susitna, but I can't really fathom how I could get into such shape even if I weren't so lazy. A race like Susitna is so mental -- it's just not the easiest race to train for. A traditional running race requires running. As has been suggested previously by Beat (who is doing the Iditarod Trail Invitational this year, which makes me somewhat jealous), even gains in speed will likely not translate at Su. Suggestions? I guess I should go out and simply do some long slogs in the snow... but slogging doesn't really require too much focused slog training. I feel like I'm going to be in way better shape than last year and that the challenges of weather and my brain will again be the main things to worry about. Anyone with opinions should feel free to offer your $.02.
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18 comments:
Yea for Rhino! What a cutie!
Rhino is so beautiful and he does look like he was made for the ski touring life! Hopefully he came home and slept instead of eating stuff.
I still don't understand why you don't enter the ski division. It seems to be where your heart lies during the winter.
One or two long slogs in the snow is basically all you could do to prepare for it. That and bringing the right clothes to survive whatever the weather dishes out.
PS- Rhino seems to have found the perfect family in you guys. He looks so happy :)
Yup Meghan it was a temporary reprieve from the destruction.
Hi Cheryl! :-)
Karen, I don't really cross country ski much so I'm not sure how that would go. My skate skiing skills are abysmal. I don't know if my cheap classic XC boots would survive that distance. I'm using my downhill/AT stuff usually which wouldn't work well on the flat Su course. I think you're right though on the slog-prep.
Karen, skis aren't necessarily a good option for the Su course, especially classic skis. There are no set tracks, lots of snowmobile moguls and craters, and wind-driven, cold snow (i.e. no glide.) Last year, skiers fared so poorly that something like 60 or 70 percent dropped out before the finish. My friend Sharon has classic skied the course four or five times since 2004 and told me that most years, conditions are such that she just walks in her skis. Personally I'd rather walk in running shoes than ski boots, but I think she kept with it in hopes of attaining that ever-elusive glide.
Danni, the main thought I have is that it's important to strengthen ankles to prep for the uneven walking on snow, which skiing and trail/road running don't really simulate. But you can do this through different balance exercises. I also need to work more on my IT band. I think the most important thing for speed in Su is to keep moving. I could have shaved something like six hours off my time last year if I just avoided the long breaks and minimized my checkpoint time to 20 minutes each (unlikely I'll achieve this, but it's true.) I think 36 hours is a good goal.
Jill, I know it's not easy to ski on the trails (I'm assuming they are like the ones around Fbx). After rewaxing the skis every five miles, it does get old that they icy snow strips them of all their glide. It does get easier with some practice (but maybe not nearing 100). I was just saying that it may be a fun challenge to try since Danni likes to ski all winter :)
Jill, my plan is as follows:
in-and-out fast at Flathorn 1
1 hr or less at Luces 1
in-and-out fast at Alexander Lake
1-2 hours at Luces 2
1-2 hours at Flathorn 2
I think it's worth it for me to get a good meal and warm up and enjoy the sauna. That said your 36hour goal is good and I'll think about my strategy. Spaghetti at Luce's (and the sauna) is half of why I'm going back though...
That's right, Karen. I forgot you used to live in Alaska so you know the conditions. Susitna also has the added challenge of the Yentna River snowmobile highway, which really throws the bad snow around and creates more obstructions. I got the impression that Susitna under cold conditions is a more challenging ski than the White Mountains 100 under cold conditions, because at least the WM100 is on mostly even trails. But it is interesting to me how much cold affects skiers. In the 2010 WM100, when overnight temps were -25F, I rode past skier after skier just shuffling along. In 2011, when temps were +5-30F, I rode significantly faster and passed fewer skiers. However I was right up there with Matias Saari for a while, which made me feel proud of myself ;-)
Danni, I agree with you and think you have a good plan for checkpoint times. Avoiding the 2+ hours each at Luces1 and 90 mins at Alexander Lake and Luces2 are key for me (I do plan to spend good time at Flathorn2 at least because I love that place.) I'd also like to improve my overall moving time, but to some degree the trail decides much of that. 36 hours is just my goal. You can probably go faster. :-)
I like your plan with the sauna breaks:) Danni, in general, I like the way you approach these things. They are nuts, you may as well enjoy them! As for training, slogs through much snow and surviving cold feet would be my training (as in figuring out how to keep them and other parts of body warm in the cold, in different varieties).
Thanks Olga! Jill, we'll have to see what the weather is like probably before I commit too much to my checkpoint plan...
I need to ship my husky Bandit to you for some training. He is the laziest husky ever bred! I don't think he likes are wet mild climate to much.
Do you do any backcountry?
Aw. Cutie.. :-)
Rhonda I do some backcountry but my skills limit the extent and gnarliness of it. I'm working on it though and aspire to be a backcountry sking machine.
Thanks Zeba! Oh you mean Rhino. :p
What a great dog! Does he have to wear booties for snowy adventures?
Booties (or duct tape) might have been a good idea. He got ice in his paws and at one point was bleeding a little. Poor guy.
I think you mentioned trying to think of ways to strengthen your ankles for the Susitna race? I asked my brother what they do in the Physical Therapy office where he works for ankle strengthening for myself and I thought I'd pass his advice along:
He recommended 1 minute a day on a balance board or if you don't have access to one of those (I don't) you can stand on one foot with your eyes closed for one minute per foot. I do this next to a counter because it's surprisingly difficult to keep my balance!
My brother said you should see results really fast.
Not sure if you're interested in third-hand advice but I figure a couple minutes a day for stronger ankles can't hurt!
Good luck at the race! I hope I get to go someday!
Thanks Alligator! I will try that.
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