THE LAST FRONTIER

Our National Championship (short distance) is being held at Kincaid Park in Anchorage, Alaska this year. Today's high was 0 degrees... and I mean Fahrenheit! The picture to the left is a tuft of my hair that was sticking out of my hat - anything exposed, froze.

Being out in such cold temperatures, especially while during activity, can be dangerous to your lungs. Anyone who has worked exceptionally hard while breathing cold air has finished the day with something resembling a smokers cough. In order to avoid permanent damage (asthma, etc.) we are all wearing breathing masks. They are hot.

Nicole, donning frosted eyelashes

The masks are a product of Sweden, called Airtrim (www.airtrim.se)

Colin, sporting an 'Airtrim' (Alexa adjusting hers in the back)

One of the tunnels on the trail system at Kincaid Park

Time for dinner but stay tuned, more to come.

OUT WITH THE BROKEN

Sporting my Justy do it shirt (07 holiday gift)

...and in with the new. My digital camera finally took it's last shot, after threatening over the past few months and has since been replaced. Christmas morning brought loads of snow, which gave me the chance to take a few holiday pictures to send out (like the one above).

Today, in typical Sun Valley style, we have about 3-feet of new snow under bluebird skies - what a great place... and I get to live here!

I am doing a light recovery strength session this morning, followed by a few laps in the salt-water, outdoor pool at a local health spa that sponsors me. I will bring the camera for that too since the view is spectacular! This afternoon, once everything is groomed, I will head out for an easy L1 skate.

I did some level 3 intervals yesterday and have L4 scheduled for tomorrow so things are getting back on track! I am still unable to classic ski and my back still gets sore after use, but it gets better every day.

What is a goal of yours, and what are you going to do TODAY to get closer to it?

Happy Holidays Everyone!

BACK IN THE GAME...

Good afternoon sports fans. This is an especially sweet day for me. It snowed about 8 inches last night and I get to go ski!!!

I realize, that for a professional skier, this shouldn’t be a day different than any other. After injuring my back in West Yellowstone however, I took the better part of 3 weeks off to heal. Today is day 3, back on the horse. My workouts have been around 45 minutes (an hour less than average) but I will take anything I can get at this point.

Still awaiting the verdict on Nationals. I will have to see how big of a hole, 3 weeks off has dug and try to climb at least part way out. Stay tuned, x-ray pictures to come!

'My' 5th graders, hyped on sugar after decorating gingerbread houses!

Saturday's 10/15k

Women's Results
Men's Results

Night race at Sovereign Lakes. NICOLE DEYONG 9TH!!!

RACING...but not me

This is what happens when I don't do anything each day: I don't remember what day it is or when the team is racing... but I am all caught up now.

Today was an individual sprint. Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation teammate Mikey Sinnott was pretty darn close to the win (or so I 'hear' through texts with teammates up north). US men highlights:

2. Haugen
3. Mikey Sinnott
5. Kuzzy
10. Colin Rodgers
11. Chambo

Full Men's Results

US women highlights:

2. Smyth
3. Valaas
7. Williams
8. Dehlin
9. Strandberg

Full Women's Results


Below: top US finishers from yesterday's freestyle, mass start races at Sovereign Lakes, BC. Full results linked to titles, athlete blogs linked to names...

WOMEN'S RESULTS
1. Compton
4. Liz Stephen
5. Taz Mannix
8. Laura Valaas
10. Arduser
11. Nicole De Yong

MEN'S RESULTS
6. Hoffman
7. Southam
8. Gregg

FOR SUPPORT...

...place a pillow behind your lower back. For support, lay with your knees up - feet flat on the ground. Or, be a cross-country skier and you will receive more support than you ever could imagine!

I cannot express how much all of your calls, comments, emails, texts and well wishes have meant to me. They have kept the tears a bay and my spirits high. Since it hurts to cry and REALLY hurts to blow my nose, thank you also for helping my body heal, as well as my spirit.

One of the hardest parts about my situation is that there is no time line. I might be training again by Monday or it could be more like May. I saw someone two weeks ago, four days ago, two days ago, an hour ago... the answer is always the same: See you next time and we'll see where you're at. In the mean time, don't do anything that hurts. Let pain be your guide.

As athletes, we submit ourselves to and endure, sometimes even thirst for pain. So when my doctor asks "does it hurt?" I have to think for a minute - yeah, I guess it does hurt. "Has it hurt all day, all week?" - I think it has. Yes, it has.

It would be so much easier if my arm was broken - You hear the crack, it hurts a lot, they cast it and it heals. Black and white.

So what am I to do with this gray? I close my eyes and think about skiing, about running, about the rush that cannot be purchased by any drug - the feeling that costs all the effort you have in your legs, your heart, your lungs and your head but it is free... and then I think of how many days in my training log are blank....

My big brother, always there with a pep-talk when you need one, says Like a crocodile: Wait, wait, wait... Attack! That is all it takes for a kill.

And so I lay on my back with my legs bent - feet flat on the ground and wait.

I searched for today's results from the freestyle mass start up in BC without any luck... I'll post when I know how things went. A classic sprint and a pursuit on the docket for this weekend for those up there. Good luck to all.

WHAT TODAY...

What is my next goal? Make the World Cup in Canada.

How do I get there? Ski in the top 5 at US Nationals in January.

What can I do TODAY to do that? Go home...

That was the dialogue that went though my head yesterday as I was boarding the plane in Kelowna, BC, Canada.

I have been having back problems ever since the classic race in West. After day one in Canada it was clear that my back was in no shape to compete. I kept my spirits high, saw a doctor, took some time off, some muscle relaxants and cheered my teammates on from the sidelines.

When it became clear that my back was going to take more than a week to heal, I sat down with my coach, booked a flight and was home in less than 24 hours.

I have never felt so healthy and fit, yet incapacitated at the same time. If nothing else, back pain is humbling. Here in Ketchum I can rest and recover without the urge to ski (the grass is still green). I am keeping my goals in mind; doing something each day to get me a day closer.

I LIED

When I said I would be able to upload updates on the race quicker and better... I lied. My computer decided not to pick up the wireless signal today so I am in a hotel lobby down in the Silver Star village.

I took some video, which I will edit tonight and with any luck, get it on the site tomorrow.

On the up-side, I went for an hour ski today! Tomorrow will tell how much my back liked it...

Results from today's race can be found here under Teck Sprint Heats. The highlight was In The Arena teammate, Laura Valaas in first place for the US. Way to go Laura.

Tomorrow's results will be found on the Zone4 site as well.
Oh - tomorrow's race has been changed from classic to skate (due to thin snow coverage), fyi.

DAY 3

Tomorrow is race day. An individual freestyle sprint at Sovereign Lakes, just down the hill from our house in Silver Star, BC, CAN.

some of the houses in Silver Star

Today is Friday, my third full day off. I was hoping to get out there today but when it takes 10 minutes to put your pants on in the morning, something is still wrong.

The silver linings is that I will be at the race tomorrow (skis or no skis on my feet) from the side lines. This will give me the opportunity to take video, stills and report back more thoroughly and hoepfully quicker than usual. It should be a good race with lots of action from the top skiers in the US and Canada. Freestyle sprinting usually ends up to be one of the most spectator friendly and exciting events in cross-country skiing...

DIAGNOSIS

Dr. Swank and his girlfriend, Aga (who also happens to be a doctor) came to take a closer look at me last night. In a foreign country, in my condition, I could not have asked for a better time to run into my doctor friends. Thanks you guys! I don't know how, but someday I will get you back.

My back is in spasm and it is swelling. That is what the good doctors said. Those are the side effects of an irritated disc. Whether the disc is partially ruptured, pinched, slipped or bulged is irrelevant; as long as I get the spasm and swelling under control, the disc will heal itself. It might take days, it might take weeks but it will heal.

So... Dr. Swank called in a prescription for a muscle relaxant and I am taking Aleve for the inflamation. Heating, icing, 42 hours off and staying away from things that hurt, round off my rehab plan. The musscle relaxant means I won't be racing this weekend but I have learned that sometimes you have to look at the big picture. My priority is not this weekend, my priority is 2010 and that means getting back to 100%. Game on, I can do this.

Photo credit: Andy Canniff, Swix marketing.
Kate, West Yellowstone 8k Classic

CHANGE IN PLANS

Dec. 2 - Bozeman, MT - Freestyle Sprint - CANCELED

Dec. 6-7 - Soldier Hollow, UT - Classic Sprint and 10/15km F - CANCELED

Just added to the NRL:
Dec. 6-7 - Vernon, BC - NorAm event - Sprint F, 10/15km Classic *

*Must have a valid FIS license to be scored to the USSA list.

That is the the latest from Jonh Farra, mac-daddy of the USST. I am not sure of his title, but he is the new Luke Bodensteiner so he has the first and last say when it comes to these kinds of things.

_______________

So that is the word on current race schedules. The SV ODT is in Silver Star now, after a long drive spread over two days. We skied this morning on the Silver Star side and although it was thin down low, up top was excellent. A bit windy, but cold with new snow from last night (about an inch or so). The Sovereign Lake trails (race venue) are in similar condition. Good cover, but thin. Careful on your race skis for a few rocks but good enough to hold races for sure. APU is on their way, XC Oregon, Salomon Factory, CXC, US Ski Team and all the Canadians you can shake a stick at are here. Races and points will be good, game on.

Headed to Whistler next (if they get snow). It doesn't look likely at the moment but first things first.

On a personal front, I didn't get through last weekend's races as well as I could have. I might have upset one of the discs in my spine although I have yet to see a doctor about it. Currently I am unable to find a position that does not hurt and it looks like racing for me this weekend is out of the question. Fortunately a teammate of mine is an ER surgeon. He is going to take a look at me tonight. Cross your fingers and stay tuned. Hoping for some good news to post tomorrow!