Training Log Archive: Carbons Offset

Mosquito Creek to the shoulder of Mosquito Mountain for two 250m laps in the trees. With Jeremy and Anne. Then Craig unexpectedly met up with us. It was a fun group of 4. A long trip in, mostly flat, so you are walking in both directions. Followed the trail on the left of the creek. Next time, I would just go in and out via the creek itself. Did okay without skins all the way back out but had to step up a few things. Still faster without skins. A bit of sun crust and wind effect above tree line on the shoulder, better down in the trees. One steeper section was especially fun to drop down on the first lap, and then we connected the openings nicely on the second lap. It snowed like crazy for a while later in the afternoon and started covering up the tracks. A lot of ski zones will be refreshed now.

Mt Field with Peter. Followed the road all the way in until you start uptracking after the road switchbacks. Next time, I would consider turning left at Meeting of the Waters and shortcutting between Mt Field and the bump to the northeast that the road goes around. There was a well-travelled track there today but neither of us have ever gone that way so we stuck with what we know works.
Warm down low. Windy up high. We stopped about 200 m below the summit, the snow was starting to get wind affected. Lots of people out today, they all saw the same good conditions report. We counted about 30 people out there and about 20 cars filling the parking. Fortunately there is so much space for tracks. Snow was good and we connected the spaces at the bottom well.
Then a long double pole and skate along the road back to the car. Taking the shortcut would cut a lot of this off but I wonder if your last bit of skiing down would be as good? The traditional way skis pretty well right to the road.

Easy run on the treadmill. I figured I should keep it at an easy pace if last night's spin class is an indication of me needing a rest. After what should have been a pretty easy run, I was more tired than I would expect.

Time trial
Got some good sleep and ate well leading up to this, but my legs were tired and I didn't have good tests. I guess the two days of backcountry skiing took more out of me than I thought, even though they didn't seem like super big days. I did dial up the intensity on the last two laps of the second day, so maybe that dug deeper.
Thought I would increase my training zones from the mediocre watts I have been using, but my test watts were even lower. Even though I could tell partway through the test that the result wasn't going to be a success, still pushed as if there was something to be gained because I figured there must be some mental training benefit in that. I did manage to salvage some watts during the last 5 minutes of the 20 minute time trial.

I had originally planned to do some active recovery on Monday but that fell through. I figured that a rest day would be a fine alternative before the time trial. In hindsight, I think active recovery would have been better but I still think the tired legs might have limited the test result.
Oh well, I still know what zones I can train with, and I'll choose two days of backcountry ski fun.