Training Log Archive: Nev-Monster

Quick run in the valley before the hockey game. Super busy weekend with an art show at Latitude 53, my last as Special Events Chair. Great to end my run with a great night.

Run in the valley with SW who was hammering. She took me up the Kinsman hill which sort of destroyed me at the end.

Watched the ladies alpine and sprint races. Lindsay Vonn is on a different level than anyone else and my god, do American alpine skiers know how to perform for the Olympics. From Billy D Johson to Tommy Moe to Bode to Vonn. She's in every second Euro Sport commercial prior to the Olympics.

The sprints looked like a strange day. My picks were pretty safe, Johnsson and Petra M from Slovenia. Petra's training fall was pretty epic and I don't know how one of the top skiers in the world could do that warming-up.

I've got zero faith that those Russian dudes are clean.

C • Training Fall 1

Ski with Chad as he's still recovering from the Birkie on Saturday. Should have done classic as it was way softer than I thought would have been and hard-wax would work.

Was awesome to watch the ski race today, especially the Canadians I've raced again. And I really wish I read Norwegian to get a response about their results.

Goldbar Ski with Ian Murray who was still pretty toast from the Birkie (Ian was out-leaned by Graham Nish). Chad is still recovering and couldn't make it.

Ian checked out my two pairs of skate skis. His comments:
1) My Fischer which are my "stiff" pair: "These are nice soft snow skis" (although hates the skate cut).
2) Madshus: "I've never skied on a pair of skate skis this soft."

I evidently could use a pair of stiff skate skis.

We chatted about the list of ski gadgets that have been invented and then forgotten about, like the skate cut.

The Biathlon and Nordic Combined was pretty awesome to watch, when did the US decide to dominate Nordic Combined? The start draw will be interesting for the 15km race Monday.

Didn't ski the Birkie and just went for a run to get myself out of the house after spending the day either watching Olympics, reading, writing stuff and running errands.

Saw the Rural Alberta Advantage for the second time. They are really, really good. Also, their drummer is a dead ringer for Zuga but slightly less intense.

Well, due to running with Torrance, decided to try to pick-up the pace for the run tonight. Felt good other than the big hill by the U of A.

Air Canada having a seat sale right before the Olympics? Why thank-you very much.

Interesting day at work, our department is having budget slashed, but due to all the empty positions, no one's going to be affected that much. Unless you count a Ministry of International Relations with no money for say, international travel. Ministry of Health is getting way, way more money as obviously there's no way that a single dollar could be saved in that Ministry.

Great night for a run, felt pretty good out there. Must be the lack of altitude.

And I got a decent sleep last night (indoors and everything).

Or it was that I bought 2 tickets to the Olympic Mens Ski Relay!

So here I'm having a chilled out run by myself and I see this guy with crazy arms, and as he passes me, it's Brian Torrance of the Edmonton Thunder doing a tempo run. Well, I got to run with him for a while and of course it's up the big hill by the U of A. Brian was able to have a totally normal conversation; I was not. Reminded me of running with Bunston a bit, except Brian doesn't talk that much.

Skate ski at the Canmore Nordic Centre. Pretty much a perfect day to ski

My god these are hard ski trails.

Lots of Euros out skiing. Saw an American on his cell going down one of the hills. The Italians were hammering out there (wasn't sure which ones).

Now this was a long day at Canmore.

Got to the Nordic Centre way too early and was pretty grumpy. But, ran into Svenja from work who came to cheer the Germans (mostly only the West Germans but Axel was ok even if he's a Ossie. The announcer kept referring to him as The Big German Diesel.)

Simply perfect weather in Canmore, couldn't get any better.

The Canadians raced awesome, Stefan Kuhn qualifying top ten! Dasha top ten! Stef leading his quarter for the first half!
In the end Sara won the bronze, men were solid. Ian Murray 55.

At the end of the day, went for a ski. Saw Alan and Eva who were doing some tempo so tried to hang with them for a bit. Canmore is all up-hill and I would hate to race here. Get me back to Mono Nordic!

Really wanted some pictures with some skiers but missed most; especially Evi from Germany. The Italians had wicked sparkly hats. Petra Majdic has some of the longest legs I've ever seen.

At the Drake that night for Tour duh Canmore which was awesome. Ian Murray won the cycling by a lot and probably pull a T-W and get on a track bike.

Good chats with Jeff Ellis and John Farra. Great talk with Dan Roycroft about Zone4 and how thrilled he is about Orienteering signing up, it's his number 1 growth sport. He said one of the best things about Orienteers is that they are "slightly geeky" so they understand computer programing.

I was also made fun of by Tor Arne Hetland (retired and is the German sprint coach) because I took too short of a piss and thus hadn't drank enough beer.

Can't wait for the next World Cup. Probably the next one will be in Europe I hope.

Run to clear the head after a long day. Interview with Public Safety in the afternoon. Pretty tough exam (write sort-of briefing note, pick a topic from a list) and then prepping for video-conference segment. The video conference worked surprisingly well.

As per usual, no idea how I did, but hopefully will make it into the "pool" of candidates.