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Training Blocks for 2004-2005Another Great Michigan Cup FinishApril 17, 2005 - By Mike Muha |
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When I first sat down to write this season summary, I was thinking, "Started out great, slid into oblivion." My first several races were unbelievably good, then I started placing lower and lower in the standings. The big bang fizzled... It wasn't until I put together the table below summarizing my races that I discovered this season was actually pretty good! Michigan Cup Season Usually, I start the season pretty slow, then pick up steam and places in later races. It was the opposite this year - I had a great first race at the Holley Cup. Totally in control, fast skis, ZOOM! This was probably my very best season opening race ever. The next race - the Chestnut Valley Freestyle - was even better! I finished 12 places higher and 10% faster than the previous year! I've always been a better classic skier, so finishing a skating race in the top 15 and only 8.5% out of first place (behind Milan Baic) was a huge breakthrough for me - my best freestyle result ever! The next test: Could I do back-to-back races and not die in the second race? At the Boyne Highlands Classic, the day after Chestnut Valley, I actually felt I was racing rather than surviving. I did not finish as close to the winner, but I still beat several of my top rivals who were expecting me to choke, based on past performance!
I suffered more at the Garland Grip. I just couldn't pull it together as well and fell back a bit - not too far, but enough to be disappointed.
Then came the Vasa. I made the unfortunate mistake of overdoing it in the weight room in the week before the Vasa. My thighs were still a little sore the morning of the race. This year's race was particularly tough because we did the 25K loop twice - we had to climb The Wall twice and negotiate Jack Pine twice. My thighs literally felt like they were going to explode out the front of my legs on steeper climbs. I REALLY suffered. I felt like I should have done better. But - surprise! - I actually had a decent result, finishing much better than I had at last year's marathon (the White Pine Stampede) - I was higher in the place standings and had a faster time compared to the winning time. A harder, longer course, sore thighs, and I still did better! I did OK at the Michigan Cup Marathon, making one mistake (pole between the legs) that caused me to lose at least one or two places. Then Aruba came. No snow time and little exercise as my wife's required warm-weather sojourn took us to on a 10-day vacation far from anything remotely resembling cold weather. I ate, drank and was merry. I gained weight. It was fun and made Jill happy. I felt energized and eager to race upon return. And I raced OK. The problem was, I somehow lost my ability to downhill. I kept crashing. It was like my brain wasn't keeping up with the input and I was slow reacting to terrain changes. Physically I was there, but mentally I couldn't keep up. At one point I even found myself head first in a snowbank...er, had to deal with a mountain lion... This was very frustrating because I love downhills! I love taking chances. I love passing people on downhills. But I found myself becoming tentative.
I was very pumped up for the season finale: The Michigan Cup Relays. Team NordicSkiRacer.com was vying for top honors in the Michigan Cup Team Championship with three other worthy teams. A poor performance by any of our relay teams could be the deciding factor. I sure I was in Zone 5 much of my leg of the relay - I don't think I could work any harder. I wasn't going to let down my team! I was back firing on all cylinders again, had a great leg. Our relay team ended up winning one of the coed divisions. And the stellar results of the rest of our relays teams allowed us to squeak ahead and win the overall Michigan Cup. I ended up 13th overall in the Michigan Cup Individual Standings - one place better than last year. The Positives There were lots of positives this season:
Regrets I wish I'd done more core strength throughout the racing season. I sort of stopped once racing began, and I think that was a mistake. I'm more convinced than ever that core strength really is one of the foundations for being a good skier. Intensity Blocks Looking over the season, Torbjorn had has doing more than intensity blocks. We had strength blocks and distance blocks as well. The concept resonates with me - I just need to fine tune. I plan on continuing to use training blocks this coming summer and fall. . |
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