The Ironwood camp is rapidly approaching and I am excited to train with the team again but I also greatly enjoy training by myself.  In order to be a successful skier I think you need to like training alone in the forest or on a quiet stretch of road.  I think the hardest part is simply getting out the door and down the driveway.  I my case the following scene  greets me and makes it all the easier.

I also enjoy the simplicity of doing every thing at home. I leave most workouts directly from my house and even lift in the garage and yard.

I am currently enjoying a rest week before heading up to Ironwood on Monday for a CXC Team Vertical Limit training camp.  I have found that an enormous difference in my training so far with CXC has been my ability to properly rest, recover and thereby optimizing training.  Previous years I have worked 40 hours a week in the summer and been heavily focused on school during the rest of the year.    With training now as the main focus I am really seeing myself improve.  Big weeks are bigger and rest weeks are only slightly smaller then a week when I was busy with school.  Knowing that proper rest is paramount I am still not one to sit idly around when I am not training.  One reason I enjoy skiing is because I enjoy working hard and seeing the fruits of my labors.  I enjoy putting on old cloth and really getting to work.  I am currently clearing buckthorn, a non-native invasive tree, from my neighbor woods.  I enjoy tromping over there with a chainsaw on off days and really seeing some progress.  I find that when done smartly and in moderation such work leaves me feeling better then if I simply sat around all day (the financial benefit is also a nice plus).