Last year’s World Championship “comet” Tore Ruud Hofstad is happy with his summer and fall training. His goal is to win a World Cup race this winter.
“My goal is to win a World Cup race, as well as a Norwegian National Championship. Those are realistic goals, which I think I can make”, says Ruud Hofstad.
During Last year’s World Championship in Val Di Fiemme, Ruud Hofstad skied himself up into the lead through the free technique part of the double pursuit. At the finish only the World Champion Per Eloffson beat him. During the Norwegian Championship he also lead the 30 km most of the way. This proves that his new goals are realistic. He is also one year older.
“How is your training this year compared to last year?”
“Very much the same, both in volume and activities. This year I have however tried to vary the intensity more. Earlier it was either easy or hard. This year I have tried to use more intensity zones, doing intervals in level 3, 4 and 5.” This means he is doing intervals both at, under and over his Anaerobic Threshold. Last year’s intervals were mainly in level 4 and 5.
Ruud Hofstad is known for being smart in his training, and being able to listed to his body. Last year he was one of the few that were able to hold back when the pace felt too fast during the National Team distance sessions.
“This year the whole team is better at going easier. But I still feel it’s a bit fast sometimes – so I drop back. If I feel the speed is faster than it should, I slow down.”
Ruud Hofstad showed during the pursuit finish in Val Di Fiemme that he also is strong at the end of races. Even though he is not a typical tall and powerful sprinter, he medalled in the Norwegian Sprint Championship in 2002. Being a good sprinter is a great quality, especially since more and more races now has become mass-starts.
“I would like to still improve my sprint, and have worked on this, especially in skating. I try to include some speed training in every distance session I do. In addition I do separate speed sessions at least once a week. Time will tell if this helps.”
Perhaps it will be the speed training that will give him a World Cup victory. He thinks his best chance is at his medal- distance from the World Championship.
“The chances are probably best in a double pursuit or a 15 km skate race”, says Tore Ruud Hofstad.
