A Big Step In The Right Direction: From Being Anonymous To 'Up And Coming'

Cross country World Cup skier Kine Beate Bjornas has the record of around 21:50. Kari’s time is top five of all time.

800% improvement

I was tested in chin-ups when I arrived and was not able to do one. After lots of hard work I’m able to do eight repetitions. My coach is telling me that I have improved 800%. Systematic work is paying off.

Kari now has a chance to test her skills in biathlon World Cup races and is also participating in regular cross country races and doing well.

– It’s slightly tougher physically to race cross country, says Kari and admits that it’s fun for her as a biathlon skier to beat good cross country skiers in “their” event.

Periodization

Training periodization has been a key word in Kari’s training. She has been particular about splitting up the training and making sure that she recovers and absorbs the training. She held back a lot in the beginning.

— I wanted to take part in all the workouts, but my body was tired so I held back, says Kari. That is now paying off.

Kari is very good at listening and responding to her body. She has that way avoided common winter illnesses. Her head has steered the training and progress has occurred, as it should. The intensity in her training is altered a lot, she is pushing through hard periods, for so to let up a little.

– I’m conscious about the need for variation, but I’m getting more and more specific, says Kari. She is now increasing her skate training. She has trained herself up from being anonymous to an “up and coming” biathlon skier.