Years of hard work paid off with a bronze medal in the sprint at the 2005 Worlds for Canadian Sara Renner. FasterSkier.com asked her about support, motivation, training, goals and the 2006 Olympics.
Background articles:
Tuesday’s Big Event At Worlds: Individual Classic Sprint http://www.fasterskier.com/racing1984.html
SARA RENNER WINS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BRONZE http://www.fasterskier.com/racing1988.html
Comments From Bronze Medalist Sara Renner http://www.fasterskier.com/racing1994.html
Sara, did winning a bronze medal at Worlds change things for you regarding Cross Country Canada support and sponsor ship deals?
– I have always been well supported in training and on the racing circuit by Cross
Country Canada and winning a medal at the Worlds was a complement to hard
working individuals in our organization that stuck with me through my career.
So, it didn't really change things since thing were pretty good to begin with. It
was great for our team because it proved that Canada can consistently produce
good skiers.
I have a local sponsor called Timberlea Properties and they supported me prior
to my medal and will continue to through to the Olympic year.
How does being a medalist change your own motivation and outlook for the
2006 Olympics?
– I know I can fight to win now whereas before I was hoping I could. I have
confidence in my training and I am able to push what I previously thought I was
capable of doing.
How has your summer training been going?
– I have been training mostly with our men's team this summer. Milaine has been
injured, Beckie trains in the US and the younger girls are on a different program.
It has been a great opportunity because I am continually challenged. I get
dropped in skating workouts and in classic I have “man (really fast) rollerskis”
which allow me to hang on.
This spring I had compartment syndrome surgery for my shins and it was a fast
recovery and has made a huge difference in my skating. I was pretty desperate
last winter and I had trouble feeling my feet which made for sketchy downhill. I
have been healthy all summer and feel strong.
As for holidays, my husband and I finished building a cabin in the woods in
Invermere, British Columbia and we have been spending our easy weeks
relaxing there. It felt like a vacation, especially for me, because I mostly
supervised the construction from the hammock. We did have a great surfing trip
on the west coast of Canada in May with my teammates, Beckie and Milaine
and their respective mates.
What's a typical training week for you in September like?
– We are just coming off a hard three week period, so our September starts with
one easy week with eight hours and lots of time hanging out on the deck of our
cabin, followed by a medium week before we load on the hours. We then head
straight into our next hard three week (22 hours/week) period which will be at
altitude. For the first week, we fly by helicopter and ski on the Haig glacier close
to Canmore. In late September we head to Mammoth, California for a dryland
camp and more altitude.
How have you been doing in time-trials and 02 tests this summer?
– I have been consistently good in my main uphill rollerski time trials. More
importantly, I feel like I have been able to digest the training load and have
quality intensity workouts.
Which distances are you focusing on this season?
– All distances with special effort for the sprints.
What does it mean for you to have World Cup races in Canada in December this
year?
– The World Cups are huge for me personally and for the sport as a whole in
Canada. I have never raced an international event in Canada and I am pretty
excited about racing where I grew up. Training and racing at home is going to
be sweet preparations for Torino.
What are your future racing goals, are you looking beyond the 2006 Olympics?
– I am going to take the summer off and get a feel for what real work feels like at
my parents backcountry lodge (Mt. Assiniboine). Then I'll make a decision. As it
stands, I have a lot of energy and love what I do and it will be a matter of figuring
out if I have the mojo to go to Vancouver.
