Petter Northug has to slow down his training toward the Norwegian opening races at Beitostolen since he is coming down from high altitude.
The altitude effect makes everything easier at sea-level. The danger of training too hard at sea-level and risking overtraining is therefore high. Northug has been told to be extra careful in the phase that he now approaches.
– Focus will be on training easy, and I just have to put the brakes on, says Northug to the Dagbladet newspaper.
This is Northugs first season with altitude training and he need to adjust to the fact that the body reacts differently to this type of training.
– I got some experience with this after the first altitude camp in Ramsau this fall and learned a lot then, says Northug.
He was then borderline (overtrained), but was able to adjust.
Northug now hopes for an easy period with skiing at home in Meråker.
Northug was 10th in the prolog (2.73 second out) in Saturday’s World Cup opener and 11th overall after colliding with Andrew Newell in the semifinals.
Source: Langrenn.com
