Wednesday Workout: Ski Your Age in Kilometers

There are many things that “get better with age,” such as Ford Mustangs, select cheeses and cowboy boots. While society doesn’t usually place workouts in this category, Chris Osgood and his son Brayton, 32, may be changing that. The father-son duo celebrate Chris’ birthday every year by rollerskiing his age in kilometers. They most recently did 60. Read about it here.

It doesn’t have to be your birthday to rollerski that far — or any distance beyond your norm. But you might want to come up with a reason so people don’t think you’re nuts.

Preparation: Over the years the Osgoods have upped their distance by one kilometer each year. While at the beginning, the skis were easy to complete during a workday morning and with little preparation, the longer distances require more thorough planning.

For a longer ski, choosing an ideal route is key. The Osgoods picked the impeccable route from Goose Pond Road near Hanover, N.H., up Highway 118 to the top of the road near Mount Moosilauke. A perfect route consists of flat to gradual terrain for the first quarter of the ski, with increasing climbs during the last three quarters.

Ending on a climb gives the added bonus of views and a sense of accomplishment. In addition to choosing a good route, it is important to know that you can complete it. Increasing distance by a kilometer each year is a good way to gage this. It’s also important to rollerski a decent amount in the weeks leading up to the ski.

Warmup: A hearty breakfast with lots of coffee is all that’s needed for this workout as long as you start your ski at a reasonable pace.

The workout: Maintain a constant tempo and take breaks when needed. Have someone supporting you (i.e. mom, a really good friend or significant other) in strategic spots along the route to replenish your water and snacks. If members of your group are speedsters, put brakes on their rollerskis to slow them down so you can keep up.

Recovery: Make sure to have your support crew at the top waiting with snacks (recommended: pesto pizza) and celebratory beers! A little stretching wouldn’t hurt either.

Here’s to a Wednesday Workout for every one of all ages and abilities. If you’re fortunate enough to be enjoying some early season skiing, you can try this one on snow. See you out there!