I have been recovering from surgery for three weeks. I was suffering from compartment syndrome in both shins. Compartment syndrome occurs when the muscle outgrows the fascia, or protective covering, of the muscle. As blood moves into the muscle during exertion the tight fascia restricts blood flow and causes a lot of pain. To combat this condition I removed most of the fascia from five muscles in both shins. I also had extensive scar tissue...
I woke up on the day of the 15k classic World Championship race to see huge wet snowflakes falling out of the sky. The temperature was right about zero degrees Celsius. It was not the ideal weather for classic skiing. The snow fell all day and was coming down hardest in the afternoon when I arrived at the race venue. I tested three pairs of skis with my wax tech Joaquim. All three skis were...
My preparation for the 15k classic in Valdidentro was different from any other race I have done before. My compartment syndrome has limited me to ten hours of training per week and has also kept me off of the world cup circuit for nearly a month. My time off was apparent in two ways. First I was very rested and fresh, second my sense of pace was way off. I felt relaxed and controlled going...
The US Ski Team’s pre-world championship camp is being held in Ramsau, Austria this year. The team has been slowly gathering here over the past week. Newell, Koos, Cook, and Randall traveled here straight from Russia arriving first. Zimmerman, Kuzzy, myself and coach Grover came in a few days later. Stevens, Arritola, Smith and coach Whitcomb drove here from France and the U-23 Champs four days after we arrived. Valaas and Southam are due this...
I was feeling like a caged animal. My training and my focus had come together for a dominating day on the Olympic trails in Whistler. I was skiing in the lead pack and then… we started skating… and I could not move. Every step and every push I made felt wrong. I couldn’t relax and I was almost falling on every downhill corner. My heart rate was low but I just couldn’t make my legs...
