Dubbed “The Dirty 30” by Drew Holbrook, this L4/5 rollerski workout (with repetitions of 30 seconds on and 30 seconds off) comes from Gear West's Matt Liebsch. “Between 20-40mins the workout will feel unbearable at times… this is where mental fortitude comes into play," he explains.
Everything's better with a group -- at least in terms of threshold interval workouts. In this "Throwback Workout" from three years ago, U.S. women's coach Matt Whitcomb explains why this was one of the best workouts he had seen back then. “It doesn’t need to be incredibly hard — today was roughly threshold and above during bursts of speed — but it was about the terrain that helped push the pace for us,” he said.
With plans to begin research this fall, CXC's Madison-based Center of Excellence is on the brink of bringing new scientific studies to nordic skiing. “Our goal is to have top sports science facility to study latest innovations in the sport, potential application in cross country skiing to improve training, recovery and performance," CXC Executive and Athletic Director Yuriy Gusev explained.
Exertional compartment syndrome can ruin a ski season if not a career. In this Wednesday Workout, physical therapist Dave Cieslowski presents two exercises designed to tame a compartment syndrome flare-up.
With more than 100 athletes at the US Biathlon's development camp last week in Jericho, Vt., one of the more interesting workouts of the week was an eight-station strength session. Mix human rock climbing and shooting and you've got plenty to keep you occupied.
While biting into a deep-fried, jelly-filled doughnut is not what every athlete daydreams about during interval workouts, U.S. 50-mile trail run champion Corrine Malcolm doesn’t take issue with digging deeper for dessert. Here's a sample of one of her "tune-up" workouts before a big race.
Heart rate monitors, activity trackers, smart watches -- there is a lot of technology out there at your disposal. But what can competitive athletes use to track both physiological stresses of training and activities of daily living? You've probably heard of Firstbeat; here's a comprehensive look at the system and software.
Announcing our picks for the best ugly race photo submissions! Warning: These images may provoke sympathy pains.
After two weeks in Norway, U.S. Ski Team sprinter Andy Newell returned with some new ideas for double poling and a better sense of why skiing is so huge there. "Maybe the coolest part about training in Norway during the summer is not just the awesome roads and cooler weather but also to get a taste of that skiing culture," he explained.
Know a spot where the pavement is ideal for rollerskiing but the loop just isn't long enough to keep your interest? Austin Caldwell, head coach of the BSF elite team, has the threshold workout for you: 4 x 15-minute intervals on the same loop to track progress.
Strengthen the glutes and the skis will follow. Well, maybe it's not that simple. In this Wednesday Workout, physical therapist Dave Cieslowski, of Bend, Ore., explains how we can build stronger glutes in hopes of becoming more efficient skiers.
It's never too early to start thinking about winter, or even those not-so-hot outdoor training sessions in 35-45 degree temperatures. To help you prepare, we've outlined the ideal outfit from top to bottom for these conditions.
After four years of dating, Stratton Mountain School teammates and couple Andy Newell and Erika Flowers are engaged. "So much can happen in professional athletics and Erika and I wanted to enjoy each other’s company before we have to grow up and get serious," Newell said.
Anchorage-based reporter Gavin Kentch observes and outlines the ins-and-outs of a U.S. Ski Team classic speeds rollerski. U.S. women's coach Matt Whitcomb explains how each session is deliberately engineered and how a single workout can vary among individuals. (Includes photos and video clips)
After recently returning from a training camp with the Norwegian women's team, Jessie Diggins describes how the opportunity came about and one of her favorite workouts from her week in Norway. "I’m always looking for ways to make summer training exciting, new and adventurous," Diggins said.
France's Anaïs Bescond has been training with Biathlon Canada for the past two weeks and next two to come. “I think what is really interesting for me is to share our different experience about training,” Bescond said.
David Norris of APU is trying to keep the momentum up and continually build on his achievements from last season. One thing he's noticed, "In the last few summers my uphill running has improved tremendously." But what came first, the hill-climb success or leaps in ski training?
Athletes at all levels of the competition spectrum constantly seek the missing piece of their performance puzzle. For many years now, sport psychology has played an increasing role in solving that puzzle. From the World Cup to the junior ranks, FasterSkier explores how some skiers and coaches make use of sport psychology.
Testing outfits and performance wear in the crappiest conditions, all in the name of research. Fast Big Dog presents the latest in his gear-review series: Best in Show, for a 35-45 degree run or rollerski.
The call to climb can be strong, especially if the place to climb is located in your backyard. This week, we caught up with avid rock climber Jason Brenden for a Wednesday Workout that involves traversing the holds and building strength, all on a homemade wall. "I just didn't want to pay for a gym membership," he explained.