Training

Torbjœrn’s September training I did 46 hours of training in September. This included 20 hours of running, 18.5 hours of biking, 6 hours of roller-skiing and only 40 minutes of weight training. I came out on target with the volume but was low on roller skiing and weight training due to a pulled back muscle that bothered me the entire month. The Hard Sessions. Having the Norwegian Women’s team, Justin Wadsworth, Beckie Scott, Jeanie Wall...

Skiers – Need a coach? I have decided to increase the number of skiers I am coaching by offering my services to (a few) additional skiers. There will be a monthly fee for this service and the coaching/communication and follow-up will be similar to the way I work with National team caliber skiers. The training programs will be personalized to fit individual needs, ambitions and work schedules. Personal coaching might be appropriate for you if...

Fall Camp Report I just returned from the annual West Yellowstone, Montana fall camp. The fall camp is an open to the public on snow ski camp where participants get a chance to do two daily technique sessions with experienced skiers including former Olympians and National Team coaches. The group size is anywhere from 4 to 9 and you are placed in groups based upon your technique level. Racing at Soldier Hollow 2001 December Training...

Torbjørn’s November training. I trained 48 hours in November: 11 hrs of running, 17.5 hrs of rollerskiing, 14 hrs of skiing, 5.5 hrs of weight training, and 2.5 hrs of biking. Overall, it was a very good month for me and I cannot do more unless I’m "home alone" for a long period. Physically, I feel that I could train up to 13-16 hrs/week without burning out mentally or physically–as long as I take occasional...

Torbjœrn’s December training I trained 40 hours in December. 2.5 hours of running, 33 hours of skiing, 2 hours of weight training and 2.5 hours of walking (the walking was done with a 5 pound vest). My lowest week was 6 hours and the highest one was 13.5 hours — the last week of the year. I did 4 races and 4 interval sessions. It was a strange month, where I had a tough time...

Torbjørn’s January Training I trained 41.5 hours in January: 5.5 hours of running and walking, 34 hours of skiing and 2 hours of weights. My highest week was 12 hours and my lowest week was 6.5 hours. The month contained only one race; I did 5 distance workouts where I spent at least 15-20 minutes in zone 3 or 4, plus 3 x 7-8K pace workouts, one interval session and two short speed sessions. It...

By . This report will be brief due to a busier month than planned because of the Nordic Equipment bankruptcy (see FasterSkier June Training Camp and preparation for a three-week trip to Norway at the end of June. We will post some reports/travel letters from this trip starting in early July. Torbjorn’s May 2002 Training Report. I did 39 training hours in May, which was right on target with my goal. The majority was biking,...

Continued from Part 1, as Bjorn prepares for the 10K Classic race at the 1997 World Championships in Trondheim, Norway… Nov 25 – I know that as I slept, many people have been doing a lot to make sure that everything will be ready for a perfect race. Before the 30-kilometer race three days ago, head coach Erik Røste slept two hours. When he telephoned the wax cabin at five that morning, the head wax...

Monday 24th of February 1997. It’s 7.30 in the morning; I just woke up and I am envisioning the day ahead. Imagine if I could, on this day, here, at the World Championships, on the home course, accomplish racing the perfect race! The perfect race that every top athletes dream about, strives for, year after year, but which you only rarely experience and then with years in between. I’m not talking about winning; the perfect...

Many people who are coaching juniors today have told me that they are seeing more and more problems with overtraining, even though the juniors are actually training less than earlier generations. This means that it will take more years to build themselves up to reach the top level. The question is whether they will make it at all, and whether they are willing to do it when they know that for many years they must...

I never did become a good Nordic Combined skier. First and foremost that can be blamed on the jumping, which is something I never did get a hold of. After a jump that only went as far as the knoll, I would be too far back in the cross-country portion. Even back then I would open hard, but I hit the wall well before the finish. As a 14 year-old I took part in the...