Part one of AK camp is finished, with an awesome adventure run, a visit to the REG camp juniors, and a time trial a couple days ago. On Friday we did the Potter’s Creek time trial, which we do every year; a 6.5 km classic that starts out with a double pole out and back along a flat road, and then climbs the remaining 3.2km up a switchback road. Although not everyone had the same speed classic skis, the goal of a time trial isn’t simply to win; it’s a great opportunity to test your physical and mental limits, compare your personal time to the year before, and get in a good L4 workout. I had a great time trying to keep Astrid in sight as I led the chase group along the flats and up the hill, and was really happy to be able to improve on some technique things from last year’s TT.
Erik Flora’s kids were fantastic cheerleaders during the TT!
Yesterday we joined the REG in a run up and over a mountain pass to see the crash site of a B-29 bomber that went down in 1957. Of the 10 crew aboard, 4 survived and to honor the airmen the crash is left intact as a memorial.
An hour into our run (photo and all run photos this post from Holly)
The run took us 4 hours to get all the way out to the plane and back, so we had small groups splitting off. What slowed us down the most was all the scrambling over mossy, slippery boulders…but we made it! For me, it’s so important to do these adventure runs every once in a while because it keeps the training “spark” going…it gets me so excited about getting out the door. When things start getting too predictable and all the workouts seem the same, I’m not having that much fun, and while it’s important to train well it’s also my LIFE we’re talking about. Girls just wanna have fun, doncha know!
Bettina and I almost at the top
The glacier was melting fast and we could hear the water rushing under the snow and blue ice. So when I punched through up to my waist, I got soaked, but I guess it saved me the step of having to ice my legs afterwards!
Erik, Greta, me and Astrid on the wing of the bomber
Greta checking out more pieces of the plane crash
The 4 hour crew of girls – Greta, Astrid, Holly, Bettina and me!
Crossing the glacier to get to the crash site
After the run we stopped by the amazing Bed and Breakfast run by the Strabels, where the REG was staying. We did some Q&A, and Bettina and Astrid were so nice in answering questions and helping to encourage the juniors in the US. They inspired me, too!
We gave the REG Alaska camp kids a chance for Q&A with World Cup skiers
Unfortunately, Bettina won’t be up on the glacier with us this year, but it was so great to have her at the first part of camp – she’s an awesome training partner. Chandra also won’t be up on the glacier since she got sick and had to fly home, which totally stinks. But today the rest of the crew will fly up in a helicopter (we’re keeping our fingers crossed for good weather!)
Wait, Bettina…you mean….Swiss Miss isn’t REAL Swiss chocolate??? (photo from Holly)
And I’ll have plenty of pictures to post when we get down. As you can see below…Matt’s pretty good at documenting things 🙂
(photo from Cork of Matt taking a photo of us)
And just in case you’re wondering (I’m sure you are) what the moose count for camp is…we saw #8, 9 and 10 last night right before we went to bed. A huge moose and her two babies passed right outside the ski house window. Of course we acted like mature people and started jumping up and down on the bed yelling “moose! BABY moose!”. I guess these were the APU campus pets because they didn’t even flinch at the sound of us and just kept going to town on the weeds.
Chandra and I under the helicopter as it’s taking off (from last year)
