07/08 Season Wrap Up & 08/09 Preview

After a few week hiatus I'm back at the keyboard. My blogging was a bit more sporadic this past season than I would have liked so I'm going to make a concerted effort to post at least once a week throughout the coming season. Look for new pictures, videos, and updates to hit the web each Saturday morning. To those of you who checked in throughout the past season, thank you. I sincerely appreciate your interest and support!

This past season was awesome. I made big strides in my skiing and shooting and it showed in the racing. All told I was on the podium seven times in North American Cup races, one of which was a second place in the US National Championships pursuit race.

Out of the start in Vancouver

My race season concluded in Vancouver, B.C., site of the 2010 Winter Olympics so I had opportunity to compete on the recently completed Olympic trails while squeezing in more valuable race experience. All told this past season I put in about 40% more training and wrapped up the season in 2nd place overall on the North American Cup points list, just a few points out of 1st. Apparently I succeeded in turning some heads with my progress because I've been named to the National B Team for the coming season.

The new season got off to a great start at the end of April. That is the earliest I've ever started back to focused training, but I was well rested after a short vacation on the Oregon coast and in Boise, ID. I'm working with two new coaches this year and am already excited by the progress I'm seeing with both my skiing and shooting technique. I laid the foundation last year with hours of training and shooting and I'm expecting to build on that this year.

Shipwreck on the coast

The Oregon Coast

Although training is always the focus of my day to day planning, I do occasionally have easier blocks of training that allow me to catch up on chores and get in a few hours of work on the side either as a trap keeper on the Lake Placid Club golf course or doing other odd jobs that I'm able to scrounge. On one of my recent easier weeks my girlfriend and I spent the week painting her grandfather's home in Providence, RI. Suffice it to say, the 'easy' week didn't end up being especially easy, but it was a great experience and a nice change of pace and scenery. We even managed to slip out one evening after work to see Strauss's Die Fledermaus at the Providence Opera. We always jump at the chance to wear something other than training clothes.

Off to the Opera

This past Monday was the beginning of a two week training camp with all of the teams in attendance. This week's focus is on high volume and has thus far been high-lighted by a 7+ hour run/bike workout. I made it through in one piece, but that's one of the longest days at the office that I can remember. The rest of the camp will include several shooting competitions, a mini-triathlon, and VO2 max test on the treadmill. Be sure to check back this weekend for an update and more pictures.