CXC Elite Team Blog

Updates from September, 2009 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

• Brian Gregg 7:27 pm on September 11, 2009 Permalink | Reply  

  Nordic Walking: A Lifetime Sport 

  The other week I led a CXC/Birkie Nordic Walking Clinic in Woodruff, WI at Premier Physical Medicine and Wellness Clinic. 42 people made the clinic ranging in age from 8 to 86 years old. It is one thing to hear about nordic as a lifetime sport but it is really cool to see both young and old enjoying the sport.

  
  Dr. Jim Mullen offering some advice on Nordic Walking. The hill behind him is a manmade playground with tunnels, paths, steps, tires and all sorts of fun things to climb on. Premier’s facility is really world class. Check out their website at http://www.premierPhysicalMedicine.com

  
  Uphill Technique

  The clinic went great. Everyone enjoyed the great weather and many are excited for the Birkie Trail Run and Trek on September 26.

  
  

  Unfortunatly when I got in the car to head back to Hayward. The ol’ Neon made no effort at all to start. Jim and I tried a few things before realizing it was beyond us. This could have been a rather stressful situation but thankfully the Mullens made it easy. Thanks for letting me stay with you, directing me to the great running trail, and helping me get the car fixed.

  
  

  I spent my Monday ‘rest’ day hanging out in Minocqua waiting for the mechanic to replace the starter switch. Not a bad place to be trapped. I wish every library had a bench like this.

  Pete Edwards is discussing. Toggle Comments

   

  • Pete Edwards 10:40 pm on September 14, 2009 Permalink | Reply

    Brian – GREAT job with your Nordic Walking Clinic! Nordic Walking is NO longer just for cross country skiers in the know.

    And just like all skiers know, one-piece poles are safer, lighter and much more durable than cheap twist-locking and/or flip-locking adjustable length/telescoping/collapsible poles.

    At http://WWW.SKIWALKING.COM and the American Nordic Walking System we carry 14 different lengths of Nordic Walking Poles. We use SWIX and EXEL Nordic Walking Poles – respected names in the ski business. ALL of our Nordic Walking Poles come with comfortable patented fingerless-glove type straps – patented by the Salomon Ski Company.

    Perfect length poles help us to automatically walk with a super straight back – better walking posture is biomechanically a good thing. This improved walking posture when combined with the unique 4-Wheel-Drive type action of walking with poles radically reduces the stress to the shins, knees, hips and back. Nordic Walking is low impact and yet provides a highly effective workout – burning more calories and working more muscle groups than regular walking.

    Keep up the good work at CXC and have FUN Ski Walking!

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• kchaudoin 6:05 pm on September 7, 2009 Permalink | Reply  

  Fitting It All In 

  

  Instead of sending Fish a monthly training log, I think pictures of my increasingly awful sportsbra tanline will be sufficient.

  

  Captain of the pontoon...

  

  Huge fish!!! Unfortunately just a huge rock...

  Well, we’re in Hayward again. It’s absolutely nuts how quickly the summer is passing! It’s September already and we can technically consider it fall, yikes. Don’t get me wrong, fall is probably my favorite season, with all of the leaves changing colors and the temperature dropping a bit, but I don’t think I’m quite ready for it. I’m pretty sure I can count the number of typical “summer days” that we’ve had on one hand…maybe two…but of course none of those fell on a Monday, which is usually our only day off each week. Oh well, I can’t complain too much. The weather has been optimal for training, and though not every day is perfectly sunny in the 80’s, I still found a few days to have some relaxed, fun-in-the-sun.

  One of those days that I found was during my last two week period at home. One of the perks of working at Silver Rapids Lodge (where I work the front desk and waitress) is that employees are able to rent watercrafts for free. KP and I took advantage of that one of the Mondays that we both had off while he was visiting in Ely, and took out one of SRL’s pontoons. We were only able to stay out on the water for a few hours (due to a storm that was coming in) but it was still a relaxing, and awesome time. We packed a lunch, some fishing rods, and sunscreen, and were all set to enjoy the afternoon.

  Another highlight of my time at home was the “Get Your Nordic On” Nordic Walking Clinic that I held in Ely. I was really nervous no one was going to show up…but I actually had a few make the clinic. Though I am not an expert Nordic walker by any means, the clinic went especially well. It is awesome leaving a clinic that everyone enjoyed, and over half the people are asking you where to buy the Nordic walking poles so that they can continue the sport that you introduced to them.

  As for the Hayward camp, it has been going really well. As Karl was writing, we VO2max tested on Thursday. My test went well and it’s really encouraging to see on paper that I’m becoming fitter and just improving as an endurance athlete in general. As for the next couple of days we are taking it a bit easier than usual, getting ready for our second speed block of the year. It’s a week that not many people are ever REALLY looking forward to, but it’s just one of those times that you are have to be mentally tough and think about how much faster it will make you this winter. So…bring it on!
   

• gkuzzy 11:27 pm on September 5, 2009 Permalink | Reply  

  Hello, Is there anybody in there? 

  The International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) has 10 trails around the world they call “IMBA Epics” – sort of like the Seven Wonders of the World for mountain bikers.  Atop IMBA’s list is the most famous ride, so famous that Pink Floyd named a song after the trail, Comfortably Numb.

  

  I’m in Whistler, BC at the moment, at a training camp with the national team, Sun Valley, Steinbock, NEG, and more.  The training and conditions have been awesome all week.  Check out TeamToday for pics and updates on the camp.  The great weather we’ve had finally gave way to rain this morning.

  

  Time to ride Comfortably Numb.  It wouldn’t be an Epic without wet roots or an overcast view.  Pete & I hit the trail early Saturday morning, heeding trailside warnings to “Leave with plenty of time to return before dark.”  The 17 mile trail had over 1500 vertical feet of climbing–that’s about 25 round trip rides from Fish Hatchery to OO on the new Makwa Trail in Hayward.  Success is measured on this challenging trail not by how fast you can ride it, but how long you can ride without unclipping from your pedals.  My record was about 3 minutes.  It was an awesome ride, despite the bone chilling rain.  Kicking back in the condo this afternoon, I understand why they call the trail, Comfortably Numb.

  

  
   

• nygrenk 11:54 pm on September 4, 2009 Permalink | Reply  

  September Camp 

  The CXC Team Vertical Limit September Camp kicked off this Thursday in Hayward, WI with VO2 max testing on the treadmill.  With multiple tests so far this year the results will be a great way to chart progress.   Ideally we will have become more aerobically efficient after the long hours of summer training.  Hopefully our threshold pace and heart rate will also have improved.   It is important to keep in mind that testing alone does not make one faster.  It is the ability to personalize and improve training based on test results in order to elicit a more positive response that really matters.  Bryan and Igor have been great at this so far and I for one am feeling great.  This summer I have enjoyed the highest quality of training I have ever experienced.  The hours have not been more then I am used to but every workout has been focused and specific with a greater emphasis on intervals.  I continue to struggle with improving my technique and am continuously focusing on tips I have gotten from Bryan while skiing.  My old habits are proving to be very stubborn but I feel progress is being made nonetheless.  In general I am trying to keep my arms and feet wider while engaging the core more and increasing the fluidity of the movements.

  Here are some pics from the V02 testing.

  

  The computer, V02 machine and tredmill.

  

  Chuck starting out.

  

  Cook after the test.