Thank you to each and everyone who has helped me make it to where I am. Please continue to join me in this journey. I’m honored to have you on the team! Check out my fundraiser and please share with others :)
Link to my fundraiser here!
Catching Covid-19
On November 9th, I lost my sense of smell after having a stuffy nose for the two days prior. My plane ticket to leave Alaska for the season opener world cups was on November 17th. These weren’t even the type of sniffles I would have normally considered a cold- just the type that would make me decide to push intervals back a day or two. I actually did exactly this, but on the third day I woke up and couldn’t smell my morning coffee, and I knew it wasn’t just your average cold. I quickly went and got a covid test, but didn’t get “official” results until day 5. In the meantime, I assumed I had covid, which was reinforced by the inability to smell my stinky ski boots or taste half a bottle of sriracha poured into my soup. I started taking things very easy, finding it difficult to make it through a 25 minute mile on the treadmill on my basement with the infamous “covid headache” after doing cruisy 7-minute miles just days before. Needless to say, I did not make my flight to Europe, and instead have been focused on my health and recovery ever since.
After a little concern with the echo, but a good chest-ray, I was cleared to go on walks.
It has been super difficult to take over two weeks off recovering from Covid-19. Prior to Covid I had been doing my first big on-snow training block and feeling awesome. I did an hour of threshold intervals the day before the ‘sniffles’ set in and it was nearly effortless. I did the set on a known route in Fairbanks that I have done since I was 14 so it has become a solid gage of fitness for me.
Nonetheless, I am doing much better now. I had a few tough days, but in general from what I know via echo, ekg, chest x-ray, and blood labs I believe I am recovering well. Thanks to the cardiologist and my coach, Erik Flora, I have a structured plan to return to full training in a conservative and progressive approach. After two weeks completely off from training, I started back with some walks. After that I did a week of 1 hour skis each day. Last week I did 2x1 hour skis per day; this week, I am doing roughly the same but allowing the daily volume to reach 2.5 hours if I feel energetic. This might seem like a lot, but I am used to doing two sessions per day that are each two hours in duration in addition to high intensity training sessions. Relatively to my normal, right now I am doing all my exercise at a crawling pace. Polar watches was super generous and sent me a brand new watch that helps me ensure that I keep my pulse within the specified range.
With my progression, I hope to be near 100% around Christmas and return to racing for the second half of the season (assuming no complications along the way).
The silver lining of covid and not heading to europe: After quarantine I was really excited to get outside and see family that I only get a chance to see a few weeks a year.
First good walk. Went with my brothers kids looking for grouse and ptarmigan.
Setting lines and retrieving burbot was pretty taxing early on.
I put Dad on cooking duty. Beer battered halibut from this summer.
I brought blueberries to Fairbanks so Mom and I canned some jam and made syrup.
Could I get any more Covid basic?
Started to carve a travel spoon.
On snow in Fairbanks
I’ve been in Fairbanks over a week and have just another week here before heading to Europe. When I decided to come to here Anchorage didn’t have the greatest skiing and Birch Hill was setting shallow tracks that sometimes drug through decaying leaves. Birch Hill is consistently the best place for early season, low-snow training. The trail maintenance/grooming crew can make near perfect trails with just a few inches of snow. I might have my Fairbanks bias, but it is also truth.
Training has been great. I had a few days of high volume and then a super good threshold set with Logan. We did our standard threshold course from high school except that we went way farther in ten minutes than we used to. Skate 5x10 on rolling terrain to get used to sliding fast on snow. It was an awesome workout under the lights.
It has snowed so much since I arrived that even with constant grooming there is always at least a dusting.
Coming home has also meant extra sleep, amazing dinners, snagging sourdough starter from a friend, and seeing my nieces and nephews.
Ava in my old Team FAST vest!
I’m so basic :)
NM continues to impress!
This past week has been stellar! I’m finding my groove here in ABQ- early morning roller ski, hide from the sun while geeking out on accounting work, afternoon run or ride, cook Jessica dinner while she studies like a maniac, and then basically repeat :)
Lesson learned:
Prepare a snack-pack for any workout over 2.5 hours.
Training at 10,000 feet wipes me out for the rest of the day. Doesn’t effect Jessica.
New Mexican ‘mild’ salsa is HOT
Jess and I have ran the La Luz trail at least once a week, which is 10-12 miles the way we do it and over 4k feet climbing with the high points over 10k. We’ve been taking the tram back down to the bottom to save our legs, which is pretty nice this time of year.
Insulated back pack snack pack
Them $1 tacos I talk about constantly. When I’m cooking its more like Salmon or Sheep with potatoes and salad :)
Fall in Albuquerque
After a rainy August and September in Alaska the blue bird days with a weather range of 50-80 degree isn’t treating me poorly :) Thanks to Jessica for choosing to do her Physical Therapy education in ABQ I’ve (we’ve) discovered how truly incredible New Mexico is. This week is roughly my 13th week in ABQ since July 2019. Every week that I’m here is filled with new discoveries- rad trails, insanely good $1 tacos, friends, rattle snakes and locals improving my pronunciations of streets, towns, and Mexican dishes.
Lost Lake Trail
Running towards Lobos Peak
Highest point in New Mexico- Wheeler Peak 13,159’.
Almost certain this photo happened during a Sour Patch Kids Watermelon candy break
300 yards back I walked a cliff that Jessica rode/fell off…. She is fine, but her scabs are sticking to the bed sheets :(