A late winter in Europe, and logistical problems are keeping me from taking advantage of it. It just try to use this bummer as a boost for my snow feaver for my next actual trip.
Since my last post, I've been crazy busy looking around for houses, meeting friends, seeing more houses, and dining out with more friends. No workouts for my logs, to my big shame.
Also, I'm developing an inflammation. A really dry and sore throat, whatever I throw or suck at it.
Then some personal displeasures, and it's really not my time of year now.
The way these things go with me, I'll likely be ill for the next week at least, yippy...
My name is Jan Gerrit Klok, call me J. I also go by Cloxxki. This blog will mark my progress as I start from zero. A desperately out-of-shape cyclist aiming to become fitter than ever, but in a sport hardly existing my his home country. My country gets on average one or 2 XC-skiable days per winter. Although that's improving quickly. Goal: someday race XC, and not off the back of the field. And new goal: deliver a good Winter Triathlon (coach wanted).
28 March 2008
17 March 2008
Still a long road ahead
So, yesterday was my first MTB race since November. A very wet course, asking the best of my bike, which (me to blame) it did not have.
I got close to the lead early on, but found myself bored with surroundings, the slippery conditions, and cycling in general. Also, cycling hard was like new to me, not a pleasant experience. I rode my laps lazily, dropping to 15th or so position out of 50. Couldn't bring myself to dig deep. When my brakes failed, I gave up for my own safety, although later in the day I learned these brakes were easily adjusted to work again.
I learned that 3 weeks of careful training does (no longer) make me a race winner. However, I also could tell that the (known to be serieus racers) competition was not all that faster than me, physically. Once againt that conformes to me that I do have athletic talent. It just obviously doesn't mean I am always faster than everybody.
End of next week we'll enter summer time, with longer evening light. MTB practice will become part of my weekly schedule then. Fun as it can be a social event, and it easily sneaks in 3+ hours of excersize on an evening. 2x20km commuting, and full club training over XC-style hills.
By June, I hope to win or come at least close to winning in such lowest-level national races. That would indicate that I'm on the right track. June will be packed with races. The Zoetermeer one I just learned will be 60min on both Saturday and Sunday, they call it a "stage race".
I got close to the lead early on, but found myself bored with surroundings, the slippery conditions, and cycling in general. Also, cycling hard was like new to me, not a pleasant experience. I rode my laps lazily, dropping to 15th or so position out of 50. Couldn't bring myself to dig deep. When my brakes failed, I gave up for my own safety, although later in the day I learned these brakes were easily adjusted to work again.
I learned that 3 weeks of careful training does (no longer) make me a race winner. However, I also could tell that the (known to be serieus racers) competition was not all that faster than me, physically. Once againt that conformes to me that I do have athletic talent. It just obviously doesn't mean I am always faster than everybody.
End of next week we'll enter summer time, with longer evening light. MTB practice will become part of my weekly schedule then. Fun as it can be a social event, and it easily sneaks in 3+ hours of excersize on an evening. 2x20km commuting, and full club training over XC-style hills.
By June, I hope to win or come at least close to winning in such lowest-level national races. That would indicate that I'm on the right track. June will be packed with races. The Zoetermeer one I just learned will be 60min on both Saturday and Sunday, they call it a "stage race".
15 March 2008
Question from a reader : upper body strength training?
Biff made a good comment to my last update. What do I do for the upper body on top of the Nordic Blading?
Right now, not much. I've commented on my slight progress in push-ups (one-set 11 to now 17 and even 18). Not much else.
The reasons for my under-performing there (after a week or 3-4) have been multifold:
- My famous laziness/ lack of self-motivation
- Lack of knowledge
- Timing
Timing? I've got all of the world to write these silly posts! Fair enough, but that's not my point.
Biff may be under-estimating the situation I'm in. I am not only out of shap, I am also totally screen in the department of skating.
I'll try to sum up everything I've done for skating motions, this lifetime
- Ice skating : perhaps 2 months worth, but mostly before my 13th birthday, back when we still had winters. Mostly hockey skating, and a couple dozen kms of "speed" skating.
- Crosskates : a couple weeks worth, spread over about a year, a year ago. At the end, I had a fast Open Field skate, for up to 5km, and nothing else.
- Inlines : Owned them for less than a year. Under 100km on them. The last couple dozen on slow wheels with poles.
Point being : I'm a rookie. A newbie. trying to get SOME forward motion going.
Using my abs to push down on the poles, (as is apparently the idea), brings me out of fore-aft balance. The inlines are short (a tight 4x90mm), and I'm usually tall for this sport.
I have read some on upper body fitness, but honesly: apart from the first hour on the Crosskates, it never has been the limiting factor. I've done some (careful) double poling. Bending my too flexy poles all over the place, and especially out of balance. I'll be building it up, but it's not a priority right now. I need to learn to apply the little force I have now first, and then get stronger.
Right now, I'm giving as much upper body input as I'm comfortable with.
Limiting factor right now is the intense lactate build-up in my hip/bum, whatever it's called there. I feel disco-ordinated and clumsy because of this. My first few skate pushes, when the soreness is not there yet, can sometimes be the best of the day.
Since I commited to this program, I have yet to have sore arms or abs.
But sure Biff, I'll have to do some serious work before mid-January, to get the abs and arms in tip-top shape. If anything, I can use a good double-poling as a back-up plan when I find myself out of control when skating, and in need for some propulsion I can put some muscle into.
Right now, not much. I've commented on my slight progress in push-ups (one-set 11 to now 17 and even 18). Not much else.
The reasons for my under-performing there (after a week or 3-4) have been multifold:
- My famous laziness/ lack of self-motivation
- Lack of knowledge
- Timing
Timing? I've got all of the world to write these silly posts! Fair enough, but that's not my point.
Biff may be under-estimating the situation I'm in. I am not only out of shap, I am also totally screen in the department of skating.
I'll try to sum up everything I've done for skating motions, this lifetime
- Ice skating : perhaps 2 months worth, but mostly before my 13th birthday, back when we still had winters. Mostly hockey skating, and a couple dozen kms of "speed" skating.
- Crosskates : a couple weeks worth, spread over about a year, a year ago. At the end, I had a fast Open Field skate, for up to 5km, and nothing else.
- Inlines : Owned them for less than a year. Under 100km on them. The last couple dozen on slow wheels with poles.
Point being : I'm a rookie. A newbie. trying to get SOME forward motion going.
Using my abs to push down on the poles, (as is apparently the idea), brings me out of fore-aft balance. The inlines are short (a tight 4x90mm), and I'm usually tall for this sport.
I have read some on upper body fitness, but honesly: apart from the first hour on the Crosskates, it never has been the limiting factor. I've done some (careful) double poling. Bending my too flexy poles all over the place, and especially out of balance. I'll be building it up, but it's not a priority right now. I need to learn to apply the little force I have now first, and then get stronger.
Right now, I'm giving as much upper body input as I'm comfortable with.
Limiting factor right now is the intense lactate build-up in my hip/bum, whatever it's called there. I feel disco-ordinated and clumsy because of this. My first few skate pushes, when the soreness is not there yet, can sometimes be the best of the day.
Since I commited to this program, I have yet to have sore arms or abs.
But sure Biff, I'll have to do some serious work before mid-January, to get the abs and arms in tip-top shape. If anything, I can use a good double-poling as a back-up plan when I find myself out of control when skating, and in need for some propulsion I can put some muscle into.
13 March 2008
Two in a row, and more new firsts
Can two BE a row?
In the great scheme of thing (my high-set goals) is nothing out of the ordinary. However, getting up before 7, and having a 40-minute working, let alone 2 days after another, is quite a new level of commitment to me.
Last night, with the pretty fierce winds, I could not bring myself to go outside and nirdic blade. I have to confess to myself, I also did zero push/situps.
This morning, skies were clear, the wind down to a mind breeze. I stumbled my way around some cyling paths and parking lots for a good 40 minutes. I noticed I take more time to cover given stretches than jogging. These blades really go slow when you stop giving very explicit input. Skiing on level snow may well be faster in the <10kph range. I was overtaken by lazy scholars riding their bikes about as slow as I can imagine while still reaching any destination.
there was another first : a tumble. I had just made way for a group of scholars on a narrow cycling path. The path sloped up slightly, and there were cracks in the asphalt. Perhaps I also tried to improve my technique at the same point, as I just lost balance. Contrary to my expieriences on rollerskis, my clothing survived this time. I was shaken for quite a while, managed only short proper skating intervals.
I need to get more glide from the left (non-pole) leg when open field skating. The short glide makes the technique more of a V1, not good. I just feel uncertain with my left skate, it feels left stable, like it tracks differently from the right. Open Field on the left side also is far from proper. V2 is a fight to keep up with myself, hmm. If I look at it from the bright side, it can only get better...
Does anyone knwo where the muscle soreness in my (especially) left outer upper hip / bum could come from? It makes me feel really clumsy all the time, and won't go away. Comes to me on the first minute I get out on skates, and it annoys me greatly.
In the great scheme of thing (my high-set goals) is nothing out of the ordinary. However, getting up before 7, and having a 40-minute working, let alone 2 days after another, is quite a new level of commitment to me.
Last night, with the pretty fierce winds, I could not bring myself to go outside and nirdic blade. I have to confess to myself, I also did zero push/situps.
This morning, skies were clear, the wind down to a mind breeze. I stumbled my way around some cyling paths and parking lots for a good 40 minutes. I noticed I take more time to cover given stretches than jogging. These blades really go slow when you stop giving very explicit input. Skiing on level snow may well be faster in the <10kph range. I was overtaken by lazy scholars riding their bikes about as slow as I can imagine while still reaching any destination.
there was another first : a tumble. I had just made way for a group of scholars on a narrow cycling path. The path sloped up slightly, and there were cracks in the asphalt. Perhaps I also tried to improve my technique at the same point, as I just lost balance. Contrary to my expieriences on rollerskis, my clothing survived this time. I was shaken for quite a while, managed only short proper skating intervals.
I need to get more glide from the left (non-pole) leg when open field skating. The short glide makes the technique more of a V1, not good. I just feel uncertain with my left skate, it feels left stable, like it tracks differently from the right. Open Field on the left side also is far from proper. V2 is a fight to keep up with myself, hmm. If I look at it from the bright side, it can only get better...
Does anyone knwo where the muscle soreness in my (especially) left outer upper hip / bum could come from? It makes me feel really clumsy all the time, and won't go away. Comes to me on the first minute I get out on skates, and it annoys me greatly.
12 March 2008
Picking the wrong shoes for the right job : blisters!
After 2 days "off", we have really depressing rainstorms going on here, I managed to get out of bed with an hour to spare to breakfast.
I jumped into jogging gear, and once again picked the Salomon CrossSpeed shoes, with the MySole inlays which seemed to work so well in the mud last Sunday.
I set out to run 8km in total, which was going to take me about 40mins. Yet, it's a scary distance to commit to. I ran to the recreation area, and there did a loop of 5km, all asphalt, which I used to time trial with a friend back when we both had just one somewhat decent MTB.
So, the wind was mostly in my face (under my hat raher) on the way out, back it was somewhat benificial. Damn I catch a lot of wind, headwinds are just not my thing.
I now remembered the low weight of the Salomon shoes, and their lack of damping. Brain wave, these babies are made to be used on soft muddy soil. Humping over asphalt is hurtfull. My heel were grabbed by the insole, and I developped a blister especially on the inside of my right foot, halfway. Yet, apart from 2 traffic lights, I managed to run the full distance, in 40m50. Way slow for me, like 12kph, but it's a little step. Especially in conquering the pain and the dislike of going out to train solo.
This evening it's still very windy. I'm setting the alarm early, hoping to do my first nordic blading session before breakfast. Meetings at work all day, and then dinner. I'll have to jog Friday mornign I'm affraid :-)
I jumped into jogging gear, and once again picked the Salomon CrossSpeed shoes, with the MySole inlays which seemed to work so well in the mud last Sunday.
I set out to run 8km in total, which was going to take me about 40mins. Yet, it's a scary distance to commit to. I ran to the recreation area, and there did a loop of 5km, all asphalt, which I used to time trial with a friend back when we both had just one somewhat decent MTB.
So, the wind was mostly in my face (under my hat raher) on the way out, back it was somewhat benificial. Damn I catch a lot of wind, headwinds are just not my thing.
I now remembered the low weight of the Salomon shoes, and their lack of damping. Brain wave, these babies are made to be used on soft muddy soil. Humping over asphalt is hurtfull. My heel were grabbed by the insole, and I developped a blister especially on the inside of my right foot, halfway. Yet, apart from 2 traffic lights, I managed to run the full distance, in 40m50. Way slow for me, like 12kph, but it's a little step. Especially in conquering the pain and the dislike of going out to train solo.
This evening it's still very windy. I'm setting the alarm early, hoping to do my first nordic blading session before breakfast. Meetings at work all day, and then dinner. I'll have to jog Friday mornign I'm affraid :-)
10 March 2008
Less than one week to race
I just woke up to satisfied feeling legs. Not too beat up from the off-road jog yesterday. It's good to now know my muscles can take it, and I'll be able to sit at my desk comfortably the days after a jog :-)
As a "retired" MTB racer, I don't plan on racing much more than the National races I can ride my bike to as a warm-up. Still, that's 4 of them within 25km, 3 of which in June, on top of another cool event, also in June.
But, the Honselersdijk race, traditionally pretty good for me (I even won it once as part of a local series), comes really early this year.
I haven't ridden a bike off-road since November, 3rd place in Rijswijk. And on-road, it's been limited to the 2km commute to work, and some weekend the 39km commute to visit friends. But the last of those was many weeks ago as well.
This should be interesting. Lower level of racing, record low level of cycling hours in the legs.
The June races I intend to try and win as part of my schedule towards greatness next winter. This one, I hope to not look too stupid. The (elite races) promoter jokingly almost refused to put down my name for the Fun (hobby) class, I as beat him in November, that last day I rode off-road.
2 years ago I had a similar situation with the first event of the MTB season, a 45km beach race. I'd only been on Crosskates the weeks before it, but I seemed to be about as strong as ever. Like the body weight loaded training help build some cycling muscles as well. I'd welcome that, of course. It felt quite easy to race a bike that day, having a seat to sit on. I rode alone for 25km in 4th and then started the usual route back down the field, to finish 12th. For October, you'll see another beach race on the calendar. I hope to have the guts to take part there, I've never done it. Praying for tail winds which suit me so well...
As a "retired" MTB racer, I don't plan on racing much more than the National races I can ride my bike to as a warm-up. Still, that's 4 of them within 25km, 3 of which in June, on top of another cool event, also in June.
But, the Honselersdijk race, traditionally pretty good for me (I even won it once as part of a local series), comes really early this year.
I haven't ridden a bike off-road since November, 3rd place in Rijswijk. And on-road, it's been limited to the 2km commute to work, and some weekend the 39km commute to visit friends. But the last of those was many weeks ago as well.
This should be interesting. Lower level of racing, record low level of cycling hours in the legs.
The June races I intend to try and win as part of my schedule towards greatness next winter. This one, I hope to not look too stupid. The (elite races) promoter jokingly almost refused to put down my name for the Fun (hobby) class, I as beat him in November, that last day I rode off-road.
2 years ago I had a similar situation with the first event of the MTB season, a 45km beach race. I'd only been on Crosskates the weeks before it, but I seemed to be about as strong as ever. Like the body weight loaded training help build some cycling muscles as well. I'd welcome that, of course. It felt quite easy to race a bike that day, having a seat to sit on. I rode alone for 25km in 4th and then started the usual route back down the field, to finish 12th. For October, you'll see another beach race on the calendar. I hope to have the guts to take part there, I've never done it. Praying for tail winds which suit me so well...
09 March 2008
Somewhat lazy day...BUT with 2 firsts!
I woke up to the World Championships speed skating. Our proud little nation got 4 golds. Yet, we get maybe 4 skatable days per winter. Of course, indoor ice rinks are better spread than ski tunnels. Alpine though, we have at least as many venues indoors as ice skating.
So I watched that, and then the Biathlon from Russia. Awesome stuff, these super(wo)men gliding through the snow covered woods and back into the shooting stadium. Grandstands packed with people in warm clothing. Today, for the men it was worth hitting the targets. Sikora got it, the faster skiers left behind on the penalty loop.
The weather here : rain all day. Yippie. I had an hour of no-poles high-resistance skating, so the plan was to first jog and later today nordic blade. Yet, I wrote all of this blog. I've always wanted to have a blog, and now I have a reason for one. Inpsired by 6Q Biathlon , I'll admit. That's 1 First.
Before dinertime, I left on my easy chair, PC, and TV on my grocery getter bicycle, in running outfit.
My Salomon SpeedCross shoes before gave me a nasty strain in the middle lower foot, so I had not used them more than twice. And with that, still zero intensional off-road jogs. The local running store advized these new high-tec MySole inlays, with tall heel supports, and a cushion under the mid-foot. €19, I took the gamble. I'll say now, the strain oin this jog did not come.
In a bout 5mins, I arrived at the start of our local "MTB" loop in a recreational area. Can't call it a park. You need happy looking trees for that and these trees have looked miserable since I was a kid. Same for the soil. One little rain shower and it's a slippery mud fest. One week of sunlight, and it's grown over in sticky herbs. Today, of course, was the former condition.
I set out on a loop we figured out over a decade ago, some 5km over fast but slightly winding and bumpy trails. And some artificially formed fire roads. The trails were covered in tire tracks, but not a soul in sight. No runners either. And on a Sunday afternoon. This really must be pising weather then.
In advance, I decided to run up this tiny, but to our standard huge, grass hill, ca 4m tall, twice.
So I did, and I was fine. The trails were a challenge for the ankles, and I carefully walked the wooden bridges that have caught so many unsuspecting cyclist. Green tiny beings. have made a home of the wooden surface.
I managed to complete the lap (5.2-5.3km I suppose) non-stop, in 27:38. Good thing my First ever offroad jog was on this day, the conditions can only get faster, as am I. Next fall, hopefully I'll be up for running TO the course, and doing 2 laps for good measure.
This tiny workout is going to have to be the example for the rest of my year. Doing new and in some way fun workouts, to not make it too boring. Keep my motivation up.
On the easier sections, I thought about what it was for that I was running dow a miseably ugly dirt road in the pooring rain. Those athletes on TV, slicing thorugh the snowy landscapes. I tried that out of shape, and it was a no-go. At least, the way I envision it. Better work hard to get fit, and used to the breathing.
Already I'm satisfied of the tiny little step up I made today, although I hope my spirits will get me to Nordic Skate some more before bed.
Tomorrow I need to work at least the morning. Bad storms and lightning will be our part. No more skating at least tomorrow, I'm afraid. It would a good death though, struck by lighting making a connection through the hard steel pole tips ont he soaking streets...
So I watched that, and then the Biathlon from Russia. Awesome stuff, these super(wo)men gliding through the snow covered woods and back into the shooting stadium. Grandstands packed with people in warm clothing. Today, for the men it was worth hitting the targets. Sikora got it, the faster skiers left behind on the penalty loop.
The weather here : rain all day. Yippie. I had an hour of no-poles high-resistance skating, so the plan was to first jog and later today nordic blade. Yet, I wrote all of this blog. I've always wanted to have a blog, and now I have a reason for one. Inpsired by 6Q Biathlon , I'll admit. That's 1 First.
Before dinertime, I left on my easy chair, PC, and TV on my grocery getter bicycle, in running outfit.
My Salomon SpeedCross shoes before gave me a nasty strain in the middle lower foot, so I had not used them more than twice. And with that, still zero intensional off-road jogs. The local running store advized these new high-tec MySole inlays, with tall heel supports, and a cushion under the mid-foot. €19, I took the gamble. I'll say now, the strain oin this jog did not come.
In a bout 5mins, I arrived at the start of our local "MTB" loop in a recreational area. Can't call it a park. You need happy looking trees for that and these trees have looked miserable since I was a kid. Same for the soil. One little rain shower and it's a slippery mud fest. One week of sunlight, and it's grown over in sticky herbs. Today, of course, was the former condition.
I set out on a loop we figured out over a decade ago, some 5km over fast but slightly winding and bumpy trails. And some artificially formed fire roads. The trails were covered in tire tracks, but not a soul in sight. No runners either. And on a Sunday afternoon. This really must be pising weather then.
In advance, I decided to run up this tiny, but to our standard huge, grass hill, ca 4m tall, twice.
So I did, and I was fine. The trails were a challenge for the ankles, and I carefully walked the wooden bridges that have caught so many unsuspecting cyclist. Green tiny beings. have made a home of the wooden surface.
I managed to complete the lap (5.2-5.3km I suppose) non-stop, in 27:38. Good thing my First ever offroad jog was on this day, the conditions can only get faster, as am I. Next fall, hopefully I'll be up for running TO the course, and doing 2 laps for good measure.
This tiny workout is going to have to be the example for the rest of my year. Doing new and in some way fun workouts, to not make it too boring. Keep my motivation up.
On the easier sections, I thought about what it was for that I was running dow a miseably ugly dirt road in the pooring rain. Those athletes on TV, slicing thorugh the snowy landscapes. I tried that out of shape, and it was a no-go. At least, the way I envision it. Better work hard to get fit, and used to the breathing.
Already I'm satisfied of the tiny little step up I made today, although I hope my spirits will get me to Nordic Skate some more before bed.
Tomorrow I need to work at least the morning. Bad storms and lightning will be our part. No more skating at least tomorrow, I'm afraid. It would a good death though, struck by lighting making a connection through the hard steel pole tips ont he soaking streets...
The past 2 weeks
The past 2 weeks I've been minding my diet and picking up jogging and skating.
Last Thursday, the first time I jogged before breakfast AND went for an hour Nordic Blading late in the evening. I proved to myself that I survived. This body will not die from a bit of workout.
I kew that, but got out of the self-punishing mood long ago.
Tuesday night, I ran 7.6km non-stop, a new mile stone. Pace was a bit over 12.7kph, and more importantly : a negative split. I turned around after 18:00, and did the way home 17s faster. Near the end, I started feeling the burning in my throat from the breathing. It felt good.
To put things in perspective : duration is okay, but I need to cover 2.4km more in just 1 minute more to meet my 10km goal by 1-1-2009. <37:00 over 10km should not be impossible though, however it will only be a part of a training scheme, not a real goal by itself. Jogging is there to increase my VO2Max, bring it higher than it ever was. for now, Nordic Blading is too much of a muscle excersize to be able to train hard into the red zone. I'm glad if I stay upright and break a sweat other than from fear alone :-)
It's been great to have these slow K2 90mm wheels, and finally having gotten out for what I'd call a skiing session again. Inlines are highly manoeuvrable, you don't just crash too easily. Downside is that you need decent asphalt to ski smoothly and not trip all the time. I need to fine me some off-road skates with air tires that are easier to manage than my Jenex Aero V2 150 SC's.
I have gotten new high-tech inlay soles for my Salomon cross running shoes, intend to go out for a jog in the park, over trails of various composition soon, to improve coordination, trength, and musclular stability.
Last Thursday, the first time I jogged before breakfast AND went for an hour Nordic Blading late in the evening. I proved to myself that I survived. This body will not die from a bit of workout.
I kew that, but got out of the self-punishing mood long ago.
Tuesday night, I ran 7.6km non-stop, a new mile stone. Pace was a bit over 12.7kph, and more importantly : a negative split. I turned around after 18:00, and did the way home 17s faster. Near the end, I started feeling the burning in my throat from the breathing. It felt good.
To put things in perspective : duration is okay, but I need to cover 2.4km more in just 1 minute more to meet my 10km goal by 1-1-2009. <37:00 over 10km should not be impossible though, however it will only be a part of a training scheme, not a real goal by itself. Jogging is there to increase my VO2Max, bring it higher than it ever was. for now, Nordic Blading is too much of a muscle excersize to be able to train hard into the red zone. I'm glad if I stay upright and break a sweat other than from fear alone :-)
It's been great to have these slow K2 90mm wheels, and finally having gotten out for what I'd call a skiing session again. Inlines are highly manoeuvrable, you don't just crash too easily. Downside is that you need decent asphalt to ski smoothly and not trip all the time. I need to fine me some off-road skates with air tires that are easier to manage than my Jenex Aero V2 150 SC's.
I have gotten new high-tech inlay soles for my Salomon cross running shoes, intend to go out for a jog in the park, over trails of various composition soon, to improve coordination, trength, and musclular stability.
My ski and trianing gear (suggestions welcome)
Shoes : 48EU / 12.5UK / 13US
Asics Gel-Landreth
Salomon SpeedCross
Skates : K2 4x90mm Moto size 48, now equipped with superslow K2 Conti wheels, 1 pair with braking bearings.
Rollerskis (used 2km with miserable results) Jenex Aero V2 150 SC. Lack of room for mid-stroke corrections got to me.
Skis :
-Atomic Race skate 192 Hard Warm + Atomic Pilot
Used in Switzerland. Stiff and stable. Not for soft snow at least. Need to try on hard snow.
-Atomic WorldCup Skate Hard Warm + Atomic Pilot
Not used yet. Supposedly a good soft snow ski. My lightest set.
-Atomic ProSkate 190cm + Atomic Pilot
Not used yet/
Chepaest they make, and I paid very little. Should be good for days with bad or few snow, and borrowing to inexperienced friends.
-Salomon Equipe 10 Skating 191cm, Warm Stiff + Salomon Pilot
Not used.
Supposedly very good for hard packed snow.
(( For sale : unused Fisher RCS Carbonlite 187cm Stiff Plus 2007. Super nice. Asking price well <€200. Classic : -Fisher/Splitkein Lillehammer 205+210cm.)) Boots, all sized 12.5UK, 48EU
-Salomon Active Pilot : comfortable, soft, light
-Salomon RS Carbon : racey yet comfortable.
-Atomic Race Skate : not used yet, but feel good
Classic :
-Atomic Classic Men. Not used yet, but feel good and light. To try for skating too.
Badly pictured with skate skis.
Poles
-Rossignol WorldCup 100% carbon 172.5cm. Extremely light, good straps, but very flexy, too small baskets. Now being used for the Nordic Blading, but I want 175's for that.
-Fisher Allround alu 165cm, not used yet. To be tried for Classic.
Asics Gel-Landreth
Salomon SpeedCross
Skates : K2 4x90mm Moto size 48, now equipped with superslow K2 Conti wheels, 1 pair with braking bearings.
Rollerskis (used 2km with miserable results) Jenex Aero V2 150 SC. Lack of room for mid-stroke corrections got to me.
Skis :
-Atomic Race skate 192 Hard Warm + Atomic Pilot
Used in Switzerland. Stiff and stable. Not for soft snow at least. Need to try on hard snow.
-Atomic WorldCup Skate Hard Warm + Atomic Pilot
Not used yet. Supposedly a good soft snow ski. My lightest set.
-Atomic ProSkate 190cm + Atomic Pilot
Not used yet/
Chepaest they make, and I paid very little. Should be good for days with bad or few snow, and borrowing to inexperienced friends.
-Salomon Equipe 10 Skating 191cm, Warm Stiff + Salomon Pilot
Not used.
Supposedly very good for hard packed snow.
(( For sale : unused Fisher RCS Carbonlite 187cm Stiff Plus 2007. Super nice. Asking price well <€200. Classic : -Fisher/Splitkein Lillehammer 205+210cm.)) Boots, all sized 12.5UK, 48EU
-Salomon Active Pilot : comfortable, soft, light
-Salomon RS Carbon : racey yet comfortable.
-Atomic Race Skate : not used yet, but feel good
Classic :
-Atomic Classic Men. Not used yet, but feel good and light. To try for skating too.
Badly pictured with skate skis.
Poles
-Rossignol WorldCup 100% carbon 172.5cm. Extremely light, good straps, but very flexy, too small baskets. Now being used for the Nordic Blading, but I want 175's for that.
-Fisher Allround alu 165cm, not used yet. To be tried for Classic.
The basic plan, and the tools
So, I'm stuck here without snow. Hell will freeze over before it stys on the ground here for longer than 24hours. The nearby sea's salt seems a part of the soil and streets.
I want to get fit for XC skiing, and learn the complex technique, especially the free style, skating technique.
A good weight, strong muscles and excellent high-aerobic endurance will be required.
Jogging
I plan to do this at least 3 times a week. Pole running will be added to that, to make the workout more full-body, and somewhat prepare me for the classic xc skiing I'll be trying next time on snow.
Perhaps I should already set some dates to do run racing, but I only consider this while I'm typing this. I just suck at running, being confronted by skinny athletes who live to run doesn't help my psyche too much.
Cycling.
Ideal for long workouts of course. Not too stressful. I'll have to pick this back up. I plan to show up for club training rides on Wednesdays again, it's a 19km commute to get there too.
Some MTB races (fun class, this time) are on the schedule to be able to test myself.
Skating
This is where I have most to learn. Specific muscles and moves to master. Skiing will be all about the outward pushes of the legs, and using abs to press down on the poles.
Logical step would be to poick up roller skiing. I tried, and could keep standing up. Falling on the knees on asphat hurts. I just cannot do this. Why do people consider it fun? You must be some sort of an acrobat for this stuff! That's a big bummer, and €300 wasted.
I tried Crosskates shortly. Two 10" air wheels per skate, free heels, disfunctional brakes, but self-steering front wheels. They ended up easy to master, as least on asphalt, and allowed me to try basic XC technique before I hit the snow forst time. Afterwards, the timing seemed off, and they turned me off.
Next: inline skating. Man, these things roll fast. Scary.
I eventually bought some SLOW wheels, K2 Continentals. Desinged for the rain, but too slow for the inline folks. K2 markets the wheels for Nordic Blading, and the resistance sure feels similar to snow. Even downhill speeds are kept in check, which is a very good thing for the chicken me.
I'll be Nordic Blading on 90mm wheels for the rest of my life, I hope.
Air Tires.
Like some rollerskis, various Nordic Skate concepts use 150mm air tires. Those don't roll too fast, and work well on less-than-perfect aphalt. My long rollerskis ended up not working for me, too stable. harder than skiing on snow by factor 20. The Powerslides and Skike of this world though, don't seem to favour my show size 48.
I'll expand on my trianing focusses, drills and tools more later on. Open to any kinds of suggestions!
I want to get fit for XC skiing, and learn the complex technique, especially the free style, skating technique.
A good weight, strong muscles and excellent high-aerobic endurance will be required.
Jogging
I plan to do this at least 3 times a week. Pole running will be added to that, to make the workout more full-body, and somewhat prepare me for the classic xc skiing I'll be trying next time on snow.
Perhaps I should already set some dates to do run racing, but I only consider this while I'm typing this. I just suck at running, being confronted by skinny athletes who live to run doesn't help my psyche too much.
Cycling.
Ideal for long workouts of course. Not too stressful. I'll have to pick this back up. I plan to show up for club training rides on Wednesdays again, it's a 19km commute to get there too.
Some MTB races (fun class, this time) are on the schedule to be able to test myself.
Skating
This is where I have most to learn. Specific muscles and moves to master. Skiing will be all about the outward pushes of the legs, and using abs to press down on the poles.
Logical step would be to poick up roller skiing. I tried, and could keep standing up. Falling on the knees on asphat hurts. I just cannot do this. Why do people consider it fun? You must be some sort of an acrobat for this stuff! That's a big bummer, and €300 wasted.
I tried Crosskates shortly. Two 10" air wheels per skate, free heels, disfunctional brakes, but self-steering front wheels. They ended up easy to master, as least on asphalt, and allowed me to try basic XC technique before I hit the snow forst time. Afterwards, the timing seemed off, and they turned me off.
Next: inline skating. Man, these things roll fast. Scary.
I eventually bought some SLOW wheels, K2 Continentals. Desinged for the rain, but too slow for the inline folks. K2 markets the wheels for Nordic Blading, and the resistance sure feels similar to snow. Even downhill speeds are kept in check, which is a very good thing for the chicken me.
I'll be Nordic Blading on 90mm wheels for the rest of my life, I hope.
Air Tires.
Like some rollerskis, various Nordic Skate concepts use 150mm air tires. Those don't roll too fast, and work well on less-than-perfect aphalt. My long rollerskis ended up not working for me, too stable. harder than skiing on snow by factor 20. The Powerslides and Skike of this world though, don't seem to favour my show size 48.
I'll expand on my trianing focusses, drills and tools more later on. Open to any kinds of suggestions!
Fact Sheet
Birth : 26 October 1976, Vlaardingen, Netherlands. A cold winter followed.
Height : 1m94
Weight : has been between 79.3 and 91kg. Best was 82kg.
Body style : all arms and legs. Jeans 34x38.
Living : Single, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands
Profession : Customer Support Representative, full-time
Started MTB riding 1996, racing 1997.
Some top-10 results in Sports, mainly beach and conditionally tough courses.
3-time Dutch Singlespeed Champion
Elite amateur champion Cycl0Cross Noord+Zuid-Holland 2001.
Winner of 7 Zuid-Holland regional winter MTB races as part of CX series.
1st XC Ski experience on snow March 2007, 5 days in Austria.
2nd snow experience : December 2007, 4 days in Switzerland.
1 failed attempt to ski in Holland since, 2008. Too little snow.
VO2Max : 506W on a bicycle, off-season, ca January 2001.
Running PB : 10km 45:00 (1998), 3km 11:44 (2007), 2300m 8:27 (2007).
Running goals 1-1-2009 : 10km <37:00, 15km <1:00:00, 1500m <4:50.
Height : 1m94
Weight : has been between 79.3 and 91kg. Best was 82kg.
Body style : all arms and legs. Jeans 34x38.
Living : Single, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands
Profession : Customer Support Representative, full-time
Started MTB riding 1996, racing 1997.
Some top-10 results in Sports, mainly beach and conditionally tough courses.
3-time Dutch Singlespeed Champion
Elite amateur champion Cycl0Cross Noord+Zuid-Holland 2001.
Winner of 7 Zuid-Holland regional winter MTB races as part of CX series.
1st XC Ski experience on snow March 2007, 5 days in Austria.
2nd snow experience : December 2007, 4 days in Switzerland.
1 failed attempt to ski in Holland since, 2008. Too little snow.
VO2Max : 506W on a bicycle, off-season, ca January 2001.
Running PB : 10km 45:00 (1998), 3km 11:44 (2007), 2300m 8:27 (2007).
Running goals 1-1-2009 : 10km <37:00, 15km <1:00:00, 1500m <4:50.
Where I'm coming from (rock bottom)
My best years in MTB racing were bewteen 2000 and 2003. I trained a bit, cared for my diet (a bit), and logged several top-10 finishes in the Sports category.
Last winter was hard on me. I don't get to ride my bike to work anymore. before, it was 16km each was, every day. Work moved, now it's 2km each way.
Also, I somehow quit riding my bike. No off-road outings (require one hour by car, which i do not own)
Starting June 2003, I've been suffering of some sort of excersized enduced asthmatic allergy. I cannot take in enough oxygen to even mildly jog. Lot of coughing. In the winter, apart from teh smog, I seem to be fine, and can be a contender in the local races. Singlespeed Nationals don't exactly come easy either, the last 2 I've won were late October and Early November.
I never jogged for fun, it was always part of a (temporary) plan.
I never inline skate till recently, too scared too fall on the street. Same reason I hardly did any road racing on the bike.
Late February 2008, I was here :
Around 10kg overweight.
1 set of 11 push-ups maximum (first set in a year)
a few sit-ups
Very bad CV system
can't jog slowly for more than a few minutes without running out of breath
Last winter was hard on me. I don't get to ride my bike to work anymore. before, it was 16km each was, every day. Work moved, now it's 2km each way.
Also, I somehow quit riding my bike. No off-road outings (require one hour by car, which i do not own)
Starting June 2003, I've been suffering of some sort of excersized enduced asthmatic allergy. I cannot take in enough oxygen to even mildly jog. Lot of coughing. In the winter, apart from teh smog, I seem to be fine, and can be a contender in the local races. Singlespeed Nationals don't exactly come easy either, the last 2 I've won were late October and Early November.
I never jogged for fun, it was always part of a (temporary) plan.
I never inline skate till recently, too scared too fall on the street. Same reason I hardly did any road racing on the bike.
Late February 2008, I was here :
Around 10kg overweight.
1 set of 11 push-ups maximum (first set in a year)
a few sit-ups
Very bad CV system
can't jog slowly for more than a few minutes without running out of breath
Here goes nothing!
This blog will mark my progress as I start from zero. An out-of-shape cyclist aiming to become fitter than ever, but in a sport hardly existing in his home country.
My country gets on average one or 2 XC-skiable days per winter. I managed zero so far, as I've only owned skis since recently.
Today, March 9th, I'm 2 weeks into my first diet and training weeks which will have to see me in top-shape by next winter.
My aims are simple, yet ridiculously high. I want to be a contender on a national (Dutch) level in XC Skiing, the skate technique in particular.
With my background in mountainbiking, and considering the successes my fellow countr(wo)men have logged in Winter Triathlon, I cannot but include WT that to my goals sheet. Running will be a big part of my training schedule, I just love riding a mountainbike in the snow, and XC Skating is my main goal in life. The perfect circle of three. I've always looked at triathlon as a possible sport for me, but the swimming scared me out. Off-road run-bike-runs were great fun, so WT should be awesome.
My country gets on average one or 2 XC-skiable days per winter. I managed zero so far, as I've only owned skis since recently.
Today, March 9th, I'm 2 weeks into my first diet and training weeks which will have to see me in top-shape by next winter.
My aims are simple, yet ridiculously high. I want to be a contender on a national (Dutch) level in XC Skiing, the skate technique in particular.
With my background in mountainbiking, and considering the successes my fellow countr(wo)men have logged in Winter Triathlon, I cannot but include WT that to my goals sheet. Running will be a big part of my training schedule, I just love riding a mountainbike in the snow, and XC Skating is my main goal in life. The perfect circle of three. I've always looked at triathlon as a possible sport for me, but the swimming scared me out. Off-road run-bike-runs were great fun, so WT should be awesome.
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