The peaks are heavily snow capped. Their call grows stronger every day. It is time to begin; winter is coming.

Like most skiers, I find it very hard to contain my excitement this time of year. I have completed six months of focused training and eagerly wait for the snow to fly. It is somewhat paradoxical but also seems quite fitting that this is one of the most difficult times of the year. The weather and conditions combine with the strenuous workouts and mental loads to make it quite challenging. The weather can be trying; rain, snow, or early morning ice can make workouts cold, technically challenging and increase the risk of getting sick. Rollerskiing on cold pavement is slow and it is difficult to get your poles to stick. Additionally the interval workouts require the highest intensity efforts we do all year and the mental strain is building from training on the same routes all summer and fall. These factors can make it tough. Thankfully there are also some great aspects of this time of year that balance this out.

My enthusiasm for the nearing races is building and provides a beacon of hope through the quite literal darkness that increases daily. On top of this, the ecstasy of having all the technique work from the summer come together in a great interval session where it really feels like I am skiing and ready to race can make this time of year wonderful.

Difficult and exciting combine to create an ideal level of tension. There is rain and delicious crisp mornings, fatigue and accomplishments, sickness and hope, questioning and exhilaration. It is the perfect culmination of months of hard work before the floodgates are opened as my shin touches the start gate and the spine-tingling beep, beep, beep, BEEP of the timer sets me free on the race course.