This past weekend, I competed in the Les Rousses, France for another weekend of World Cup racing! But let's go back a few weeks first. I spent two weeks following the completion of The Tour de Ski, in Seefeld, Austria! We were treated very well, having a physical/massage therapist, a chef, and numerous coaches and wax techs! The apartments were incredibly nice, quiet, and stress free. It was a big change from the 10 days on the Tour.
The first few days in Seefeld, I took completely off, to fully absorb all the racing and to get a jumpstart on rebuilding my energy. When I finally started training, I took the first few days pretty easy, and included some strength sessions. The skiing was really nice and the scenery even better. My energy was feeling good, but its hard to tell because the days are so easy/boring compared to being home. I certainly am not complaining about the days, but it would be impossible to not have good energy given how little I have to do and think about. I was certainly a sheep these two weeks. Skis are waxed perfectly every morning, lunch, snacks, and dinner is made, and all I have to do is train, eat, and recover, plus some sun tanning! We were eating incredibly well, thanks to chef Cada!
The second week in Seefeld I started to get back into intervals. I kept the first session fairly easy L3 and then did a really fun L4 session with Jessie! We did 10min L3, followed by 6x4min L4. I would give her a roughly 15-20 second head start and then go hunt her down! Overall, I was feeling good heading into the world cup weekend in France. We made the 7 hour drive to France on Monday, and had a few days to preview the course. My races would be Friday and Sunday.
Friday was a 10k individual skate race, a race I enjoy and have found success in. This course was challenging with some big climbs, but I was excited. I started relaxed and controlled because this course had some big hills that I knew on the last lap, I would want energy for. I ended up 1:48 behind the leader. This landed me in 50th place. Not the result I was hoping for, and a little confused because of how I was feeling so good the week prior. However, I thought of some takeaways and shifted my focus to Sunday's race.
Sunday was a 20k classic mass start. The course was quite narrow and started into the biggest hill I have ever raced. The first time up the hill was a mess, I waited at the bottom of the hill for 10-15 seconds before having to sprint over the top. I was dropped off the back before the first lap was even over. My arms were flooded on the first hill, and I was mentally out of the race. I am not one to drop out, so I focused on a few sections of course to ski well, and make it to the finish. Besides 5-10 people dropping out, I finished in last place. It was heartbreaking and devastating. I felt like I had not only let myself down, but also all the staff, and all the US athletes fighting for these world cup starts.
I was selected for these world cups for a reason, and over the last few days, I have reminded myself of this constantly. I know how I can ski, and how my body can feel, and I know I was nowhere close to those feelings in France. I have for the most part, bottled that race up and forgot about it. There is nothing for me to dwell about, and only this weekend to focus on. We are now in Toblach, Italy, my most favorite venue, and I am very excited to race again this weekend. I have got some good time in the sun, and my mood is great! I have a huge support group that believes in me, but no one believes in me more than myself! It’s GO TIME!
