Archive | Masters Blog

Masters Fitness Classes in session

By Adam Terko on 15 July, 2024 in Masters Blog

We kicked off our Masters fitness classes at the new MNCC this past week, and had a great time. The goal is mixing all types of strength exercises together, from traditional lifts to wacky balance challenges.

Often, adult skiers have big technique goals. One of the biggest hurdles to cross to achieving desired technique is the strength and balance required to make the desired changes.

With consistent and accessible strength training 3 weeks of every month (with ideas and exercises to try beyond just the weekly session) hopefully we can continue to take steps (and squats?) in the right direction!

Find more details on the sessions themselves at this post.

Introducing: Masters Fitness at MNCC

By Adam Terko on 2 July, 2024 in Masters Blog, Masters Training Schedule, Uncategorized

Strength training is of critical importance for skiers, and especially Masters! Getting stronger, more stable, and more controlled in the gym can help improve ski technique and reduce injury risk.

In the past we have arranged partnerships with local gyms and trainers for our Masters to get together for indoor strength training.

Well…we have our own gym now! We’re excited to offer a holistic and accessible strength/fitness training class most Wednesdays at the Mansfield Nordic Community Center (MNCC).

Starting next week, July 10th, you can join to get in some great training, learn about exercises and movements, and connect with other Masters on the same quest for strength!

Coach Adam will lead these sessions, and they will involve a mix of bodyweight and weighted exercises. With some basic movement screening techniques, we can adapt exercises and add/remove options based on individual needs.

Sessions are offered most Wednesdays from 6-7pm or 7-8pm. Each session is $15, or $40 for a 3-class option. All signups include gym access, strength plan, coaching oversight/leadership, movement analysis, and follow-up resources for participants.

We will be looking to cap each hour-long “session” at 6-8 athletes for coaching and space reasons, and if we hit some of those limits the form below will be adjusted accordingly. We can be pretty flexible though!

Schedule sessions here (also available when submitting the form above)

Getting to the MNCC:

The MNCC is located on Route 2 in Jonesville (Richmond) near the intersection of Stage Road and Cochran Rd. The address is 3214 East Main St. Look for a big, blue building on the south side of the road. The MNC flag will be flying!

There is only parking for two (2) cars at the space itself currently. We encourage carpooling and parking at the gravel lot at the end of Cochran Rd and walking over, or even biking from one of the parking areas on Cochran Road itself. We have a brand new bike rack right outside the door!

Join the MNC Race to the Top Team!

By Rosemary Shea-Cobb on 2 July, 2024 in BKL Race Blog, Junior Blog, Masters Blog

The 2023 MNC Race to the Top Team!

Race to the Top: a 4.3 mi. bike or run race up the toll road to the top of Mt. Mansfield! Benefits the Catamount Trail Association that manages the Catamount Trail, the backcountry ski trail that runs the length of Vermont.

Date: Sunday, Aug. 25th.

Consider joining the MNC Team: It will cost $60 to register as a team member and it costs more now to register as an individual. Plus, it’s a whole lot more fun to be a part of our team! All ages welcome! To join the the team, email Jim Adkisson by JULY 22 at jimadkisson@gmail.com

Jim will do the team registration. Then you will get an email from Outside/Runreg to finish the registration process and you will reimburse Jim for $60.

For more info on Race to the Top, check out the registration page: RACE TO THE TOP

Join MNC at the Williston Parade! Rollerski, walk, or bike!

By Adam Terko on 1 July, 2024 in BKL Race Blog, Junior Blog, Masters Blog

If you are a rollerskier of ANY AGE please join us in Williston on the 4th of July to rollerski in the parade!

Oh, and if you don’t want to rollerski but still want to join in the fun…you can certainly walk or ride your bike with us as well!

This is a super fun event…why?

We get to show rollerskiing to the whole town
We see lots of fun other floats and celebratory groups
Music, games, friends, and family

But most of all…

We get SNOW! That’s right, early in the morning we secretly acquire some magical snow and distribute it to the parade-watchers from our rollerskis! It’s a big hit every year, and a totally cool (literally) experience.

The route is about 1 mile and almost totally flat, and we ski at about 1 mph. It’s great for everyone!

The logstics:

Meet at 9:30 at the Johnson Farm on Rt 2 in Williston…this is the field just past the Korner Kwik Stop if you’re heading toward Richmond.
Wear a hi-viz MNC shirt if you can! We will have extras on-hand.
Bring your rollerskis, bike for riding, or shoes for walking, and also gloves as the snow gets cold!

We can go for an actual rollerski in the neighborhoods after, for those Juniors who join us and want to get in some training after-the-fact.

Masters’ Summer Training in Full Swing!

By Rosemary Shea-Cobb on 18 June, 2024 in Masters Blog

This spring and summer, the MNC masters have been getting in the training with trail runs, gravel rides and rollerskiing. Whatever you like to do, there is bound to be a group of MNC masters doing it and we’d love you to join in the fun!

A growing cohort of rollerskiing masters has started taking to some of the quieter and better groomed roads and bike paths around Champlain Valley to get their skiing fix during the summer months. Meetups are on Saturday mornings at 9AM, weather permitting. Routes typically range from 10-15 miles and feature scenic vistas and flat to moderately rolling terrain. Check the MNC Masters Training Doc each week for details. The more the merrier!

Lots of Masters have been doing some great trail running on many of the local trails around Chittenden County. Most of these are within 30 minutes driving distance from Burlington, Jericho, Williston, etc. and offer a variety of terrain and technical challenge. There are organized MNC trail runs every Thursday evening at the Catamount Outdoor Family Center and every other Sunday morning at various places. Trails that we have explored so far have included Preston Woods in Richmond, Saxon Hill in Essex, and Mud Pond in Williston. All these runs have options for shorter and longer distances and varied paces. We are hoping to do several group hikes later this summer including the Stowe Pinnacle loop and the Mt. Abraham/Mt. Ellen ridge on the Long Trail. Keep an eye on the MNC Slack channel and Masters Training Doc for dates and info on these.

In addition to training runs, MNC masters have been participating in trail races around the area and beyond, starting with the weekly Catamount 5k trail races. With three different courses, these races are a great low key way to get the heart rate up and run fast with other people. Several people did the Sleepy Hollow Mountain Race which featured steep climbs, slipping and sliding downhills and blueberry pancakes. Both Carolyn Siccama and Kort Longenbach recently did very challenging technical races with significant climbing with Carolyn doing the Seven Sisters Trail Run in Massachusetts and Kort, the Great Adirondack Trail Run in New York. Upcoming races for masters will include the Catamount Ultra 25k race at the Trapp Family Lodge at the end of June and the Race to the Top of Vermont at the end of August.

If you are more of a biker, there are organized MNC Gravel Rides every other Sunday. This weekend we will ride the 35mi. route from Underhill Center that got rained out last time. In addition, there are also rides organized by Jericho Dirt on Thursday evenings plus Mt bike races at Catamount Outdoor Center every Wednesday. All the info, times, and contacts are on the MNC Training Doc so be sure to check it frequently!

Happy training out there!