Earlier this spring the Juniors prepared their own electrolyte drinks with natural ingredients and lots of mixing. It felt a bit odd because at the time we were wearing coats and long sleeves, and the wind and rain were making outdoor training feel like November.
But by the time this weekend rolled around, we were definitely doing our best to hydrate any way possible!
We began the week with solid rollerski efforts focused on no-pole work and then some lighter intervals (our first day outside of the Allen Brook rollerski network!). Then it was a weekend of two longer, more involved days of adventure.
Focused intervals in Southridge for Kai and Nico
The gang works on their no-pole skiing
With the traffic light and the skies sunny, Saturday was a good “lap of Richmond” where we started on rollerskis and made it down Cochran Road, up into Greystone, and eventually up the dauntingly-steep Wes White Hill. When the pavement turned to dirt, we swapped skis for running shoes at the van and travelled to Huntington on foot. With a right turn on Mayo Road to take us back toward Richmond, it was a nice route that could definitely be expanded into a longer loop later this summer.
Out cruising past the tree farm
Last summer, a small group ventured down to Rochester, VT for a tour of the new Tunnel Ridge trail. It was right after this video came out, so we were excited to experience all these berms (and all this climbing) for ourselves.
We had a particularly hot day for this year’s edition of the Tunnel Ridge ride. The hearty crew of Jonah, Taylor, Lorenzo, June, Kate, and Kristen (and Adam) were in for a lot of sweating, vertical feet, and hordes of flies at the summit. This trail ends up being 3,000 feet of climbing in 15 miles…pretty solid effort in the saddle.
Luckily the river was just barely warm enough for a quick dip after the ride, the ice in the cooler kept some popsicles at least semi-frozen for our return to the van, and Mad Taco was of course open for the weekend crowd.
Jonah prepares his bike at the Ranger Station
Kate at berm 80, or is it 90? Or 100?
This was definitely an example of “type 2 fun” or maybe even a step beyond, as many mentioned being too tired from the climb to even enjoy the incredibly lengthy and flowy descent back down (the treat you’re [supposedly] earning by all that work to get up top). It was definitely more than we probably should’ve tackled in May, but it should be said that uphills were written down on many a goal pyramid this spring for something to work on…so why not go big?
Hot weather is continuing to hit, so this week will be a real test of our preparedness for training each day. We’ll also be looking for/incorporating some unique ways to stay cool while we are moving along outside!
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