I struggled through my morning session today. I ran outside for thirty minutes, which was great, but my legs are super sore from my first run, hard strength and treadmill hiking. I then did the remaining two hours of the session on the elliptical. It was tedious, and I was watching the seconds tick by. In case you don’t feel like doing the math, there are 7200 seconds in two hours. I did contrast baths (one minute in a cold tub (10 degrees Celsius) followed by one minute in a hot tub (37 degrees Celsius) repeated eight times) after my morning session because my legs were so sore.

I had lunch today with my coaches from Ski and Snowboard Club Vail, Dan Weiland and Eric Pepper. They are in town for the USSA coaches conference. It was great to see them and talk about some logistics.

I was back at the training center in the afternoon for physical therapy and strength. Athletes at the center can sign up for private Pilates classes on a reformer in the gym. So far I’ve only seen women taking advantage of this perk. Here is a really bad picture of Olympic Alpine skier Resi Stiegler on the machine:

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I was back into my usual schedule today at the U.S. Ski Team’s Center of Excellence. After my first day of running outdoors yesterday, I didn’t go out again today. I’m looking forward to getting outside again tomorrow. This morning I set a new personal record for longest consecutive indoor workout. I hiked for four hours uphill on the treadmill. I did mix it up a little bit with some micro pace changes. My base pace was 4 mph and 15% grade. I then did four 20 minute blocks at 4.3, 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6 mph. For entertainment I watched the entire men’s 50 kilometer mass start from this past season’s world championships in Val di Fiemme, Italy. Because I was racing, I hadn’t seen how the race unfolded up front, namely Johan Olsson staying off the front for 35 kilometers. It was a very impressive performance. I also watched the men’s and women’s sprint races from the World Championships. There were lots of people in the gym for me to socialize with during my session. Here are ski jumper Abby Hughes (on the treadmill) and alpine racer Steven Nyman (stretching):

After the long session I did physical therapy followed by a nice meeting with the Aspen Valley Ski Club’s Walt Evans. My legs are quite tired and sore from a combination of hard strength yesterday, my first time running in several months and treadmill hiking.

Mike Engel, a friend and supporter from Park City, left his car for me at the airport when he flew out on Monday. When I arrived in Salt Lake late last night, it was so nice to have a car waiting for me.

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Today was a beautiful day in Putney! This is outside Chris and Mary Osgood’s place (whom I stayed with).

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Yesterday afternoon I drove with my coach, Zach Caldwell, from New York City to Putney, Vermont. Zach’s nine year old son Gunnar and his mother, Sherry Bartlett, drove with us. The drive was only three hours, which seems amazingly short to me considering we went through four states. In New York I was hanging out with Brayton and Emily Osgood; I am now staying at their parent’s (Chris and Mary’s) house. It’s a chilly day here, and it’s wonderful to have the wood stove lit. It’s quintessential Vermont.

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I acquired a new life goal yesterday. I want to make enough money to buy a house like Sheri and Ed Bartlett’s place in Harlem. It is perfect. Sheri and Ed are the parents of my coach Zach Caldwell and his brother and my friend whom I’ve been staying with for the last four nights, Ezra Caldwell. Really it’s Sheri and Ed’s roof garden that I want:

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Yesterday afternoon I went to the Harvard Club of New York.

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The flowers are in full bloom here in New York.

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This morning I worked out on a spin bike for an hour and a half at a New York Sports Club.

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Yesterday evening I drove down to Salt Lake to get fresh fish for a sushi dinner I had with friends. It was warm and raining. It felt like summertime. I loved it.

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