Biathletes In Utah Pt. 1
Shorts and tank top? Check!
Raincoat? Check!
Sunscreen? Check!
Downcoat? Check!
Rifle and tools? Check!
Rollerskis? Check!
Yoga mat? Check!
What kind of packing list is this? One for a four week long training and racing camp in Midway/Heber City, Utah. And why would you leave Vermont when the temperature is crisp, the sun is shining, and the trees are at peak foliage? At the end of the month, the GRP and most other senior-age biathletes will compete at the Schutzenski Festival at the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, aka the second round of trials for early season IBU and World Cups. In the proceeding three weeks, we will be acclimating to the altitude, training at the large venue that hosted the 2019 World Cup, and enjoying some Utah running and hiking.
Day one dawned bright and sunny and we hit the trails at Dutch Hollow for a casual run/hike. The goal of the day according to coach Mike was to “go easy, then go easier.” We went for a gorgeous two hours, and found a fair number of animal bones, pretty flowers, and trails called “Potatoes” and “Mordor.”
Name that flower! (I can’t.)
As the week progressed, we incorporated some shooting and skiing on the rollerloop into our training plan.
Shooting on the big range! 30 points all to ourselves, and of course we squish onto three.
This picture is deceptive, the boys are much speedier than me.
Luke and I reminding the world that biathletes do indeed classic ski.
Another Utah specialty is skiing up Guardsman Pass. This steep and windy road meanders from Midway, up over the mountains, and then down to Park City. Unfortunately, at the beginning of our Guardsman attempt, we took a wrong turn very early on and ended up on a dirt road. With Mike’s assistance, we righted ourselves and went a fair way up Guardsman’s.
As it turns out, there is plenty of foliage in the West too! Yes, this is coming from a dyed-in-the-wool Vermonter, but it is quite lovely here! We went on a few leaf-peeping runs, complete with plenty of picture taking (an excellent way to make to ensure you’re going slowly and drinking enough water! The third and fourth pictures below are from the Wasatch Over Wasatch (WOW) Trail. It is cool to see the different types of vegetation that change leaf color, from aspen trees down to small shrubs.
Almost a week in to our trip brought the arrival of the rest of the girls and Carsen as well! Week two also brought some more speed training (i.e. intervals and speed stations). We’ve also had some true “Utah days” where the mornings are in the 20’s and the middays are in the 60’s and sunny! It has snowed off and on and the higher elevations, as well as just a touch in Heber. The snow-capped mountains are truly picturesque. All sorts of delights!
A speed with Susan. See that glisten-y pavement? Rain! Good think we have those raincoats and pants.
What must accompany speed? Strength! And where do you sometimes do strength while traveling during a pandemic? The living room!
One morning, we took a trip about 35 minutes from Heber City to the town of Coalville, where Carsen had gone to rollerski a few years ago. To me, the name Coalville seems straight out of a storybook and there were some storybook elements. Raleigh found a placard explaining some hieroglyphics on the rocks, which were written many years ago by Native Americans and later by settlers. There was a cattle guard on the road on the freeway entrance ramp. There was a small but furious hail storm. Storybook material.
Photos below: a slightly apocalyptic looking picture, hills and rocks forever, Kelsey and I, before the hail, ore hills and rocks. The vastness was stunning to me.
And finally, once a GRP teammate, a friend forever. I had a lovely (snowy!) hike with former GRP athlete Liz Guiney earlier this week.
Now, we are wrapping up week two of camp. Racing is on the horizon and the skiers are now in town too! Stay tuned or more!