I may have missed VeloSwap, but my wife and I enjoyed what is quickly becoming our new ‘thing,’ this past weekend.
The Drury Inn in Colorado Springs.
If you know, you know. Breakfast, dinner, nice people, pool. Novi really, really likes the pool. Actually, our daughter gets totally thrilled about staying in hotels in general (even ones that should be permanently boarded up because they pose severe environmental threats), so I got a kick out of telling her that she was going to accompany Daddy to Colorado Springs for a work trip.
We made the most of it, too. On Friday, I did a late-morning double-pole session on snow in Leadville after putting together stories for the next day’s paper. Then we loaded up the car and drove pretty much straight to Barr Trailhead. I ran up to Barr Camp and back and rushed to the hotel to check in and have dinner.
The next day was the state xc meet. Novi and Ella were thrilled to pet the horses at Norris Penrose while I covered the action in the 4A boys and girls races and then hastily punched up some print for the Sunday paper.
In the afternoon, we walked around the huge Scheels next door, petted some puppies, and eventually, they got into the pool while I did a shakeout run with Ajee on the Sante Fe Trail. Then we all loaded up on delicious mac n cheese and barbecue back at the Drury before bed.
On Sunday — after gaining an hour for the kick off of Headlamp Season — we stopped back at Barr Trail (I know…I’m obsessed) so I could run to the top of Pikes Peak.
Wearing half-tights, my hooded long-sleeve, gloves and a hat — plus my belt, which carried a jacket and an extra LMNT packet, as well as my podcast computer (known to many as a phone) — I strode off in the 50-degree sunlight. I figured the summit was kind of a long shot, as winter weather was predicted to be moving in, but I the goal was to at least get up to Barr Camp and then a little further.
Without Sherpa Ajee, I had to carry my own water. I loaded up my 20 oz. hand held with a watered-down apple juice mixture from the hotel. I have to say, for all the talk about sports drinks, high-carb this, THE FEED, etc., my watered down apple juice was PERFECT, baby. It might be my new thing.
I used to think I was being cheap for having Emergen-C (we’ll still take you as a sponsor) as my ‘sports drink’ of choice….but now….now, there’s apple juice…with water. Brilliant.
Anyway, I got to Barr Camp, ran about 2 miles farther, and then elected to turn around. That decision was made purely because of three things: 1) I didn’t want to make my wife drive up PP highway in a potential snow storm…2) my hands were getting cold and snow was starting to look imminent …and 3) when I started this list, I thought I had three items, but it turns out I didn’t.
I ran every step and felt amazing doing so. Some intel was gained for next year’s PPA….I’ll just say that.
Ski News
Logan Diekmann hangs it up.
One of my favorites! Just the nicest human.
The 27-year-old Bozeman native competed at the University of Utah (where he was a member of the 2017 and 2019 national championship teams) before coming home to embark on a pro career with Bridger Ski Foundation. The Salomon skier made 17 World Cup starts, his first coming in a sprint in Lahti at the end of the 2021-2022 season.
Diekmann’s best performance probably came in the freestyle sprint in Canmore last February, where placed 16th. He made the rounds one other time, placing 27th in Toblach on Feb. 4, 2023.
As accomplished as Diekmann is, he plays second-fiddle in his marriage to two-time world mountain running champion Grayson Murphy. We wish them the best in their future endeavors. ….also, if you need skis, you should probably reach out to Logan on Facebook….
International news
- Jens Burman talks about the absence of his vlog. Apparently, he’s been busy with other things.
- Jasmi Joensuu speaks out against fellow Fins for ditching the national team model.
- Joensuu also got her ski season off to a strong start, snagging the skate sprint title at the first Finnish national cup.
- Did you guys realize Gunde Svan’s son is a professional lumberjack? I had no idea….Honestly, I had no idea this was a sport.
- The No. 1 ranked, previously undefeated Moorhead High School football team lost to No. 2 Alexandria in the section championship, 48-44, on a 100-yard touchdown throw. Congrats to the Spuds on a great season, which unfortunately, will not end with them even getting to go to state. Meanwhile….
Emails from the week
Did you see the Faster Skier article on nutrition? Maybe it just an Instagram post. Nothing but a photo collage of different salads. No wonder the kids develop eating disorders. Eating those meals with no bioavailable nutrients and no good saturated fat and protein is a starvation diet for any young person, not to mention a young athlete who is training a ton. If your body is starving for nutrients you will never reach satiety and will be constantly craving more. Then when you are surrounded by processed foods, you can’t help but stuff your face with that garbage.
That’s why the Skirious discussion about eating candy is misleading. They never compare what those guys are eating for normal meals. If someone is eating a base diet of salads or fast food and surviving on candy during long efforts that is totally different from someone eating proper meals with healthy animal fats and proteins (no raw veggies and no ultra processed foods) and then that person uses candy during or after a long session. The first guy is basically starving.
Just know that if your diet in any way relies on government approved nutrition advice, you can be sure it’s garbage. The CDC still recommends COVID vaccines for babies at 6 months. That’s all you need to know. Those agencies (CDC, FDA, USDA) are all run the same way and staffed by the same kinds of people.
Anyway, still loving the podcast. Don’t stop! Every week schedule is great!
Love listening to Jim Galanes. I wish he would be more explicit and specific though, for the sake of people like me who don’t know 40 years of US ski history or all the inside stories.
FWIW, your old intros were more exciting. Nelly’s Heart of a Champion gets me fired up for some hot takes and truth bombs! Still love those old intros.
-Col. Pitchfork
Dear Col. Pitchfork –
So much here. I should respond to the most important element first: those old intros absolutely were something, weren’t they!!! Glad you’re enjoying being on the receiving end of weekly content. I’m not sure if I can sustain this, but I’ll give it my best shot.
I’m not sure what FS article you’re referring to. If it’s the Julia Kern “Four of My Favorite Quick and Nutritious Meals” story, I think there is more than just veggies on those plates.
I will say, I think stories, blogs, vlogs, etc., on sports nutrition are like birch bark is to a fire. For a lot of people, they get the fire going and help them enjoy a beer or smore with friends in the backyard. But birch bark can start forest fires, too.
Camp Curiosity — where the motto is: ‘Hey, aren’t you just curious about what Olympians eat at every meal?’ — can become a prison quickly. And, like you pointed out, no one really knows/sees the entire scope. I mean, how many of us husbands sneak in a couple 13 14 extra calories that even our wife isn’t privy to?
My advice? If you like cooking and are interested in nutrition, go ahead and read the blogs/vlogs/etc. But consider the context and what you don’t see in the story, too. Don’t make any hard and fast rules based off of a “Here’s what I eat in a typical day” video. Better yet, read a real sports nutrition book. Finally, listen to your body, eat mostly real foods, prioritize nutrient timing and don’t feel bad having an Olive Garden all-you-can eat meal every once in awhile, too.
Seder –
Breaking news. I have been chosen to coach my kids’ high school ski team this year!! I am super stoked. We have a brand new high school team, and most of the skiers are actually junior high kids. But the future is very bright for the team. I’m not lying when I say that a little bit of my inspiration came from a pod you recorded a few years back encouraging people like me to go for it, and start a program where one is needed. So, Thanks Bro!!!! …cue the Nothing’s Gunna Stop Us music because, We’re Comin! We’re Comin!!!
Taco Bell Guy
Taco Bell Guy –
So glad to hear this! You are walking the walk (which is way harder than just shouting advice into a microphone haha).
(Reading the roster with building emotional investment): Billy, Johnny, Magnus, Theo….LET’S GO!!!!
i orginaly got your name and web site talking a machine pertaining to cross country sking. do u know any machines that simulate cross country skiing besides nordic track . im trying to find a machine that mimic ski touring?
-Paul
Dear Paul,
Ahh, yes, my most viewed article by far. I’m not really an expert on indoor training devices, actually. I have an Ercolina Trainer, and that’s great if you’re looking exclusively for upperbody Nordic-specific work. Concept’s Ski Erg is pretty similar – just less portable.
Not sure what you’re price limit is, but you can actually buy rollerski treadmills for personal use..for like about $20k….
If by ‘ski touring’ you mean skimo, then I’d recommend using a good running treadmill, setting that sucker to like 15-20% grades and just hike until you fall off:)
Best,
Ryan
David Norris and Jessica Yeaton join the Seder-Skier Podcast!
Listen to find out about the recently married couples’ new coaching platform — Endurance Training Strategies — as well as their upcoming race plans for the winter.
Seder-Skier.com 
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