Testing Camp and a Shooting Block

To kick off the training season the Biathlon and Cross Country teams got together for a week of physical testing, training lectures, and team building activities. The camp was very successful; with most of the athletes seeing personal bests in the physical testing, and the team coming together and identifying areas where we can all improve. For me the camp was a great way to see where I am physically, and be a part of developing a positive team culture. The testing itself consisted of running tests on the track at both 3000 and 400 meters, in addition we performed a strength assessment which included pull-ups, sit-ups, box jumps, and dips. I was slated to do a Vo2 Max (a measure of aerobic capacity) test, but I picked up a bit of sickness so that has been rescheduled for next week. Right now we are in the mists of an intense shooting block with guest coach James Upham. James has worked with a plethora of athletes and we are lucky to have him helping us out for this shooting block. It was 80 plus degrees today in Fort Kent and summer training has begun in earnest.

Classic

Today I did my first workout of the season in Fort Kent. It was a “classic” Fort Kent workout, specific strength (skiing using only arms or only legs) paired with shooting, all performed in a light rain. I was very happy with my shooting and skiing. A small adjustment in my prone shooting position made by my coach Seth Hubbard yesterday is making a very positive impact on my prone shooting percentage. It is great to be back in Fort Kent and I am excited for another productive summer of training. The Jalbert Youth Biathlon program begins on Monday. Get Pumped!

From Minnesota to Maine

Tomorrow I am driving back out to Fort Kent with my new MWSC teammate Erik Rupert. (I will do a write up on 2011-2012 MWSC Biathlon roster soon.) This summer I’m not the only one in my family moving out to Maine; in fact my whole family is relocating to Yarmouth, Maine to accommodate a new employment opportunity my dad took at Kestrel Aircraft. . I am glad that my family will be closer to my primary training location, but I will really miss the great ski community here in the Cloquet/Duluth/Esko area. I am truly grateful to everyone who has supported and encouraged as I developed as a skier and biathlete. I am going to miss skiing at Pine Valley in Cloquet, Snowflake Nordic Center in Duluth, and at Phil Rogers house in Esko. I’m sure I will be back to Northern Minnesota sooner or later, as a biathlete it is a hard place to stay away from! As for the near future I am pumped to put my head down for another year with my teammates and coaches at the MWSC. It promises to be a great year.

Pictures are: The last trail running race of the year, all my training gear, and a very frustrating situation with the bolts on the ski box Erik and I are taking out to Maine.

Ride Aroostook

This July I will be taking part in the Ride Aroostook charity ride to benefit Juvenile (type 1) diabetes awareness and education.

The two day ride will tour Aroostook County, where I do the bulk of my biathlon training.

If you would like to be a part of my ride and support Juvenile Type 1 diabetes education and awareness you can donate here.

Coming up on the blog, a training update and an outline of my drive out to Fort Kent with my new MWSC teammate Erik Rupert.

Summer

With temperatures forecast to be in the mid 80s this coming weekend, and the NBA Finals on TV summer has officially arrived. For me this means that training will begin to get more specific. This means skating, double poling, and intensity workouts on rollerskis. The video was taken during my first skating workout of the year near my house in Esko.

Training, It's that time of year again.

Training has been rolling along nicely lately, no small thanks to the great batch of early summer weather currently hanging out over Northern Minnesota. I have been running, biking, shooting, dryfiring, and doing strength in the weight room. I am nearing the end of my time here in Minnesota, and soon I will be heading back to “The County” (Aroostook County, where Fort Kent is located) for the duration of the training year. It looks like we will have a big group of biathletes and xc skiers this summer in Fort Kent. I am really looking forward to having some consistent training partners again. I predict this training year will go by even faster than the last one. With the first selection races coming in August this year everyone will be getting an early start on their training. Coming up in the next few weeks will be my first rollerski of the year and my first half way across the county drive with my friend and new MWSC teammate Erik Rupert . Photo by Eve Stein at a local trail running last a few weeks ago.

Back to Work

With the new training year kicking off a few weeks ago I have been getting back into the swing of training. After the inevitable aches and pains of getting used to dryland training activities like running, biking, and lifting I am back in the training groove and ready to get the summer started. Unfortunately this has been the coldest spring in recent memory here in Minnesota, it feels more like winter in Europe than spring in the USA. I will be at home in Minnesota until early June, and then I will be heading back out to Fort Kent to train with my teammates from Maine Winter Sports Center. I am looking forward to going back to “The County” and some summer weather here at home.