Managing Training during the Holidays
by GRP skier Annika Landis
One of the hardest things to balance during the holiday season is spending time with family, friends and also getting in the necessary training, especially around Christmas-time. For skiers, because of how the US National Championships are scheduled, the holiday period is an important block of training and it is important to feel good going into these races that could earn you World Cup or other international race starts.
Regardless of whether you are heading to US XC Ski Nationals, building for a late season marathon or just trying to maintain a regular training schedule, this time of year can be stressful. Here are a few tips that I have found helpful for me in the past:
Decide on a priority for each day
With all the extra moving pieces during the holidays it can feel difficult to successfully balance training, family & friends and other holiday activities. I am usually only home for a week or so over Christmas and I find it helpful to plan ahead and designate certain priorities for certain days. For example, I will pick days where family activities take precedence over training and my full focus is on enjoying that time. Alternatively, there might be a two-day block where my priority is on completing a solid intensity session, strength and a long ski. I like to be flexible and not get tethered to an immutable plan, but by choosing a focus each day, I can better manage my energy and be fully present in what I am doing, rather than feeling overwhelmed.
A family walk last Christmas with my two 94 yr-old grandmas, my parents, and my sister. This is one activity we always do together over the holidays and it means a lot to the family to be able to be outside together
Combine training with family
Are there any training days that you can include your family in? For me, this means heading up into the mountains for a backcountry ski with my dad, or getting the whole family out on the Nordic trails for a quick rip. These activities are great for an easy distance or recovery day where the goal is just moving your body. You can even make this work for a distance ski or longer run, if you ask “How about you guys get a hot lunch while I train for another hour?” The answer to that question is rarely no when there are fresh cookies and hot soup is involved.
Out for an easy ski on the Harriman Trail in Sun Valley with my parents and Teva, the dog.
Amy’s cranberry chutney, with some for the freezer.
What if you aren’t home for the holidays?
An unfortunate reality of being an elite athlete means that sometimes we have to be away from our families over the holidays. This year, I will be spending the holidays out East, not in Idaho, and while I am sad to miss the official holiday with my family, there are a few ways to make them meaningful away from home. First I like to bring “home” with me by making family recipes, like my mom’s savory cranberry chutney. I also like to remind myself of my goals, and contextualize being away within the process of reaching them.
Last but not least, don’t stress
There is no perfect recipe for success when it comes to training effectively during the holiday season. For the most part, if you make a good plan with your coach and execute key workouts, you will be just fine. Some of the best results I ever had at Nationals came after what I thought was a “non-ideal” training block, with very little skiing, and most of my workouts completed on foot (I was spending Christmas in upstate New York that year). Turns out, I just ended up being better rested than I usually was after spending Christmas at home in Idaho, where it is easy to train too much when the snow is plentiful.
A good thing to remember is that training is important, but not so much that it needs to dominate every moment. Finding the right balance and being flexible can help relieve the stress of trying to do everything all at once. The holidays are meant to be enjoyed!
Happy is fast!
