Author Archive | Adam Terko

Masters take on 25K in May

This past weekend we had a huge turnout, over the course of 2 days and several locations, to help MNC tackle the NENSA “25k in May” rollerski challenge. On Sunday, groups met up at 2 ends of Southridge and spread out over the neighborhood to get 25k in one go…with 8 skiers it meant 200k in one go!

A bunch of 25km skiers after conquering most every stretch of pavement in Southridge

There’s PLENTY of time left in May, and we are on a mission to have the most club participants in this challenge! The webpage for the event can be found below:

25km in May page

 

There are two components…”Registering” via SkiReg which gets you into the prize pool for a small ($10) fee, and the “Ski Data Entry” page where you input the details of your achievements.

Let’s try to show the NENSA community how many skiers, and how many kilometers, we can put on the pavement this month!

 

First week of Junior Spring Training

It has been a very different week of training in comparison to years past…with COVID-19 always on the mind we approach training differently every day, and with a careful eye for safety in areas we used to take for granted.

Hand sanitizer is omnipresent

Getting creative has always been a ski coach job requirement, but this Spring has been a whole new level. Not only in terms of how to effectively meet as a group

while adhering to many safety guidelines, but in terms of how to have fun as a group and spend quality time together with an invisible 6-foot barrier between everyone. Skiing is not a contact sport BUT…team games, most teambuilding activities, snacks and food, fitness challenges…so much of what we often do does involve closer proximity than we can have right now. We don’t realize it until we’re restricted as we are now. So the creativity has to fill the gap.

We split training into blocks. Usually the Spring program is Tues/Thurs/Sat. This spring, two back-to-back days are scheduled as identical in time, location,and session. Athletes sign up ahead of time to indicate which they’ll attend, which takes a larger group and splits it across multiple days. Saturdays are divided into morning and afternoon.

I was worried I’d lose my mind because I’d be doing (or at least present for) everything twice in a row. But in fact it has been great! The first day of a given session gives me a chance to see how things play and I can make adjustments if needed for the following day.

But nobody wants to read more recaps and responses about Coronavirus at this point in the news cycle: so here are some photos showing what positive and cool things we HAVE been able to do!

Registrations are now live with programming fees available! We had held off until knowing that the first week could be done successfully and safely. We continue to forge ahead in this brave new world of spring training, so if you have not signed-up yet, OR have signed up previously and would like to go ahead and submit payment, please see the MNC Registration page.

For info about Mountain Camp, please see this recent post. If you had signed-up for Mountain Camp before the location change, your spot is still in place!

Coach Perry brings it home as his group completes their 10-mile run along the Winooski River in Richmond. We split into 2 groups, one running a loop clockwise while the other ran it counter-clockwise, swooping past each other in the middle

Warmup run with some foam pipe insulation…”if you’re close enough to hit someone, you’re too close”

Ali and Sammie spotted at Saxon Hill

These guys have graduated BKL and are headed to the world of Junior racing now! Watch out world.

 

Mountain Camp Update 5/14

As of 5/14, Mountain Camp and Mini Mountain Camp are STILL ON. 

Dates remain the same

Mountain Camp July 8-12 (Wed-Sun)

Mini Mountain Camp July 16-19 (Thurs-Sun)

However, in light of COVID-19 several changes have been made. Please read on:

Location Change

In order to eliminate travel across State lines, both Mountain Camp and Mini Mountain Camp have been relocated to Killington, VT. Lodging for both camps will be located at the base of Killington Resort, with training to take place on the numerous roads and trails of the area.

With Killington marking the intersection of the Long Trail and Appalachian Trail, hiking and trail running options are vast.

With two of the top mountain biking areas in the state (Green Mountain Trails and Pine Hill Park) there are great options for riding

Quiet roads in nearby Mendon, Chittenden, Bridgewater, and Pomfret are ideal for rollerskiing

Participation Restrictions

We ask that all participants at camp be Vermont residents, or athletes (for example college-age skiers) who have been living in Vermont for at least 2 weeks.

Pricing changes

Good news! Lodging and location changes have not increased costs. Camp pricing will remain equal or less than originally-planned.

Can I register and reserve my spot?

You can register for Mountain Camp and Mini Mountain Camp on the Registration page of the MNC website. The cost to register is currently still $0.00 as we will wait until June 1 to confirm that camp is still “on” pending and further COVID-19 developments or restrictions. Thank you for your understanding!

 

Training COVID-19 Update (5/9)

Training COVID-19 Update

5/9/19

For previous Training COVID-19 update, please see this post from 4/27

As of Wednesday, May 6th, Governor Scott has established Addendum 13 to the Coronavirus Executive Order. This addendum is known as “Play Smart, Play Safe”.

“Vermonters may leave home to get fresh air and exercise and resume limited social interactions and gatherings of 10 or fewer, preferably in outdoor settings, provided that physical distancing and protocols for hygiene consistent with guidance from VDH and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), are observed.” 

To keep disease from spreading this means: 

  • Always staying home and away from others if you are sick with COVID-19, have recently been exposed to someone who has COVID-19, or just don’t feel well. 
  • Keeping a 6-foot distance from others when you meet people outside of your household. 
  • Frequently washing your hands (hand sanitizer is acceptable when soap and water are not available). 
  • Coughing and sneezing into your elbow (even if you are wearing a facial covering). 
  • Wearing a facial covering over your nose and mouth, as set forth further in Section 2 below.

 

What does this mean for MNC training? 

We will cautiously and carefully resume minor spring training activities, while following these guidelines. Typically, our Spring training occurs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. With the recent updates from Vermont and the COVID-19 response, we will transition to a modified schedule to reduce group numbers and remain within the 10-person limit. 

Keep in mind, this means ratios of 1 coach and 9 athletes or 2 coaches and 8 athletes

Junior Spring Training will take place on Tuesday-through Saturday, but 2 days at a time will be identical. 

 

Sample schedule

Tuesdays and Wednesdays will be the same training session, at the same location

Thursdays and Fridays will be the same training session, at the same location

Saturdays will be divided into AM and PM options of the same session, at the same location

 

How to train with MNC

Junior athletes should refer to the Junior Training Doc for a signup form indicating which days they intend to participate. Choose either Tuesday or Wednesday, choose either Thursday or Friday, and choose either Saturday AM, or Saturday PM. This will help determine coach numbers and session plans. 

All sessions will take place at locations where group divisions can be made easy. For example Williston Central School for rollerskiing, where athletes can be split into different groups with the same primary meeting point.  

Training rules to remember

  • Please wear a buff at the very least (and a true cloth or medical facemask if you have one) to every practice. Even if not worn on your face during heavy exertion, we will try to have face coverings whenever we meet to start training, especially at trailheads and parking lots.
  • Please also use good distancing. If we are in an open parking lot, leave space between cars unless absolutely necessary. Don’t gather as a group, even if you may be with friends you have spent time with during quarantine. 
  • Our behavior is critical not only to ourselves and our health, but the health of others AND the desire to show that our club is an organization that can adhere to these Government regulations and help work toward even more opportunities to train together as all of us move toward better health and safety.   

Uphill Run Challenge “Results”

Thanks to the participants in the first-ever MNC Quarantine Uphill Challenge! Here are some fun stats:

Total mileage: 95.41

Total elevation: 26,743′ (3,000′ shy of Mt. Everest)

# of States: 7 (VT, NH, MA, NY, ME, NJ, Ontario)

Clubs: MNC, Dublin XC, Peru Nordic, Central Maine Ski Club, ENRG, BFA Fairfax

Most elevation: Silas Brown, MNC (2,803′)

Most feet-per-mile: Theodore Mollano, Dublin XC (2,833′)

Longest run: Andy Grab, MNC (from the town of Bristol all the way to the top of App Gap!)

Shortest run: Theodore Mollano, Dublin XC (creatively using a steep sand-pit to also garner that top ft-per-mile award!)

Link to participants, clubs, locations, and states represented!

 

Social media & sharing icons powered by UltimatelySocial