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PRE-SEASON
J. D. Downing
Contributing Editor for The Master Skier
J. D. Downing is a master skier and coach from Bend, Oregon and is the National Director of American Cross Country Skiers (AXCS) and the American Ski Marathon Series (ASMS).
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Part One of Three-Part Series
"These are the voyages of the master athlete - boldly going wherever they make time, set goals, and can get spouse-children- boss-etc. to allow them to go."
With all apologies to the Star Trek folks, this mangled version of the famous TV show opening is a pretty apt description of the typical master athlete's life.
We are indeed in a form of a "life ship ", hurtling through the cycle of our adult lives faster than any of us likes to think possible while encountering different challenges (indeed sometimes entire paradigm shifts) at points of time and space often well outside our control.
What we choose to do with these life stages that appear suddenly on the "control room screen " is our choice to make.
Stage One: The Young Master
It doesn't take a mathematical genius to see that the 30-something age groups are far thinner in total numbers than the 45+ ages at your typical citizen ski event. There are rare exceptions, but generally you'll be lucky to see the youngest master ski categories be even a quarter the size of the biggest master age groups. The reasons for this phenomenon are plentiful.
The 30s are when many skiers either have young children or are just getting started with a family. Particularly for 30-something female skiers (statistically carrying the lion's share of time demands with little ones), the family dimension can reduce time for ski racing sometimes down to zero.
Male or female (and children or no children), if 30-somethings have not already gotten into the sport, they may very well be unable to hit the learning curve full throttle if their bank account hasn't yet recovered from school loans, initial mortgage payments, etc.
It's also much harder for this age group to get time off from work (or afford such time) as they are typically just hitting stride in career development.
The final obstacle is perhaps the most maddening to those of us trying to get younger adults out on the snow. Fact is, a healthy number of 30-somethings don't take part in XC events because they are flat out intimidated by the very small number of elite skiers who have just crossed the 30 year threshold.
A good case can be made that not having a true "pro " class in XC skiing is directly to blame for this situation.
For example, in cycling and triathlon the uber-talented younger masters get separated from the "normal folks " by classification systems. This allows a competitive (albeit undeveloped) young master to compete head-to-head with their true peer group instead of Olympians. Even in distance running the problem isn't as severe because time goals are more important than placing to the majority of race participants. Indeed the excuses are many, yet so are the solutions for the very real challenges of this masters stage.
Kids Are Not An Excuse - As a father of young children, I am fully aware of the time demands and limitations on training associated with this stage of life. It is an undeniable fact that a skier will have less discretionary time in their life with young kids in tow. But that does not mean that it is impossible to take part in a regular XC ski schedule, - even for both spouses! It just takes some creativity and compromise - plus a healthy amount of discipline.
Having kids makes it very tough for both spouses to race on the same day so one immediate compromise (successfully used even up to the World Masters level), is to divide up the race calendar so you both get in some races without having to shell out a month's salary for extra childcare.
If you are going to have to travel to get in "big events ", try and budget for an even number of trips so that both spouses get a chance to hit the road. If the family goes along, the good news is that the racing spouse isn't going to train a whole lot before or after a road event so the non-racing spouse basically can use the weekend as a training camp (Dad watches kids while Mom races, Mom watches kids while Dad trains pre/post race).
Events with lots of races in a tight time span (i.e. MWC2008 in McCall, Idaho anyone?) are great options because parents can trade off parental duties on the same trip. Maximum bang for the travel dollar.
For training time, the bottom line for any young master is you have to do what you have to do. Some may have to get up in the wee hours to squeeze in workouts. Others have to be creative about lunchtime or post-work sessions. Nearly all working masters (regardless of age) tend to need to maximize weekend training time and for younger masters this is even more the case with the aforementioned family/work/money limitations.
A simple solution is to put a heavy emphasis on low intensity volume during weekends/holidays where you have more time to go long and place recovery, intensity and stretch sessions on the weekdays when time is at a premium.
For two spouses, a great tip is to alternate sessions so Saturday one of you does a long workout in the morning and the other goes long in the afternoon. Then on Sunday flip the schedule.
Use This Time, Or Lose It - Let's face it, you aren't going to get younger. Masters of "more advanced age " will be happy to tell you about how good they felt in their early master years.
Recovery was faster, this and that didn't hurt as much or as often, speed was easier to come by, strength was easier, etc, etc.
Given all the reasons that make master skiing difficult in the early master years, few will blame you if you just can't make it happen.
But down the road the volume of evidence says you'll regret it if you at least don't make a very game try.
Be creative, be disciplined, involve your family and workplace in your goals...and make it happen.
Don't hesitate - A younger master may be legitimately hesitant to go on a trip like the World Masters or a dream ski camp due to family/ work/finances. But such a trip is feasible right now and yet you keep thinking "some day, not now " - you may want to think again.
Airline tickets aren't going to get cheaper. In as little as 5-15 years time, today's cost of ski vacations may seem like a bargain. Perversely, time (otherwise in favor of younger masters) could well be the enemy unless you make the decision to get after your ski dreams as soon as possible.
Next Issue: The Life Stage Master In The Middle
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