How does training usually change from the summer months as the new winter season approaches?
HAUSER: Roller skiing gets more and more essential. That means my training gets more specific. Fast training with shooting is paramount. One also needs to take good care about the best recovery.
CHEVALIER: During the summer, we do a lot of long training at low intensity. With the approach of the winter, we reduce hours, do more specific work and add high-intensity units.
GOW: As we approach the fall, the training gets more intensity-focused with less volume focus. This change helps us get sharp and ready for winter racing.
DALE: With the winter approaching, we are adjusting our training quite a bit. During summer, we usually have long-lasting low-intensity sessions. Now it’s time to start modifying for winter: we have more high-intensity training units. They resemble the racing rhythm we do during the winter. We are also working on the ski speed needed during the winter.
CHEVALIER: Summer competitions are critical for trying new things based on the work done since May. Some things are good, some less so. It helps to focus on what is crucial to improve before the winter.
GOW: Summer competitions are a terrific opportunity to check in with your performance and see what areas still need attention. There is nothing quite like a race environment to get a clear overview of what is working and what needs additional attention.
DALE: Summer competitions are ideal for learning. To brief the competition and understand what is good and what you can improve is an important step! Now it’s time for the last small details that you want to improve before the winter competition starts! To have a plan before each training and use it to improve what you want to improve is so important!
CHEVALIER: I always try to take some holidays during the first week of September. I need it to recharge batteries, clear my mind and enjoy the sun and the sea one last time before the season. It’s also a way to close the summer training and recalibrate for the final preparation before the winter.
GOW: I think a small biathlon break before the fall/winter is necessary to be fresh, ready, and 100% focused when you return. Biathlon is a demanding sport where small mistakes can make a big difference. Clearing your head before the final preparation helps set you up for success.
DALE: I believe, if you feel the need for the last holiday”, the time for it is now! It can benefit your focus and motivation. It gives you a little break and helps you sharpen up for the last months of training. I will personally not take a long break and leave for a holiday but opt for a couple of days off. My motivation is more significant than ever before! Instead, I will use the days to plan my wedding for next year! The next big thing in my personal life, and I’m looking forward to the wedding!
HAUSER: It‘s difficult to say how my shape will be this season. I tried hard to make the best out of it. It was hard to stay positive in my mind if you know you are losing necessary training sessions. The right feeling and my joy and passion for biathlon are returning slowly. Catching up on all the hours of endurance training and fast training sessions is impossible. But I have to believe that the work from the past years will help me to show a good performance again.
Photo: IBU Archive