Heart Rate Monitor- necessary or not?

Autumn is coming, days are getting very short and weather isn't always perfect. It makes me a little sad, but I've got some time to think. Recently I recalled an inscription on my OW Premio 9 skis: "Nordic sports is a spirit. It's about doing the things you want and looking the way you want", which means pure freedom by skiing. I'm such a hypocrite- I thought. On every training I take my mobile phone with an application, that is supposed to measure a distance, time etc. Usually it doesn't work very well. GPS loses a connection or the phone goes insane. Then joy with skiing turns into anger with devices. That's why I consider buying a heart rate monitor. Do I really need this?

The most important is to precise, for what you need a heart rate monitor. If you are a pro skier and need all the data of your every training, it's obvious. But if you are an amateur and compete rarely, this device isn't necessary. Moreover, it costs near 110EUR, like for example Polar RS300X, which has got all needed functions.

Polar RS300X

I just wonder, why we need to check the watch or heart rate monitor every time when we train. It's the first step to become addicted, literally. We are only amateurs. And that's great. We don't need to inform our coach about everything. So we don't need the "smart coach" in Internet as well. We are free. However it's always interesting to watch our own progress. Thanks to heart rate monitor we can improve our efficiency and do this accurately. Especially, if you have a main goal, like participating in Marcialonga for example. Also, without this device we aren't able to do intervals. So, there are advantages and disadvantages. A heart rate transmiter with Bluetooth seams to be a golden mean. It has to be compatible with your smartphone and application, which you use. In this way you can save some money, because it costs near 70 EUR. But you should be careful. Endomondo Premium can be here an example. It has many great functions but you have to pay for it every month. In addition, today's smartphones don't last long time. In this case, a traditional heart rate monitor may be a better choice.

Polar transmiter with Bluetooth.

Another important thing is our comfort. We can't take our phone everywhere. It isn't comfortable to have it in a pocket. I know that there are many accessories such as armband case for smartphones. Recently it became very popular. But as I see, it's used mostly by people who just go out for their evening jogging and must demonstrate it on facebook. Personally I take my cell phone to the pocket in my OW thermo- drinking belt. And it's work for me because I don't like to wear anything on my arms. I don't even have a watch. Of course I don't take my drinking belt always and then I have to run without anything. And you know what? I like it. At least I don't hear annoying Endomondo voice. Yes, I know that I can turn it off but without it I can't presume if application works or not.

If I had to decide today, I wouldn't buy a heart rate monitor. I would rather spend this amount of money for some nice clothes by One Way. The new Endless Winter collection is out in stores. Meanwhile I'm going to stay by my Endomondo Pro but now I promise that I won't get angry, when GPS will lose a signal. Because skiing is about enjoying perfect conditions and "doing things you want".

Strength training by Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre

As I mentioned in last post, training plan for every XC- skier should contain some important activities. Today I'm going to suggest some strength exercises, which has been shown by Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre in a video below. But first, few words about SWSRC. It's an institute of Swedish Mittuniversitetet (Mid Sweden University). Students who attend there have a unique chance to work with skiers on the highest world level. They can also conduct practical work in laboratories and meet every single detail of the equipment. Interesting study, isn't it? Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre has got a channel on YouTube, where we can find some results of their researches. I strongly recommend you to watch this video and do these exercises on your own. Obviously some of them you can do at home and in my opinion this is huge advantage.

How to create your own training plan?

Summer is the most difficult and challenging part of the year for every amateur XC- skier. Snow had melted completely on most tracks and you don't know what to do with your free time. Let me help you. This is the best moment to think about next winter and get well prepared for the upcoming season. I recommend you to create your own training plan. It isn't as hard, as it seems. Ideally you won't be only prepare yourself for the season, but also improve your performance and work on disadvantages. That's why it's so important to know exactly what you need in your plan.

As a XC- skier you are able to select one from many activities matching your training. Still remember, that your plan should be focused on skiing. To become better skier, meet some important principles. These practical fundamentals established by XCzone.com can help you:

• Consistency- is the most important factor in training which determines physical fitness, skill and ultimately performance. In real terms, this means leading an active lifestyle and doing the cardio-muscular workouts, ideally every day.
• Specificity- that means choosing activities or exercises which most closely match your sport. If your main goal is a ski race then you have to ski lots (or rollski if it's impossible). Unfortunately you won't become as good of a skier by biking, swimming or lifting weights. Of course you have many options, but you have to be focused on skiing. That's why pro- racers went on glaciers in the summer. 
• Periodicity- in training you should provide yourself the variance in volume, intensity and recovery which will improve your fitness. Most people incorrectly train medium-well all the time. What you need to do is mix it up by one day going further or faster (intervals). Alternate between hard and easy days, whilst ensuring plenty of active recovery.
• Progressive loading- gradually increases the difficulty of workouts over time. Challenge your body to improve and adapt to the load in hours or intensity.

Photo credit: Skistar Trysil / Foter / Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Beyond that you should define, how much time you can spend for workouts. An optimal periodicity for an amateur is three days of exercises per week in summer and skiing two days weekly during winter. According to XCzone, you'll be prepared for 10 km race, if you practise in this way. Intermediate skiers should train weekly 5 days while preparing for a season and ski 4 days per week in winter. Pro- skiers usually practise 6 days a week in summer and in winter they ski 5 times per week besides racing. In addition there isn't only one type of activity in one day. For example Noah Hoffman was on the training camp with the rest of national XC and biathlon team in Bend, where he was doing multiple drills on snow every day and also working out at the gym etc.

As I mentioned before, there are some activities matched to XC- skiing. Training plan should include general activities, such as mountain and road biking, running, swimming, strength training and specific activities, such as rollskiing and imitation. Maybe I'll manage to write some more words about every activity.

Of course this post is only a base for creating a training plan. We've learned fundamentals, which are very helpful, if you want to prepare yourself for upcoming season. Still there left some questions, which I'll write about in next posts.