At this time of year, it seems almost impossible to entirely escape the little cloud of self-questioning that is always hovering overhead; How fast am I going to be this year? How much faster will I be than I was last year? Ok, please at least tell me that I WILL be faster than last year?

Despite countless positive indications, that anticipation is always there… and the only way to silence it is to be sure that this years training was more beneficial; harder, more of it, and smarter, hopefully in some combination of all three.

In essence, to one-up what has been done before.

Some people like to pretend that they work hard.

And some people do.

Logan got up at 5:15 this morning so he could go do running intervals. On his own. In the cold. In total darkness. Before high school started. So that he could go to high school swim practice after school. And do more intervals.

What are you doing?

The Fairbanks Alaska Ski Team would like to welcome semi-aging-hard-core-bad-a$$ Roger Sayre to the ranks; as a new assistant coach! Here is a biographical sketch of the newbie.

Roger Sayre

Has been ski coaching since moving to Fairbanks in 2004, most recently with the Fairbanks Junior Nordics Competition Group (skiers 10 to15 years of age). Between graduate school, work, and family he has also coached a wide variety of runners since 1985—including elementary, middle school and high school runners, masters competitors, and national class athletes. An alpine mogul basher and powder hound from kindergarten through college, Roger did not take up Nordic racing until the mid 1980s, just in time for the skating revolution. Roger has competed in running since 1976, and in recent years as a masters runner has been ranked top 10 or 15 nationally from the mile to half marathon for the 45-49 and 50 to 54 age groups.

Other Biographical Information
Born: 02/22/1958
Occupation: Natural Resources Planner
School (year of degree): Grinnell College (1981), Colorado State University (1987), University of North Dakota (1996)
Club: Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks
Team: Assistant Coach for FAST
Coach: self coached since 1981; now I coach others
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 150

Equipment
Skis: Atomic
Boots: Alpina
Bindings: NNN
Poles: Swix

Major Events and Teams

1^st Place (age 50-54) 2009 US National Masters Cross Country Ski Championships 50K

USSA National Championships (1987, 1988, 2008—that last one was a mistake)

National Collegiate Ski Association Championships (1984)

Grinnell College: All Conference 3000 m steeplechase, 10 time letter winner, 2 time captain

Colorado State University: skied 1 season for CSU

Interests: Ski racing and running of course, with emphasis on beating Bad Bob Baker frequently and with impunity; doing family things and listening to my kids play music; reading, writing, sometimes blogging.

Roger at US Distance Nationals

Really?

http://www.velonews.com/article/98978/houston-based-amateur-accepts-doping-suspension

Your taking performance enhancing drugs that are outlawed, and youre only a Cat1?

Sad…