August 2, 2009 (Wanaka, NZ) – Every year, for the last eight years, I’ve made a southern trek to New Zealand’s South Island to find some time on the magic white stuff. The training load during my days here always tilts a bit to the side of volume. As a coach of mine use to say, “There’s a certain quality to quantity.”

Since I’m down in the country of Murray Halberg, Peter Snell and Co. it might be apt to steal a line, or at least paraphrase, a thought of Arthur Lydiard’s – from distance work comes speed. Speed training has been far from a focus so far this season. Still, the speed over the snow feels good.

Living above the tree line atop a mountain, weather moves in easily at the Wairaou SnowFarm. And sometimes with a nasty disposition. Other days, it’s just beautiful. With a combination of snow fences and sunshine and a long classic day with training mate Lars Flora, this counts as one of the latter.