December 26, 2008 – It is said that the Twelve Days of Christmas helps young Catholics to learn their faith. This is all good, but besides the good food, carols, singing around the Christmas tree, the presents, the in-laws, the visit to Santa Claus, and the endless list of holiday activities, everybody needs a good training plan for the holidays. For all the snow lovin’ masters, juniors, and everyone else here is a sample of my training plan to work off those double fudge truffles. What’s your plan for the Holiday Season and the New Year?

The Twelve Days of Training (un-rhyming version)

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
One Set Of Intervals @ 90-95%, 6 x 4 min (build into first two intervals), classic, Total Time – 1:45 hours

On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Anaerobic intervals 12 x 1min, Skate TT – 1:45 hours

On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Distance with 10 x 15 second speed, Classic, Total Time – 2 hours

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Easy Recovery Ski – Skate – 2 hours

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
One hour double pole only in rolling terrain with one hour Strength

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Threshold intervals 4 x 10 min, Classic, TT – 2 hours

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Three sets of 10 x 30 seconds sprints with 10 minute between sets, Skate, TT – 2 hours

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Classic ski over distance – 3-4 hours,

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Day Off

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
One set of Intervals @ 90-95%, 8 x 4 min, Classic, TT – 1:30 hours

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
Easy ski hour and half with testing skis – Skate

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me:
15 km Time Trial Skate, TT – 2 hours