Adele Espy is a top-ranked J1 skier from Freeport, Maine. ©FlyingPointRoad.com
Adele Espy in action at the TD NENSA Eastern Cup - she won gold at the Junior Nationals in Truckee last year ©FlyingPointRoad.com
How were your holidays?
Adele Espy: My holidays were wonderful. I spent Christmas with my family in Sun Valley. All of Southern Idaho lost power on Christmas Eve and didn’t get it back until late that night which made for a memorable Xmas!
Can you give us a brief recap on your injury, operation and recovery?
AE: Early this fall I started getting signs that my shins were not operating as they should have. They were tightening up in over distance workouts and in intensity sessions to the point where I couldn’t feel my lower legs and I couldn’t lift my feet. It was during the Climb to the Castle time trial in Lake Placid that I realized that I needed to see a doctor. After getting diagnosed in Maine I flew to Salt Lake City to meet with another surgeon. It was determined that I had compartment syndrome and would need surgery to release two compartments in each leg – the lateral compartment and the anterior compartment. The surgeon also freed a pinched nerve while releasing the compartments. I had the surgery in late October, took four days off, and then started double poling on a Ski Erg. About a month after surgery I was racing again! My first race was the 5km classic in West Yellowstone. My first skate race will be at 2010 US XC Ski Nationals in Anchorage. Hopefully my shins will like it!
What’s your fitness like now?
AE: I’d say my fitness is not back yet to where it was in Lake Placid this fall before the surgery, but I feel like it is coming back quickly. It’s been encouraging to notice the fitness jumps I’ve been making in the last few months. I did a speed session about ten days ago and felt like I was dragging and slow. Five days later I did the same speed session and felt like I was flying! It’s coming back.
What races are you competing in at the US XC Nats?
AE: I plan on competing in the skate sprint, the 10km skate distance, the 5km classic distance Junior race, and the classic sprint.
What are the conditions, courses and snow like in Anchorage this year?
AE: The snow conditions in Anchorage are pretty good this year. Parts of the courses are fairly thin and some gravel has been churned up. Despite cold temps in the 10s, the snow is very fast and hard packed.
What’s your game plan after the US XC Nats ?
AE: I hope to make the Junior World Championship team, so my tentative plan for post US Nats is to head over to Germany to compete. I haven’t figured out the rest of my winter schedule yet.
All the best at Nationals and with the rest of the season.
AE: Thanks.