The pain spreading all over my legs and arms started to feel less overwhelming when I told myself that I was not going to die in the next 30 seconds if I continue to pull the cords as hard as I have been. My hands are gripping ski pole handles attached to a pulley machine and I am harnessed to a big platform with about 200 pounds of weight holding it down. Dave, my coach du jour, at the B2ten Premier Studio, is watching the screen on the pulley machine contraption and yelling me the target numbers I need to hit. Meanwhile, all I can do is remind myself that I am not going to die… Come on now! Somehow I’m hitting the numbers and able to finish the interval. Next 500m effort is starting in 60 seconds. Again, with conviction that even if it hurts so bad, it is not going to kill me, and even if all I want to do is to lie down on the dirty floor for a rest, I get back into ready position and pull those pulley cords as hard as I can and then some more. The intervals are done within a quick 30minutes, and I could not be any happier to get out of the harness and to starfish on that wonderful floor.

The 6 days of all out intensity was an incredibly hard experience, leaving me completely shattered by the end of every day. It feels like I just raced my own 6-day Tour de Ski and it makes me realize how strong we can be if we dig deep enough. Watching athletes in action in London is a great example of how much is possible. Now as I spend some quality recovery time on the couch watching London 2012, it’s time to get inspired to give my everything for the next block of hard training.

Thank you to all of you who have been pushing me to give my absolute best in training here in Montreal and in Mont-Ste-Anne.