Johaug prepared for next season to run – VG

Therese Johaug had to train for himself for two seasons as a result of the doping exclusion. The new situation of social distance is not a problem for the 31-year-old man.

On Thursday, the liner Pierre Mignerey of the International Ski Federation (FIS) declared that It will not be a normal cross country season Next winter.

He told VG that all possibilities are on the drawing board, from skis to the separation of women and men in a different World Cup.

And the one who may have the best conditions to face the strange daily life we ​​suddenly find ourselves in is Johaug. Cross country star personal trainer Pål Gunnar Mikkelsplats says she has experience with uncertainty.

– These are very special times, but Therese has the experience to train in the uncertain, Mikkelsplats tells VG.

Now cross-country skiers had just finished the season with NM part two at Lillehammer and participated in several touring races. Everything is canceled. Collections are canceled until summer. A little fun running around the bump of the season is replaced with exercise. National team runners must train for themselves or in small groups.

But Johaug has no problem with motivation. She trains two solid sessions every day. And you’re not sure you’ll be disappointed when the “holiday” arrives in late April-May.

Johaug is so good that she feels that she is accused of destroying end sports.

Manager Jørn Ernst believes that no one has a better starting point to tackle this time with the threat of the crown upon us than Johaug.

– No one is better equipped for this than Teresa. She has been through doing things alone before, says Ernst.

You can lose your third season

A week ago, it became known that Johaug was staying at the cabin on Lake Sjusjøen together with resident doctor Nils Jakob Hoff. He had received permission from Lillehammer Township since he has been on a rotation service at a medical office in Lillehammer, despite the cabin ban. But the cottage in Sjusjøen is located in the Ringsaker municipality and therefore turned out to be invalid. Johaug came out of the cabin.

Hoff wrote in an email to VG that he had a recent operation and received help from Johaug in his daily life so that he could work even if he had actually been on sick leave.

The next season begins according to the original plan in Finland with a mini tour on Friday, November 27. Race manager Mignerey told VG on Thursday that it is important to him that there be skiing next winter, if there are only two or three World Cup weekends.

“It is important to the motivation of the runners, and it is important to our television audience,” Mignerey said.

Johaug has already mentally prepared for the upcoming season to be canceled.

– There may not be any season this coming winter, but Therese is motivated as she is. In a month or two we can see a clearer picture. In the worst case, another competition goes to Therese, her third. It’s a good idea to have thought that way, so that the card house doesn’t collapse in November, but is preparing to do so, says Mikkelsplats.

How to train the best athletes in these crowning times:

Johaug certainly earned the most prize money of all cross-country skiers last season. Mikkelsplats reviews the training journal of the world’s best cross-country skiers four or five times a week, at least. He thinks it’s a fun read.

– She has a lot of experience with this and is now useful. Therese has experience setting goals for the training job and being cut no matter what the situation is, says Mikkelsplass.

– Cross country skiers are lucky

In the past, Heidi Weng in particular said that she had struggled with motivation for a new season. Among the male runners, Martin Johnsrud Sundby took an extra long break before starting the Seefeld World Cup gold race, as it was difficult to motivate himself. National team coach Ole Morten Iversen says that all the national team runners are in good condition.

– We are in a somewhat fortunate situation that we have just finished the season, it is 10-11 months for us to return to the top, and we do a sport where athletes train in what they are going to do now and until it begins the season, Iversen tells VG.

Johaug won the World Cup overall. She won the Ski Tour and Ski Tour 2020. But in the trilogy in Holmenikollen she was number two behind Frida Karlsson:

Johaug returned after doping out with three gold medals at the World Cup in Seefeld a year ago. Cross country expert Åge Skistad believes that cross country skiers are lucky in the crown situation with closed gyms and social distance.

– Cross-country skiers have the least difficulty. They do not have to change their daily lives. It is an individual sport and they can get the job done, says Skinstad.