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Olympic Training Secrets
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Your Gold-Medal Game Plan: Endurance
 Text by Greg Melville   Illustration by Aaron Ashley

Olympic Training Secrets | Endurance | Power | Speed
The Truth About DHEA

Rebecca Dussault, Cross-Country Skiing
Considered America's best bet to bring home a medal in cross-country skiing, this resident of Colorado has won seven U.S. national championships.

Main Ingredients: "I've done so many sports, and this is by far the one that hurts the worst," says Dussault, 25. "Both strength and endurance are huge components."

How She Prepares: Dussault endurance-trains every day and hits the weights three times a week. "Cross-country skiers are some of the most fortunate athletes, because whatever trains us cardiowise can be considered cross-country training. I roller-ski, run, bike, hike, and even rock climb to get a workout."
 Illustration: Running
STEAL THIS MOVE: This routine works equally well for runners who want to improve in endurance races such as a 5K or 10K and for Nordic skiers. Try it
outside or on a treadmill.
 
• Jog slowly for 15 minutes as a warm-up.
• Then, to loosen leg muscles, sprint for ten seconds and follow with a ten-   second jog. Repeat.

• Run at your 5K race pace for two minutes.

• Jog for two minutes.

• Repeat the two-minute speed intervals six to eight times, with a recovery jog  after each.

• Jog 10 to 15 minutes as a cooldown.
 
Keep in Mind: If you can't hold your form and speed after a few repeats, stop. Next time, slow it down.


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