Last fall, Kristin Stoermer Steira (NOR) indicated that the 2014 Sotchi Olympics might be her last major championships. The Madshus cross-country racer was considering switching to marathon running with the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro as the overall goal.
But after the Sotchi Games, where Steira, who is nicknamed “the perpetual fourth,” earned a long awaited and well deserved bronze medal in the womens 30-kilomter freestyle, she reconsidered. Steira takes on another season at the World Cup level, and aims for the 2015 World Championships in Falun (SWE).
“It all comes down to whether I am motivation to do the work required to fight for medals in Falun next winter, both in terms of training and travel,” Steira says in her blog.
“The hills and the courses in Falun are challenges that motivate me and that trigger me to keep going,” she explains, adding that she loves training and traveling with the Norwegian national team.
“They are a really fun crew to be around.”
And Steira will also add a whole new dimension to altitude training this season. Today she and Canadian cross-country racer Devon Kershaw travel to Nepal to take on Mera Peak, more than 6,500 meters above sea level (21,325 feet).