But looking at it the other way around, you have to wonder why more distance runners aren't using XC skiing for cross training when available.
Libbie Hickman (2000 Olympian, 10,000m) XC skied almost exclusively through the winter, then slowly (over a month or so) transitioned to running in the spring.
I think Grete Waitz and Ingrid Kristiansen also did a lot of XC skiing.
XC skiing on the level required for an elite runner to get a real workout is technically difficult if you have never skied.
Gu Schumacher (American who got 24th in the 10k skiathlon at Olympics this year) ran a 15:40 XC 5k at 15 years old on probably one of the harder courses in the country, that also was a classic Alaskan mud fest from melted snow. Seeing him do most of his training in the summer on roller skis and some trail runs opened my eyes to engine needed for xc skiing. Klaebo with a few weeks of run training could definitely run low 13 minutes.
Gus just won Olympic silver with Ben Ogden behind the GOAT of cross country skiing! Yeah, baby! He's the athlete that I root for the most. Even as my town is filled with dozens of skiing Olympians, he's the pro (in any sport) I actually see out training or dog jogging most often, running the same trails with his dog that I run on with my dog, ski the same trails.
He was so on last month on the World Cup circuit, but warm/soft conditions have long been kryptonite his ski brand and hidden his fitness thus far in the Olympics. When I heard it was cooler today with firm tracks, I knew he finally had a chance to deliver. The qualifier performance (3rd) showed his skis were finally in the game, and he delivered the results like a boss.
There is a race in Anchorage that turned 50 a couple years ago, the Arctic Valley Run. It is a 12.6-mile run up and down a mountain, mostly on a gravel road. 6.3 miles and 2,500' of elevation gain going up, 6.3 miles and 2,500' descent going down.
In recent years, it has been won in 1:23, 1:38, 1:33, 1:29, and 1:22.
The course record was set back in 1982 - 1:06:44 (5:17.8 pace). The record holder is Jim Galanes, who was a 3-time US Olympic cross country skier in 1976, 1980, and 1984.
STAY ON TOPIC. WHAT THE F DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE ORIGINAL POST?
I'm not sure about the 5k, but at the Valencia Half, recently retired pro cyclist Simon Yates paced his wife to a 1:11. That's pretty good for someone who just last Fall was bike racing.
Our University had a very strong Nordic Ski Program attached to it - athletes who were on the verge of the Canadian National Team (so a rung below Olympic Caliber, but still pretty good skiers). They would often jump in our Track or local XC/Road Races.
There was quite a bit of variability (the best skiers weren't necessarily the best runners), with the best guy running around 32 minutes for 10k while other guys were running 18-and-change despite being similar caliber skiers. Running economy really comes into play.
Our University had a very strong Nordic Ski Program attached to it - athletes who were on the verge of the Canadian National Team (so a rung below Olympic Caliber, but still pretty good skiers). They would often jump in our Track or local XC/Road Races.
There was quite a bit of variability (the best skiers weren't necessarily the best runners), with the best guy running around 32 minutes for 10k while other guys were running 18-and-change despite being similar caliber skiers. Running economy really comes into play.
My college was similar. Lots of good euros. Half were middle of the pack guys the other half didn't care and were slow.
Outside of the massive jacked dudes I think most skiers could have comparable running results to their skiing if they actually went all in on running. Skiers put in 20hr weeks with much differenct lifting which definitely doesn't help them run faster.
Lol. Not sure you proved your point here. I was a mediocre D1 runner and would have had no trouble running any of those times in HS at the same age.
The talent pool in US XC skiing is very shallow. He'd have been a 4:30 type in HS.
But, XC skiing is not running, and good for him for getting these medals. But he would have been D3 middle of the pack, nothing more had he been a runner.
XC Skiing fitness is completely different from running fitness. A 4:30 miler couldn't become a state champion in XC skiing and a state champion in XC skiing prolly can't run a 4:30 mile.
Look at the State meet results for Maine XC skiing. The winner beat the state by over a minute, but couldn't break 17 in XC season. While others who ran 16:30-40 come in like 100th place.
Libbie Hickman (2000 Olympian, 10,000m) XC skied almost exclusively through the winter, then slowly (over a month or so) transitioned to running in the spring.
I think Grete Waitz and Ingrid Kristiansen also did a lot of XC skiing.
XC skiing on the level required for an elite runner to get a real workout is technically difficult if you have never skied.
balance alone on those things is hard even if you've downhill skied, super slick if waxed properly, very narrow, and no metal edges
Lol. Not sure you proved your point here. I was a mediocre D1 runner and would have had no trouble running any of those times in HS at the same age.
The talent pool in US XC skiing is very shallow. He'd have been a 4:30 type in HS.
But, XC skiing is not running, and good for him for getting these medals. But he would have been D3 middle of the pack, nothing more had he been a runner.
Garrett Heath won the MN state xc championships two years in a row and went on to run 13:16 and 3:53 pre-super shoe. Also Courtney Dauwalter won state twice in a row in Minnesota, about the same era. A winning skier at state there is usually good enough to ski on any program in the country and maybe get some top 10s at nationals. And if you can do that you might be good enough eventually to make an Olympic team.
Likewise, the year Gus Schumacher got 2nd at state in AK (as a soph), 1st was Levi Thomet of Kodiak (8:46 3200) was about 30 sec up. Don't tell us Schumacher was embarrassingly untalented as a runner!
XC Skiing fitness is completely different from running fitness. A 4:30 miler couldn't become a state champion in XC skiing and a state champion in XC skiing prolly can't run a 4:30 mile.
Look at the State meet results for Maine XC skiing. The winner beat the state by over a minute, but couldn't break 17 in XC season. While others who ran 16:30-40 come in like 100th place.
Not as fast as they can ski it, that's for sure. That's why they live way up north, in the snow.
Before there were cars, bikes, horses and such, they were the fastest people on Earth.
Before there were horses, skiers were the fastest people on earth? Do you know how long people have been riding horses?
Back then skis didn't 'glide' either. Skis kept you from sinking into the snow, but little else. You might get going a little on downhills, but ZERO comparison to today's skis. No where near as fast as runners from that time.
Bjørn Dæhlie (8 Olympic Gold Medals, 6 World Cup titles) who was considered the GOAT prior to Klæbo has a PB of 14:27. He also did 8:18 in the 3000m, 30:31 in the 10000m, and 9:06 in the 3000m sc. Dæhlie did a 9:57 3000m at age 56.
Anders Aukland the king of langlopp/long races (the XC-skiing equivalent of moving up in distances (from 5k/10k to marathon) in later stages of your career) did 13:57 in his early 20s. He also did 14:50 a couple of weeks before turning 42. He also had career bests of 8:02 in the 3000m, 29:45 in the 10000m, and 8:50 in the 3000m sc. Aukland said in a podcast that he was capable of a 9:15-9:20 3000m at age 50 (He also measured a VO2 max of 72.9ml/kg/min at 50)
Harri Kirvesniemi (Finnish skier with 5(!) Olympic bronzes in the relay, as well as the oldest winner ever of a world cup event at 41 years and 10 months) has a 5k PB of 13:54 (if I remember correctly). He also did 8:10 in the 3000m.
Another guy that definitely deserves a mention is Juha Mieto. Unusually tall and heavy for a cross-country skier 197 (6'6.5) and around 100kg (220lbs) during winter season. He did a 10000m in 31:30 at a bodyweight if 105kg (231lbs) (!)
Our University had a very strong Nordic Ski Program attached to it - athletes who were on the verge of the Canadian National Team (so a rung below Olympic Caliber, but still pretty good skiers). They would often jump in our Track or local XC/Road Races.
There was quite a bit of variability (the best skiers weren't necessarily the best runners), with the best guy running around 32 minutes for 10k while other guys were running 18-and-change despite being similar caliber skiers. Running economy really comes into play.
To run fast you need a big engine and good mechanics Skiers and cyclists have the first but the mechanics is hit and miss . Some people just don't have good running bodies
Ben Ogden ran the Vermont City Marathon last May, 2:50:00 chip time. I produce the race, he and I exchanged some emails ahead of time so we could get him into the right place for the start. First marathon for him. I don't think he did a lot of run focused training leading into it but he was ready to go to have a decent effort. XC Ski and run training have a lot of overlaps.