“I think there is a difference between women and men. Now I have taken control of my hormone cycle, which means that I adjust my training according to which period of the cycle I am in,” says Anikken to Langrenn.com and continues:

“Now I know which days I have to pay extra attention to, but also which days are the good ones and on which I can push a little extra.”

She Does Not Allow Herself To Be Stressed

Gjerde Alnæs goes on to say that this method has helped her to get more relaxed. Now she knows that not all days are equally good, not even for a top athlete.

“The body is not always at its best, but I don’t let it stress me out. Of course, it is boring if the bad days are to come on the most important ski races.”

“Nevertheless, it is easier to accept heavier periods when I know it is due to the menstrual cycle. At the same time, I can work on best handling a competition if it ends on a bad cycle day.”

Anikken is supported by Gina Flugstad Øistuen, who this spring presented her master’s thesis about the menstrual cycle and endurance performance.

“From the research side, we know little about whether objective measures of endurance performance vary during a menstrual cycle. However, we know that many athletes experience that their performance varies during the menstrual cycle,” says Flugstad Øistuen, who now works as a scientific assistant and research female endurance athletes.

Helping Young Athletes

The Team Ragde Charge’s athlete has been working at WANG Toppidrett in Romerike, Norway, for the past two years. There she trains tomorrow’s cross-country skiers of high school age. She does not doubt that it is a difficult age to understand one’s own body.

“As women, we have other things to consider than the guys. It is important to learn how the body works as a woman, and it is important to learn that already as a young skier.”

Women’s health in sports is also something WANG is approaching. In collaboration with Gina Flugstad Øistuen, they have an ongoing project where the athletes can learn more about their bodies.

“It’s a three-part project, where in phase one, we have focused on increasing knowledge about the female body among the athletes. Here, Gina Flugstad Øistuen has lectured on, among other things, puberty, menstrual cycle, contraceptive, exercise, and performance.”

“In phase two, the athletes have been given the task of mapping their hormonal cycle in 3 cycles. The mapping must end in a written assignment that will help to influence their grade. In phase three, Gina and the trainers at WANG will conduct a review with the athletes to find out how they can best optimize training in relation to their hormonal cycle.”

Do you have any tips for young skiers?

“At WANG Romerike, we work to ensure that each athlete experiences mastery, development, and understanding of training. It is also important for the girls to get to know their own female body and hormonal cycle as a key to continuity in their training. It is normal to experience ups and downs. That is why I see holistic development as the most important thing to focus on at a young age.”

Postponed Start To The Season

Gjerde Alnæs’ original plan was to start the season in Bad Gastein. But just before the first race, the Team Ragde Charge’s athlete woke up with a sore throat and did not start the Pro Tour events in Austria. She was also not at the start during La Venosta Criterium the following weekend.

The next chance for Anikken will be Pustertaler Ski Marathon, a 62km classic technique event in Italy on January 14, followed by Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, a 30km race also in Italy on January 15, 2023.

Ski Classics Pro Tour Season XIV (2022/2023)

• Event 1: December 10, 2022 – Bad Gastein PTT, Bad Gastein, Austria, 15km
• Event 2: December 11, 2022 – Bad Gastein Criterium, Bad Gastein, Austria, 35km
• Event 3: December 17, 2022 – La Venosta Criterium, Val Venosta, Italy, 36km 
• Event 4: January 14, 2023 – Pustertaler Ski Marathon, Sexten, Italy, 62km
• Event 5: January 15, 2023 – Prato Piazza Mountain Challenge, Niederdorf, Italy, 30km
• Event 6: January 21, 2023 – Engadin La Diagonela, Engadin Valley, Switzerland, 55km 
• Event 7: January 29, 2023 – Marcialonga, Trentino, Italy, 70km
• Event 8: February 12, 2023 – Jizerská50, Bedrichov, Czech Republic, 50km
• Event 9: February 18, 2023 – Grönklitt Criterium, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 50km
• Event 10: February 19, 2023 – Grönklitt ITT, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden, 15km
• Event 11: March 5, 2023 – Vasaloppet, Sälen-Mora, Sweden, 90km
• Event 12: March 18, 2023 – Birkebeinerrennet, Rena-Lillehammer, Norway, 54km
• Event 13: April 1, 2023 – Reistadløpet, Setermoen-Bardufoss, Norway, 40km
• Event 14: April 2, 2023 – Summit 2 Senja, Bardufoss- Finnsnes, Norway, 67km

More info about the Ski Classics Pro Tour you can find at skiclassics.com.