Langrenn.com chatted with the 33-year-old from Norway during the Blink Festival in Sandnes. Holund finished second on Lysebotn Opp, 17 seconds behind club and national teammate Simen Hegstad Krüger.

What does Lysebotn Up mean to you?  

“Not too much. But it is a very good check on where you stand. It is always good to get a status on it before you start the autumn season.” 

This is how Hans Christer Holund trains. See the national team veteran’s favorite hard session at the bottom of the article. 

What do you think about the national team not setting up any high-altitude training camps this year, a strategy that has garnered surprise and criticism from several experts?  

“There is no need on my part. For the last four years, I haven’t been at the altitude in the pre-season, and those are my best seasons.” 

Next season, of course, the main goal is the World Championships 2023 in Planica. Holund has big ambitions over several distances, not only the 50km. 

Is there anything you are doing differently in the run-up to the 2023 World Championships season?  

“Actually, very little. I know what works for me, so it’s just fine-tuning a scheme I’m comfortable with.” 

Has changed his training over time

The 30-year-old, who has been on the elite national team for several years, feels he can now enjoy the hard training he has put in through years of systematic training.

It also affects how Holund sets up the distribution between hard sessions and easy long training. 

“I am at the end of my career, and the system I am running works for me in the position I am in now. But it would be different if I were younger. Early in my career, I had much more hard sessions than I need now,” says Holund to Langrenn.com, and adds: 

“In recent years, I have trained gradually longer distances and less hard. I feel that it gives me more of what I need, and for me, the most important thing is to make sure that I stay healthy and injury-free so that I get continuity in training and the job done,” says Holund.

What about strength training?  

“I haven’t done strength training in recent years. I rollerski a lot, and my cross-country training makes me strong enough to ski fast in the winter.” 

Specifically, what does the plan you have come up with look like?  

“It is very simple and traditional. There is a lot of volume and very little hard work in the summer and towards autumn. Then I reduce the volume a little during the autumn and put in a few more hard sessions. But I won’t have too many tough hard sessions in the autumn either.”

When do you train hard?  

“There will be a few more hard sessions throughout the autumn and closer to the start of the season. And when we are at a training camp, there are often two or three hard sessions in just over a week. But when I’m at home, I usually do interval training once a week,” says Holund and continues: 

“I save most of the hard sessions for the winter. Then I train a little less volume because there will be many competitions and they will be close to each other. I don’t need many weeks of intervals before I get in shape. Four to six weeks with slightly more hard sessions will do the job. So I’ll get in good shape when we start the season.” 

So, you’re not in great shape at the season opener at Beitostølen?  

“I like to use the first part of the season to get in competitive shape, so I need a few races before I’m in top shape. But funny enough, I tend to do quite well at the Beito opening anyway, without it being a goal or something I specifically plan to achieve.” 

What does a day of hard training look like to you in the dryland season?  

“When I do intervals in the dryland season, I often do double hard sessions. Usually elghufs in the morning, and a short interval session on rollerskis in the afternoon. 

Why do you like that particular training?  

“Elghufs are very effective for training. And such an hour’s rollerskiing session becomes very similar to a competition. I do it on a rollerski track similar to the tracks we use in winter and ski at 90 to 95 percent of maximum competition speed.”