![\"laurie](\"http:\/\/silversagecenter.com\/staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/laurie-xc-ski.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nO.k., suddenly it\u2019s November.\u00a0\u00a0 And not only are the days shorter, they just became even shorter as we turned back our clocks. \u00a0\u00a0Holidays looming, cold, dark mornings and early sunsets all mean just one thing.\u00a0 After work rides are over. \u00a0Weekend rides aren\u2019t nearly as long or ambitious as they were just two months ago. \u00a0I fear my once strong quads have gone the way of down-tube shifters. \u00a0\u00a0Being an outdoors junkie and not so much a gym rat I can say that this is pretty much an annual event.\u00a0 \u00a0Started back in the ski bum days of my youth. \u00a0\u00a0Year after year I hope for an early ski season.\u00a0 Pray that this year I will become more enthusiastic, diligent and focused on riding my trainer. \u00a0That I will actually use that gym membership I pay for monthly. \u00a0\u00a0But inertia is a strong force, and the more I get away from exercise, the harder it is to find that motivation to get back to it.<\/p>\n
Enter Julie Young, the uber fit and super knowledgeable coach and director for O2 Fitness and Silver Sage Sports and Fitness Lab.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been hearing a lot about Julie from a number of women with whom I cycle.\u00a0 So recently when I had the chance to sign up for her 12-week women\u2019s cycling training group, I decided to go for it.\u00a0 The program consists of daily workouts, which I receive by email.\u00a0\u00a0 The workouts themselves are a combination of endurance (cycling or running), core stabilization, strengthening, stretching and foam rolling and hip activation exercises.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0They are varied and specific, with attention to form and technique. \u00a0\u00a0Julie understands that it\u2019s all about translating those exercises to function.\u00a0 She really gets that part.<\/p>\n