Petter Northug is training the same number of hours as when he was at the top of traditional cross-country skiing. This is how he is training now.

Northug started his last professional races in 2018, on what many people believed to be the end of a successful career that took him to 15 gold medals at the World Championships and Winter Olympics. 

In 2021, the now Pro Team athlete tried some recreational races, and in 2022, he was ready to make a comeback at the elite level. The goal was to win Vasaloppet but finished in the 48th position in the 90km long-distance race. 

In recent months, however, the results have begun to reflect his ambition: Northug has been on the podium in long-distance and sprint races, where he has beaten world champions and top Pro Team athletes. 

But even though Northug has shown his form in shorter races this summer, he is clear that the World Cup will not tempt him: the main focus is on long-distance races, and the training is now specifically focused on that. 

Smart Training

With 20 medals in the Olympics and World Championships, 15 of which are gold, and over a decade as the world’s best cross-country skier, Petter Northug understands what training is required to become the best in the world. 

But in his comeback project, the 37-year-old Norwegian has had to take a new approach to training. 

You have come back at an awe-inspiring level already in your second season and show that you can compete with the world’s best in traditional cross-country and long-distance skiing. Are you replicating your training from the glory days now?  

“No. I’m too old to run that plan and can’t stand as much training now. Then it becomes the case that you must adjust according to age and job and a different everyday life than when you must be a 24-hour athlete. So, there are two different worlds, says Petter Northug to Langrenn.com. 

In addition to his job as a skier, Northug is the owner and sports director of his own Pro Team, Team Janteloppet (former Team Northug Crucible), where he is currently finalizing the roster for the upcoming Ski Classics Season XV. He also owns the long-distance race Janteloppet, the season finale for the Ski Classics Pro Tour this winter.

Also Read: 100km Ski Classics Grand Finale – Janteloppet ending Season XV.

In addition, Northug works as an expert commentator for TV2 in cross-country skiing and biathlon and has his own clothing brand, Northug.

Specifically, what changes have you made to adapt your training to your everyday life?  

“The biggest change I have made is to rest more after tough periods. But then I try to keep the same number of hours and quantities now as I had then. But the recovery time is much longer now,” says Northug and adds: 

“I can do as much as before, but I must rest much longer to assimilate the training.” 

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Have you changed the type of training and sessions you do now compared to when you competed at the World Cup level?  

“Yes. I have been doing many more long-distance sessions. There are longer sessions, much more focus on double poling, double poling uphill, and increasing capacity. So, there are two completely different training in that way than before.” 

On the podium in sprints with World Cup skiers

Although Northug’s focus is now long-distance skiing, he uses the chance to match up against the World Cup elite in sprints as often as possible. 

There, he gets to practice skills such as speed and agility, tactics, and positioning in a competitive environment and explains that this type of training is worth its weight in gold, even in long, tough races. 

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Good progression

After finishing 48th in the long-distance Blink Classics in 2022, Northug finished on the podium in this year’s race in a close fight for second place.  

Read More: Double win for Team Aker Dæhlie at Blink Classics 2023

In the sprint at Toppidrettsveka in August, the 37-year-old went to the final after having progressed easily from the qualification and heats. 

At the sprint in Trysil a week later, Petter Northug climbed onto the podium, only beaten by younger brother Even Northug and Pål Trøan Aune. 

“This is good. Today, I would have beaten them if I had gone “all in.” But I saved myself for (Alliansloppet) tomorrow,” Petter Northug told Langrenn.com after third place in Trysil.  

In any case, he got the answers he wanted. 

“I just go faster and faster.”