Earlier in her career, Frida Karlsson had to pull the handbrake, to regain the balance between training, diet and recovery.
After the World Cup premiere in Ruka 2019, she was stopped from competition for two months.
Last summer she had to give up a couple of roller skiing competitions and adjusted the training plan a bit.
Now she has learned to recognize the warning signs.
"You are very close to the border"
- You are very close to the border, so you have to have a little feel for it.
After a good summer of training, it often feels like you need to go home, and I needed that a little bit this year as well.
But not like I pulled it all the way, the emergency stop, which I had to do a bit more last year.
This year it has been much smoother, that I recognized signals and was able to do it in better time.
What are those signals like, what do you feel when you pull the little handbrake a little?
- It's like you're slowly but surely being drained, you lose energy alongside the training and then all the focus can easily just be on the training.
You start to isolate yourself a little, can't handle external things.
At the same time, it doesn't feel as good in training, it's harder to be on when you should be on, and off when you should be off.
You become a bit at the level of intermediate milk all the time.
Has done the national team's checks: "It's safe"
Despite the fact that Frida Karlsson chose to leave the Swedish cross-country team last spring, she has continued to be supported by the medical team.
- We have actually agreed that the medical team is still there to help if I need it, but then I haven't really felt the need this year.
I've got a pretty clear picture of what I need and it's been going well.
- I can still do the national team's checks, so it's safe.
I have done them because I have wanted to do them.