Original text by Johan Trygg (längd.se), English text by Teemu Virtanen, Picture by Björn Reichert/Nordic Focus.
When Visma Ski Classics started with Engadin La Diagonela last winter, Jenny Larsson had the best race of her career. The Team Ramudden skier soloed the chilly race in superior style.
However, her preparations for Visma Ski Classics season XII are not going according to her plan. Larsson has been battling a hamstring injury in his hand since last spring.“I’m going to have to take it one day at a time. It’s very tough and patience-testing,” Jenny Larsson told Längd.se.
Larsson took a sensational win when she crossed the finish line at La Diagonela almost four minutes ahead of her teammate Lina Korsgren. Later in the season, she finished fourth at both Marcialonga and Jizerská Padesatka.
The problems with her hand started to show at Vålådalsrennet on March 20 where she finished 10th. Jenny then couldn’t complete both Tåssåsen Criterium 64 the next day and Årefjällsloppet a week later due to the injury.
“At the time, of course, I didn’t think I’d still have problems in September,” Larsson admits.
“I have done a lot of alternative training all summer with cycling and running. Then, I’ve experienced a bit of overload of it. In July and August, I was able to skate a bit, but I had to cut that down as well due to the injury.”
Jenny had an MRI, and it was found that the problems are both in her forearm and on the side of her hand. She has been helped by doctors and physiotherapists and taken cortisone shots, but she is still suffering from the injury.
“In a week, they will look at it again after the last shot. Then we will see if there is a small operation to be done or how to proceed. I wish I had a prognosis to go after, but I don’t know if it’s going to be good in a few weeks or in six months. I’m going to have to take it day by day. It’s very tough, but I need to be patient.”
However, she is still in great shape.
“I’m proud of what I’ve done in training. There’s nothing wrong with my motivation. The other day, I ran faster than ever when doing intervals with the team,” Larsson concludes.
