On Thursday, Johaug met the press in connection with the Norwegian Skiing Association holding its traditional media day ahead of the weekend’s opening race. The interest surrounding the 36-year-old was enormous.
Among other things, Johaug spoke about the measures taken at home to facilitate her becoming world champion in Trondheim in a few months.
Her husband Nils Jakob Hoff is now taking a long break from his daily work as a doctor.
– He has one hundred percent doctor’s job, and has had it until today, in fact. He was on night duty last night. Now he has leave until 21 March, so it’s almost time to pop the champagne before the weekend. We are really looking forward to having a little more peace and quiet going forward, says Johaug.
The 36-year-old says her husband has meant an enormous amount to the WC project the two have now set out to carry out.
– This would not have worked if he had not backed up and supported me along the way, says Johaug.
Had to say stop
A few weeks ago, she found herself forced to pull the emergency brake after an autumn with little recovery and little sleep.
– Kristin has had a bad period of sleep lately, which has caused me to fall a little behind. All parents know what that feeling is like, says Johaug, who had also filled the day with a lot of work.
In order to recover, she “ran away” to the cabin on Lake Sjusjøen. According to his own statement, it did good. When asked by NTB, Johaug denies that she applied the emergency brake too late.
– Perhaps that is the advantage of having been in the game for so long. It was only a matter of taking a short trip on the treadmill, then I found out that “this is where I have to take hold now”. It was a pretty bad session, to be completely honest, smiles the cross-country queen.
Read also: Johaug pulled on the emergency brake: – Has started in better shape before
Opens for virus trouble
At the same time, she reveals that more than a lack of sleep and a high overall load may have been behind the signals her body gave her.
– It is possible that I may also have had a viral infection in my body that had not broken out. I think so. To go from being so bad, to being so good again after just a little extra sleep, is a bit strange, says Johaug to NTB.
She then quotes her husband in Bergen to emphasize the point that she may have been ill without being bedridden like many others.
– It’s like Nils Jakob used to say “you know, when Therese gets sick, only the hard sessions go a little badly”, laughs Johaug.
Read also: Karlsson excited before Johaug’s comeback: – She has been our benchmark for many years
Understands Northug plays
Earlier this week, in an NTB interview, Petter Northug put pressure on the 36-year-old by proclaiming her the obvious favorite ahead of the Beito comeback.
– I know that there are expectations of me, and I understand that. I have performed at a very high level before, and my ambitions are not to fight for fifth or tenth place in a WC. I live well with those expectations, says Johaug himself.
At the same time, she asks to be believed that it is unrealistic to expect her to be at her old level even now.
– I have been out for two years now. I have been there before too, but then it was even more structured training in the two years. Then I went for regular test runs. I haven’t done that now. It’s been a long time since I’ve walked 10 kilometres, says Johaug and points out that last season she settled for two three-mile runs.
On Saturday, she makes a comeback in the 10 kilometer classic at Beitostølen. Sunday is the same distance in free technique.
Read also: Northug puts pressure on Johaug before the Beito comeback: – She is the favourite