Who would have thought.

It was a perfect day for eveything, well everything except for what we were doing. After a slow start while enjoying the sun we headed to the big backyard. Threre were thoughts and considerations made before we left but we, especially me, thought it would be fine. I was wrong, we also ran into a few others that felt the same way. So what was our plan that was not recomended. As funny as it sounds for the time of the year, it was classic xc skiing. I know, crazy thoughts. January and skiing just never mix, well on this day it didn't.

Thaw from the day from the previous day and then the cooler tempatures pretty much wrecked any enjoyment that we would get. It was more of a double pole day with a hint of fear on any decent. The snow was bullet proof with a dash of ridges just to make things interesting. Of course the dogs loved the hardpack for running. Some how we still managed to slide around for 2.5 hours,I'm feeling it today in the joints. Of course in hindsight we we wishing we had brought the bikes, perfect conditions to roll around. What we do for the dogs.

Its not looking like things will be better anytime soon, Im feeling that I'll be charging up some lights and pumping up the tires on KHS this week. I'm pretty us the body will be very content with some smooth motion aft the weekend.

A new monster?

I have to admit, I'm liking this new training approach. Another night of graviety sliding, after nearly 15 years of no skiing or snowboarding, which was at certain time of my life a full time job I've come back full circle and am a little addicted. Last nights conditioning turned into a solid workout, soft snow, mild tempatures meant lots of leg work. It also meant I had an it from xc skiing, hard conditions to wax for. Shannon believes that she has reinvented a monster. Maybe.

Some reality checks will come into play though, fitness will be built up, spring is not all that far away. My dreams of skate skiing on the bay are still on hold. Seems Georgian Bay is being stubborn this year about freezing. This also means there won't be any bike rides to the islands anytime soon. Its an unusual year.

Looking like a good weekend for some outdoor play. A tromp in the woods will start out the morning. The sun just broke as I typed that line, maybe some tanning, starting to look pale. Times a wasting. Dogs are a bouncing.

It how you get down that counts

It's interesting how you can be reanalyze a situation to allow you to use our action to your advantage. I looked at the weather yesterday and changed my plans, I didn't even flip a coin to help the decision. I played with gravity instead of fitness. With my change in racing focus, my concerns for big endurance days are a little more relaxed. This means a lot more unstructured fun and in the case of last night it meant u sing a chair lift to get to the top of the hill instead of those two sticks i stand on.

It's not a complete loss though switching things up, the way my legs feel this morning I'm very aware of what I was doing last night. It takes a lot of strength to keep two skis facing the right direction at max speed. Is helping build more stability muscles up again finding my balance, etc etc. Am I looking for specific benefits of downhill skiing/snowboarding to help justify my decision, maybe. Will I stop xc skiing anytime soon, not a chance in hell. It just adds an option and depending on weather, mood, time etc It just go adds to miles my legs need.

Thoughts of riding a bike right now are low, indoor is very uninviting. Outdoors, haven't felt like spending that 30 minutes of prep time to freeze my body, get buzzed my cars, etc etc. Of course that will change, it always does.

triple header

My best advice for many that don't like winter, just embrace it. It's not that bad. Being the last day before the grind return we took full advantage of it in the not so prestine condition. To say it blew was a close description. Regardless we headed into the woods in the morning for a classic ski. I do remember why they make touring skis and from time to time I wish I had a pair. We played in a area that was far from groomed and track set. Good stability muscle workout, not bad on the cardio side of it also. Some where between an hour and a half to two hours of sliding, it was fantastic once we were in the woods.

Next up, gravity sliding. This time it was on the single plank. It's been along time since I've been on a snowboard, let alone a carving board. After a hiccup on foot position setup I finished up the short trip to Blue linking turns and starting to bring back yet another side of my previous life. Shannon enjoyed the change of rolls with it her waiting for me at the bottom, she has her doubts that it will last very long. I agree. It won't be long before I'm back to leaving a deep carved rut in the snow, I can't wait.

The shortened trip to the Blue was caused by the slightly sketchy driving conditions and we had a place to be. It was the first non riding MNS and we needed to be there. We couldn't let Deathmarch Liz down and it finished out the triple header. A romp around Copeland forest for the usual hour, the pace, like usual, fast. Mr Watson took of someone else's roll and was late and used some lame excuse which didn't cut it. Again it was wonderful in the woods and was topped off with a clear sky with a moon bright enough that headlamps werent needed.

Let the winter begin

multipule attempts

The day was filled with repeated attempts to make myself sick. Some more enjoyable than others and all of them have me moving a little slower this first day of 2012. Yes I'm hungover, yes old age is kicking in and I can't do things the way I used to. No I didn't get sick, my better attempt at vomiting happened 10 hours earlier.

I should have thought about my decision to go for a skate ski a little more, I should have brought my classics as back up. With my body already tired and sore from the 2.5 hour ski with Shannon and the dogs Why did I think that skating was a good idea. I have snow fever, it's a rare Canadian disease that is only cured by snow blowing a long driveways and digging out a stuck car. Looks like I'm in trouble for a while. So skipping my better judgement I headed to Hardwood hoping for some nicely groomed terrain. After a brisk walk from the car as a warm up, yes that's a slow paced stroll, I clipped and and strapped on the poles full of excitement. This lasted about 30 seconds before the previous days fatigue kicked in. I forgot what stabilizer muscles are capable of doing.

Round one hurt, muscle memory was there but a little dyslexic on my first loop. I'm happy I wasn't wearing my hr monitor, what made me feel enter was watching most others having the same results as I was. Of course I went out for another loop after a short rest. I believe I am officially training now, I the once the heart rate rises above a certain point it's now no longer just a pleasure ski. I'll stick to that theory for a little while.

All attempts to make myself hurl have failed, I'm just left with some sore body parts. Could be worse.