Hello Legs

This was too gorgeous to not share!

The view from my first ride outside in 6 weeks! I have tolerance for the trainer for about 4 weeks, and refuse to go to the gym in the winter (sick sweaty people not cleaning their machines well enough, and sick kids in the child care, no thanks). I have winter riding gear, but know myself well enough to know that below 35 degrees makes me grumpy. Today was 38 and I over dressed (fine by me)! Aired up my cross bike, got my winter riding gloves out ( thank you Rick for that awesome gift. If your hands get cold easy, GORE makes the best winter riding glove), and set off to Eaglerock, where the sun was shining. I may have been a little too ambitious for the first ride out, took off up Burch Mtn Rd. the legs burned, but my lungs felt fine,then 1 more hill up Lovel to April, this ones not as bad! I was smiling so big the whole time, my teeth were cold!

Great ride, but may have given too much, my pool workout tonight felt like I was pulling a 5 gallon bucket!

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She Does It!

The kids didn't have school again today for records day.  The last two weeks Lo has expressed an interest to go Nordic ski again.  Last time she tried it (maybe 4 years ago) was a fail.  We were all at the golf course and I left her dad and her to it, came up to them in the back she was in tears, and he had lost all patience.  Since then she made up her mind she didn't like it.   I skied early this weekend and asked each time if she wanted to go then, but she told me "she doesn't really do the morning thing" OK, whatever.  I had a pretty good feeling today would be as good as it gets, it was warm (30 degrees) and a weekday, so very few people.  The main goal was just to let it be about her, and cross my fingers she enjoyed it.
She did great, and loved it.  We went to the hatchery (so she and Luke could go to O'gradys after, and I could skate a couple more laps), there's the "front" half of the loop, and in that front half, near the back, there's a cut off that will allow you to avoid the 1 hill on this half, making this micro loop 2k, we got done, I asked her if she was ready for hot chocolate or wanted to go again, to my surprise she wanted to go again.  So lets hope this memory of a good time gets stuck in her head!

Another bonus also happened.  I haven't been on my classic skis since I  learned to skate 5 years ago, but figured if I was going to teach her I better be doing the same, so I'd know what I was talking about.  I'd forgotten how much I enjoy classic skiing, also forgot how hard it is to be good at the technique.  I read somewhere the best nordic skiers spend 60% on their classics and 40% on their skates, well I love skating too much to give up that much time on them, but my new goal is on Fridays to always do 1 lap classic, then hit the skates!

there she is in action!

A glimpse of my car...all winter.  My bf insist the rack I have on my car will ruin my ski's

Basset get Photographed

I've been having a blast taking pics of Obie lately.  He's so sad looking, it's kind of fun.  Good morning from Lo and Obie

Tips

Sitting here waiting for Lo to get home from the Wild game, Rick was showing me a few videos to help with my skate technique. Rick's a great teacher, but since I won't be loaning him out, I'll share the video.

For friends in the area wanting to ski or know the different options. We have 3 in Leavenworth (when there's enough snow). My personal favorite is the Icicle River Trail (hatchery), probably  because it has the biggest loop, one full loop is 8k. However weekends get crowded. If you get there and  ski  before 10 its great, otherwise I  head to the golf course, on the weekend.  The GC has beautiful scenery, however it's only groomed when there's enough snow.  We haven't had new snow lately so it's only being groomed weekends, which is actually perfect alternative on weekends. Only downside to the golf course (or maybe this is a plus) while they have groomed 8k of skiing trails, no lap  is any more than 4k, so you have to do a lot of laps to get in a good ski.  Last Sunday I did 5 laps with my garmin to map out all options, I didn't repeat any patterns, so at least it varies, but they are short...which if you want to take your kids, it's a great place away from the crowds and easy (just keep them away from one steep hill inside the Tumwater trail) and deer seem to always be out.
Ski hill, is dang hilly! Great if you want something different and really want to work your legs. I never get in much of a rhythm there because it always feels like I am going up a hill, and time wise from Wenatchee this takes the longest to get to.
Hope that helps, happy skiing!



If you're wondering my main problem is I power from mostly one side.  I like the "finding friends" drill and the balance  (which I also need help on) drill. 

4 Laps..DONE!

I know my life is good!  I have amazing kids, a great man, and at a point in my life that's mature and evolved.  My kids are older, I have more free time.  Fridays I like to have to myself, after I work in Lo's classroom.  So today I drove up to Leavenworth to ski, set my goal for the morning of 3.5 laps (28k), knowing my real goal was 4 laps (32k).  See that's how I am with goals, I set ones that are attainable yet a challenge and respectable for that day, but I always go over them, always.  If I set out for a 4 mile run, I usually run 5.  Just the way I do it.
With very few time constraints on Fridays I knew I really should take advantage of it, so I went for it.  Followed what a friend said a few weeks ago and did the first lap without poles, next 2.5 were easy, last .5 I was hungry and thirsty (forgot my water).
2 hours 10 minutes later I got a kick arse workout.  For me it wasn't the physical challenge of this so much, as it was the mental challenge.  Loops are NOT my thing.  I seemed to have given my Ipod shuffle to Luke so music was out of the question, it was me and my thoughts, and I did it.
I have to say, most events for me are like this, I have great mental toughness (one I have worked on for years), and often it far outweighs my physical abilities. 

*On another ski note, Luke and I did the full moon ski last night (too socked in though to see the moon), as some of you might remember last year, we got to the back meadow and saw "creatures" that at the time we were fairly certain was a cougar ready to pounce on us, then quickly made our way back to the front only to hear "wolves" howling at the moon (never mind there are no known wolf packs in the area).  We redeemed ourselves this year, we may have taken Rick as our scout, but we did it, and had fun!

Full moon ski (with no moon)

Today

Point and Shoot Fun

I think it's obvious, I love the Methow! Thank goodness Rick shares the same love for it. Here's few photos from todays ski. Took the shuttle again from Winthrop to Mazama and skied the 30k back!
I think my IPad app is going to get fired though, it said it would be in the high 20's so 11 degrees was a bit of a surprise. Don't worry, I always come prepared (I have different ski clothes I wear for 4-16 degrees, 17-28, and 28 and higher). One gift I got from my ex is the best ski pants I have ever owned (a craft wind blocking ski pant), love them, and they save me everytime!  My carbon poles are nice too so thank you ex! Another bonus I thought of today...as sucky as it is to not have the kids every other weekend, I am making the best use of it. I essentially have a free babysitter, it allows me the opportunity to come to the Methow all winter!

Treats are essential!

We play no favorites in this group, we represent all

These are the fast skiers...

And these are the fun ones!

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Creatures of Habit

Perhaps....I got to thinking yesterday, skiing reverse day at the hatchery. I ski 80-100k a week, most of which is done there, but Thursdays you ski the opposite direction. Every time I do it I'm totally thrown off, it took me 2 full laps to actually settle in. I pondered this the whole time, I like routine, rituals, habits. I like to know what's ahead, when to speed up, when to rest, how long it should take, and so on. It's the way I am in work and family (much like my little miss), I'm not sure why, maybe I've had one too many bad surprises, I don't know. I don't think of this as a negative or a positive, just that I am aware of it!
 
This picture is today, back to the "regular" direction...phew

My favorite crossing guard!

 
 

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