Training Log Archive: igoup

Tahoe Donner.

Last night we visited with friends (Bev and Clinton) of Lisa's who have a home in the Tahoe-Donner area not far from Biggonsville. Nice visit. However, I was crushed by one beer (I only sipped a bit of the "David Clinton" wine, which was pretty good). As a result, I was a little slow in getting going this morning.

I should note that I have only been logging moving time. Today I was actually out 2:15:00 with the difference being all my little stops to catch my wind.

First spent an hour in the wax room. I think I did a decent job but I was messy and wasted a lot of wax.

Some WU time on green trails then up Sundance, down then up on Firefly, then up what I think was I'm OK (which was a pain), Hastings, up Crazy Horse, up up up Andromeda, I was going to cut across to the top of Crazy Horse but the trail on the map was not on the ground so all the way up to the Drifter hut. Totally knackered. Had a goo along the way and another at the hut. Great views and decent skiing but that was a heck of a lot of climbing. On the plus side, ZING on the way back down using Crazy Horse over to Sundance and Tumbleweed. Hit a top speed of 39kph and could have gone faster if I knew the trails better and wasn't worried about hitting trees. Really pooped afterward and all afternoon. Tomorrow needs to be a day of green trails.

Bought a fancy Saloman XC ski jacket as a reward for getting all the way up to Drifter hut.

Royal Gorge. Another nice morning but sunny. The snow on Big Ben was fast but then another slow day. Reindeer, Half Hitch, Castle Pass, out and back on Hellman a bit, Snow Mountain, Maintenance Rd, Deer Lake, Yuba, then a little bit extra. Some tough climbs. The downhill part of Castle Pass was nice -- I didn't know the turns so I generally kept in a snow plow and was still moving quickly. Amazing views on Snow Mountain. Skiing better and getting a little bit more zing out of my drive.

My left leg drive is mush less effective. My hip and knees rotate in such that when I push my ski slides more than catches a firm edge. Perhaps it is my bad toe that causes this or perhaps I have muscle imbalances in my hip. Another thing to work on.

Flat down on Lake Van Norden. Climbed up Village Trail with the goal of coming back on Donahue Day. However, I couldn't figure out how to stay on the latter as it weaved through the lodges at Suger Bowl. Made my way back down the the lake and continued around. Had to push a bit at the end to get back in time so that we could return Lisa's skis to the rental. Good to stay flat for a bit so I could more easily work on technique. Tired though.

Royal Gorge. Around 20F and snowing. Nice morning. Depending on the trail I was either the first or second to lay down tracks. Slow snow and, as it turned out, my wax job was not so good. Getting down to Kidd Lake was fine. Coming back up required lots of little breaks due to the altitude and because it felt like I had 0 cm of glide. Both trapezius muscles are sore, which also didn't help the climbing.

First a loop on Big Ben and James Joy to get moving again post lunch. Then I had a lesson. Lots of back and forth in the training area. I sure do have a lot to work on. I have the obvious excuse that I don't get much snow but, objectively, I'm pretty crude.
* I'm lifting from my heal and the toe is dragging. Need to toe dorsi flex so that the ski comes across level.
* Need to get my weight out over my gliding ski. Because of weak balance I'm shy.
* Drive horizontal as I move from one ski to the other. Don't stand up. Think like a speed skater.
* Need better flexibility in my hips so I can open them more.
There's plenty more but those are the main things to work on for now.

Same route as yesterday but backwards, and colder 'cause I was out earlier, and 3 min longer even though I didn't run slower 'cause of a LV strip time distortion.

Very windy and chilly today. Force 10 on the pool.

Went to a trampoline park/gym with Audry, Seth and Lisa (Linda spectated). Pretty fun and hard work -- worked up a good sweat. Logging 20 of 50 minutes. Also strained my left trap, which was NOT what I wanted to do.

Usual interesting run on the LV strip. As usual, running on concrete does not feel good.

Right after running. Chillier date at the pool.

Ice Box Canyon, Red Rocks. Hike with Lisa, Audrey, Seth and Keith. Nice day for a hike. Got hat and gloves cold up in the canyon. Snowy rocks were slippery.

Now in Vegas visiting Keith, Audrey, Garrett, Seth and Linda. Got in my annual swim in the 25m pool at MGM Signature. Remembered my goggles this year. Some lady kept swimming crooked.