Just spent four consecutive days skiing.... let me say that again FOUR consecutive .. yes 4 days in a row (without a day off in between) skiing. I don't remember a time when or even if I've ever done that before...
Even BK (before kids) we'd go skiing for extended weekends or every other weekend or a week at a time... but I don't know if I've every ski'd 4 days in a row before, and I know absolutely not in the last 2 and a half decades (Yes, in the last 25 years).
Three years ago (note timing: before running) I would ski for a half a day taking multiple "rests" on the downhill to try to extinguish the flames in the quads or calves. I was one of the last in the group... the one everyone else waited for... the one who was responsible for everyone else getting a rest while they waited for me! Then, as soon as I'd arrive at their wait point, they'd all take off... But, but, but, what about me? Don't I get a rest?
I'd really try to prepare for the excursion months before... What more could I do? At the time I was going to the gym 3 or 4 times a week probably doing Yoga, Pilates and some kind of cardio.... And you know, I did have 2 20-something kids and a very active teenager. And let's face it, I certainly wasn't getting any younger. So, hey, I thought I was doing good even getting out on the slopes!
Waiting in line, I'd lean very far forward stretching out the calves and cursing the boot manufactures for making the boots force your legs into a bent knee stance! Remember the rear-entry boots which you could un-fasten and stand up straight? Who on earth decided they were a bad idea? or unsafe? Standing up straight while waiting in line gave you a rest. Isn't that a good thing???? On the hill, I'd stop at least 2 or 3 times on the way down, just to give the legs a rest. Yes, really, I would absolutely need to. After the first day, I'd hobble up the stairs which was even easier than going down the stairs where I'd hold on to the railings and kind of jump from one stair to the next... all in an effort to minimize the pain...oh, the pain. Then, I'd cast my vote to take the next day off to recover before attempting to ski two more days on our annual mini vacation.
I was doing good... or so I thought. Remembering a time when we'd spend the entire day going up and down Canon, shooting off as quickly as possible to catch the next Tram to do it all over again. Canon is not a beginner mountain and the trails to the Tram are expert or close to it. But I did it... Yup, but that was BK.
When he was 14 and 15 and again this year, I was once again able to keep up with him... well mostly and much more than I was before! What happened? I didn't get any younger? Well, maybe not chronologically, but actively and fitness-wise, yes, I absolutely did get younger in my capabilities! Thank you running! The muscles in my legs can once again handle what I used to do 3 decades ago!
We went down whatever trails were open (as this year has had very little natural snow so far). In complete honesty, I did have trouble on some of the trails and was being extra careful to avoid injury ~ unlike my sister, but that's another story ~ due to Disney Half next month. I really didn't like the trails with extra snow on them... which make catching an edge, like Judy did, soooo much easier. I'm really not a fan of going through sparsely covered glades like the kids wanted to... or anything with grass or twigs sprouting through... so I'd go around... but give me a fast groomed slope, and I'm right there ~ all in.
Even now, thinking about all this, I'm amazed at myself and that this is even possible. I re-read my first skiing blog post since running as well as the second and although I noticed at the time, I don't think I really completely realized what this new fitness life has made possible for me. It's really kinda mind-numbing as I ran up and down those stairs today that I hobbled up and down 3 short years ago to know what is actually possible!