Winter?

The last few weeks have been quite enjoyable for training. Especially if you compare this year to the two winter's past. I have been riding inside and out, on nice days when the road is dry, it is a "outside day". On days when riding outside is not ideal, I am cruising the rollers, or cross training (insert skiing or snowshoeing). Riding the rollers is same old boring stuff that has no point to be written about. Riding outside is exciting when you see something cool, maybe like a great gray owl! Which I did see yesterday! It was very cool, so quiet and sleek flying from a tree in front of me and swooping overhead and across a farmers field.

Last week I did one of my all time favorite ski loops in Ontario. It was in Kolopore and involved skiing most trails there, just under 5hrs worth. I had forgotten my headphones and was forced to be a observant of nature. I ended up having one of the best days out skiing in some time. I couldn't help but to stop a handful of times and just take in the view and amazing scenery. As athlete's we far to often get zoned in on what we are doing, and are far to focused on having a perfect "training day". I usually hate stopping while I am exercising and I usually have music going religiously. That day out skiing in Kolopore, I appreciated the fact that I was taking for granted too many things everyday.

When my laundry is still, I will tumble.

Winter is here. Full on, friggin cold and flooding with snow. It seems that the minute the ball dropped (new years) it has not stopped snowing! I have been fighting a damn cold for the last week (or four) and it seems that it may be starting to give in. It is a constant battle for balance between training, rest, recovery and other(insert whatever you desire, I chose late nights with too much wine). Anyways my mind has been saying "come on, toughen up and let's go!". My body on the other hand has been combating with only so much energy in a 24hr period. So if I want to run 4hrs, well that means I am stuck on a couch the rest of the day. Or if I want to go out to shake my booty in the evenings, well hopefully it wasn't on a 4hr day, cause I'd be skunked.(insert secret weapon, coffee)!. Anyways it was a stellar holiday, one of the finest in my mind! I am really itching to get out skiing in a bit so I will sum up below what has been happening lately.

1-Great new band, USS or short for Ubiquitous Synergy Seekers. 2 man show, where Nirvana meets a modern DJ, or something like that. They are sick and have some great music! Check them out.

2-I had a interesting conversation finishing my run while cooling down walking the 100m home, with a fellow local snow-shoveler and it went as follows:

Shoveler: How many minutes you been out today?
me: hmmm, 3hrs, times 60 min per hour, so 180min.
Shoveler: Looks at me with a bogus frown/smile. ie. idiot face.
Shoveler: Why? (the big question).
me: Shoulder Shrug.
Shoveler: I would have froze after 20 min in this weather. (-20 ish with 60km gusts).
me: licking a salty icicle from the drop forming from my nose.
me: It's not that bad out. (really I know it is shit out).
Shoveler: Are you going to Everest or something?
me: Now I am making the idiot face frown smile thing.
me: Nooo,, well one day I guess, but no time soon.
Shoveler: On days like today you are supposed to stay inside and drink beer and watch tv. Not be outside running around like a pansy playing in the snow.
me: back to licking icicle.
me: Is that so? Who would of known?
Shoveler: Well, since your out here, would you mind giving me a push?
me: Sure. (Not realizing what I would be pushing).

we walk around the corner to find a cube van a little stuck.

me: back to idiot face. That?
Shoveler: What?
me: I think she may be a bit stuck eh. (as I kick a tire).
Shoveler: That thing? no, no no, my snow blower, as he leads me around the corner to find a Snow-blower so old, that it looks like you may as well just shovel the bloody driveway. Either way the thing is under some serious snow cover.
Shoveler: you pull, I will push.
me: K.

We get the snow-blower out and started (I really didn't think that it was going to start).

me: well I better get going, I have some beer to drink.
Shoveler: Smiles, thata boy. Thanks for the push.


Wow, so I really didn't think that conversation was going to be that long.... So because of that I am ending it here and going skiing.

Peace.