One More Ski Day

I put my skis away and was done for the season (twice, actually), but the weather was so nice and I didn't have anything important to do today, so I decided that I would do one final day of skiing. I was thinking about pat's peak, but their lift is so slow, so I decided to try crotched mountain again. I'd been there once, a couple of years ago, and remember it being fun but hard.

I invited my nephew to come along too, because he love skiing and apparently his ski-y friends have moved to silicone valley. I asked him to come to my place at 7:30 to leave, and then I would drop him off at home after. What I forgot was that we spang forward last night (something that I love, of course), but that meant we were really leaving at 6;30. So early! It was a good think I had already put the time out there, or I would have left later. 

We got there a little after 9, and I decided I could ski no more at about 3:15. I told my nephew I was fine with hanging out if he wanted to ski more, but he was ready to pack it in too. I did every green and blue at the place, and even a few segments of black! It was super fun. 

I stared with the greens, and felt a little awkward on them the first run. But then I got in my groove, and moved up to the blues. I was feeling pretty good about my curving and edging for most of the day. I feel like I'm getting the hang of having my lower body move while my upper body doesn't switch around. I also went down a few spots that were steeper, which was scary but successful. I kept just telling myself "the mountain isn't going to ski itself" and went for it.

After getting off the fast lift there is a little part that is pretty hard for me. I remember it from last time - eventually I gave up on the lift and took a slower one. This time, it was still difficult, but I did it a lot more times. By the end there were some mogels developing. Not easy at all for me, but I think a little better.

When I got home, I could barely get out of the car, my quads were so tight. I took a long bath and some advil, but I think they are going to be sore for a few days.

Good Ski Days

I bought a five pack for nashoba, which I was kind of regretting because I didn't think that I was going to be able to use all of them, but then I did! Yesterday we got some surprise snow, and today I was able to hit the slopes. I went with my nephew, which we do sometimes, and it was pretty fun.

The best thing was that for a couple of runs I felt like I got the edging and leaning piece of skiing, and it felt really great, super easy and relaxing. I still stuck to the blues there, I did the blacks a few times, but they are a little too steep for me really, but they felt good. I'm increasing my speed a little, and getting how to stop down better. 

My nephew skis a lot faster than me. He did a few runs on the blacks, and then practiced jumping in the mini terrain park that they have.

Next year I think one time at nashoba might be enough. 

This woman who I took a swim class from was at Memphremagog, and she invited me to be on her endurance athletics team, team b*real. Like a personal invitation. I can't resist a personal invitation, so of course I joined. Now, I am thinking about going back to running so I can do a triathlon.

Memphremagog Swim Festival

I first heard about the Memphremagog winter swim festival about a year ago from other folks in my swim group who participated. It sounded so fun, I knew I wanted to do it. The festival happened this weekend, and it was awesome! 

After barely any snow this winter, of course it decided to snow on the day that we were supposed to drive up. I decided to go a day early so I could beat the snow - I stayed at a first airbnb, one where the hostess was there. I don't love that - but it was the least expensive place, was close to the festival location and looked cozy. The woman there was really nice and she made me a delicious breakfast :) The snow wasn't that bad in northern VT, but I heard the drive up was awful, so I was glad I went up early. 

The second airbnb was available early, which was so nice - I was able to check in and do some work and then get situated. And then I went and looked at the swim hole. I'm not going to lie, when I first saw it I was scared. First, I'm not really comfortable walking on a frozen lake (though I did become comfortable with it). Second, it looked really cold! And third, there were going to be people watching me swim. 

The swim races turned out to be so fun! I was so nervous before the first swim and unfortunately I had to wait for over an hour for my turn. Finally it was my turn - my escort took me out, and my stripper helped me with my robe and then it was time to get in. I really didn't want to, but that was what I was there for, so I went for it. The swim was much easier than all the practice swimming had been - we were only in the water for like 30 seconds, and then we were out and to the warming hut. I didn't even come in last! After that I had the whole day to watch the folks swimming the 200. They were so impressive! I want to do it next year (which will require a lot of work on my swimming technique). After, we went to the airbnb - which 8 of us were staying in, and ordered Thai food, which was delicious.

The second day was the hat race - I wore a silly mermaid tail hat. I was in the seventh group to swim. On that day, the temperature outside was in the negative numbers with wind chill (though there wasn't that much wind) and the hairs in my nose froze. It was cold! But, once I got in the water there was enough adrenalin to help me enjoy the swim. There was lots of cheering, which made me feel so good! 

The third and final day we had a 4 person relay and my team came in third! We won a bag of beef jerky (not the best prize, since I don't eat meat, but whatever, I was excited). We had a ringer on our team who could swim fast. And then I lost the lead that she got when I swallowed some water. 

All in all, a good time! I've already signed up for next year :)

Bad bad ski day

I had a bonus day off today because I worked yesterday. Since I found out I would get the day off, I've been planning on going skiing, and been super excited about it. When I looked at the weather on Sunday night, it was supposed to rain at Nashoba, but snow in NH. So, I had the brilliant idea to go up to Pat's Peak. Worst idea ever! 

I got up super early and drove up to NH. It was a little weathery, but not too bad on the way up. But, I was worried about the drive home. I got there, did a couple runs, and realized that I don't know how to ski in fresh snow. Then, my goggles fogged over. And I was so stressed because it was snowing a lot, that I decided to bag it and go home. I stayed for about an hour. The drive home started ok, but then I went down this side street and got stuck on a hill. I could not get up it. I finally had to go back, and go around another way. It was soooo stressful. I almost drove off the side of the road. Once I got back to a main road it was ok, but I was so stressed out. Then, my rubber on my windshield wiper started coming off, so that it wasn't cleaning 100%. Which just didn't help.

I finally got home (phew), had a little bit to eat (ok, I had oat pancakes. It was a lot) and then decided to get a new wiper, some cash for the cleaners, and some gummies to make me feel less stressed. The roads were getting pretty crappy here by the time I got home. Now I'm home - no swimming for today. Maybe I'll take a walk later. What a way to ruin a bonus day off!

Queen of the Merfolk

Today we had a party at the dock, which I thought was for one member who was visiting for a swim, and for another's birthday. Which it was. But it was also a celebration of me and my 50 days in a row of dipping! It was so sweet, we had cake (which I made and everyone seemed to like. OK, so it had a lot of butter and sugar and a whole tablespoon of vanilla in it, so how could they not?) and there were rice crispee treats. One of my friends made me a sash that says "Queen of the Merfolk - 50 Days" and another made a video. Also, there was a plastic viking hat (which Rufus found scary). We all went for a dip and hung out even though we were freezing. It even snowed a little! 

It's 5 1/2 weeks until the big swim race. I've been working on my form in the pool, and I'm also going to the lake on Tuesdays and doing practice runs. Even though regular swims are so much more time in the water, I'm glad that I'm practicing, because it does need some strategizing. Last week I didn't breathe enough at the start of the swim, this time I'm going to practice more strokes breaths early.

I'm thinking about doing a triathlon now that I can swim! There's one that's for women only and it's .25 miles swimming, 10 miles biking, 5 K running. It's in Sept, so plenty of training time.

50 Days of Dipping!

Yesterday I hit 50 days of dips! I did a quick swim yesterday because I had family zoom and yoga in the evening, so I went at lunch and did it memphamagog style, which is to say that I got in from the shore, swam to a little past the dock, and then swam back. I didn't wear booties or gloves, just a swim suit, swim cap, and goggles. My right goggle leaked, of course. I definitely felt breathless when I got past the dock because I wasn't breathing enough! I usually do stroke/stroke breathe, but because it was so cold and I wanted to get out fast, I did stroke/stroke/stroke/stroke/stroke/stroke which is wayyyy too many strokes without breathing. By the time I was 2/3 of the way there, I was like "I must be almost there," and stopped to look, and then just breast stroked the rest of the way. So, I think the secret will be to do the first strokes breathing normal, and then increase strokes to breaths as I move along in the race. I definitely want to go to a 25 meter pool to practice (the Y is 20 meters).

Today I just didn't feel like going for a dip - I had a late meeting and would have had to go after dark, and I just wasn't into it. I decided that 50 days in a row is sufficient, and I can skip a day. Tomorrow, hopefully back to dipping! It will be interesting to see what happens in the spring, when I can no longer do cold swimming in the same way - will my body notice? 

New Year's Polar Plunge

We celebrated the New Year with a little party and polar plunge! We had a pretty good turnout for the event, about 50 or so. It was a fun way to start the year. I made gingerbread cookies and these chocolate mermaid tails and there was dancing and a fire and photos. Super fun start to the New Year.

For NYE I did an online yoga that started at 10 pm and ended right at midnight. It was a new studio in NYC, I really liked the teacher - she made the class a little reflective and a little bit of a workout (but not too crazy). Definitely one of the best ways to spend the last day of the year. 

Today, of course, I decided that I want to lose a little weight that I've gained this year, so back on the old diet. Not too psyched about it, but my pants are getting really tight, and I so don't want to have to pull out the fat pants.