ski week and rest: is it possible?

wow- i'm home and tired.

what a crazy week! The school rents out an entire ski resort to build community amongst the students and staff. We worked very hard with the kids; I felt like I was back at summer camp.

Here's a recap from Sunday forward:

SUNDAY:
biked 3 hours on my trainer first thing, Sunday morning. BAH! it was early, just enough time to get the ride in, stretch and hop the bus with the kiddies for Manning Park.

I had an awesome ride. The final tweeks that Bill at Riders made were almost perfect- except the shoe is likely pointed too far to the right.

MONDAY:
On this day I learned that it takes a lot of discipline to rest. As my colleagues went to x-country ski... I worked hard to take it easy and board the late bus up to the mountain.

Nonetheless, I couldn't hold myself back. As soon as I got to the mountain, I slapped on my snowboard and flew down the hills with the kids- it felt great to be boarding again.

TUESDAY: x- country ski! It got me bad!
SWIM: well what i remembered as being a 20 metre pool was in fact 15! I almost hit my head on the wall in the first length, and the shortness made it difficult to do anything in the pool. I focused on Total Immersion exercises and kicking.

X-Country Ski: Carolyn recommended 45 minutes of skiing and I thought she was on crack! I was so used to skiing for hours and hours, I could easily ski up to the mountain from the resort. It took me 1h 40 minutes- and it was very challenging. Its uphill most of the time and the conditions were so warm that I had no stick on the trail. I was practically traumatized from the effort! My hip flexors were so tired and sore- I was brought back to some post- marathon feelings. WOOPS! I felt a bit arrogant as I treated my nemesis (flexor) in the hot-tub.

But I'm also flabbergasted. I love the training and wouldn't change anything - yet I'm jealous of my friends who can just go out and engage in various activities. I'm constantly tempered by the rigorous schedule of training. I love it that I'm even having to recognize this- I suppose I'm reaching another stage in the journey towards ironman. pretty exciting.

WEDNESDAY
Bike: After a long stretch I got on the exercise bike at the little resort gym. Its a bit like a recumbent. While uncomfortable, I did enjoy reading my WATTS and RPM's on the computer screen. I focused on these stat's for 1hr.

Some snowboarding on the hill.

SKI: Ski-ed down with a friend at a super slow pace to sweep up the kids in the X-Country race. Wow- I was totally inspired by one gal. Her courage and resolve will be one more source of inspiration for the Shawnigan 1/2 ironrace. Little Catherine, a little Grade 8, showed so much courage and grit in the skiing competition. Its a 10km decsent to the ski lodge with lots of downs, ups and a few flats. She was terrified of the descents - so she would unclip her skis and then walk down. She had tears in her eyes towards the last third of the course as she continued to round corners and encounter not even one of her peers. Yet not once did she complain- she was incredible. WOW! courage.

THURSDAY:
-Snowshoe walk- very relaxed, easy going stroll with the grade 9's. It was heaps of fun!
- Bike 1hour 15 with 7 intense/high cadence bursts on the crazy recumbent bike.

FRIDAY:
Rest- great day-

The diet of the week was not unlike that of summer camp... and I've sort of lost sense of myself. We were set up with FrootLoops, Frosted Flakes, Croissants, 2 loaves of White Bread, Kraft Peanut Butter, A box of cookies, Kraft Dinner, Mr. Noodles, and apples and oranges. Yikes! It was a challenging week for eating- lots of instant fast empty carb's, ridiculous amounts of sugar and very little protein. Luckily there was wine to wash it down and anti-oxidize my bod'. I'm looking forward to returning to my old routine.