2015 Exercise Log/Challenge

[Crankin]

It was hard to get up for boot camp and my body rebelled a bit when I got there, but my lumbar issues were not so bad, so I guess the amount of time I am putting in on the stretches is working.
We are going to western MA for x country skiing tomorrow morning. We will drive to Notchview, a touring center we've never been to, ski, eat lunch, then drive about 45 minutes north to a B and B. The blizzard should begin around dinner time; hoping everything stays open, as we have dinner reservations Sat. and Sunday night in Greenfield. On Sunday, we plan to ski at Northfield Mountain, one of my favorite places. It's a recreation area created by a power company. We may not be able to ski until later on Sunday... the blizzard is supposed to be done by noon, probably earlier out there, as less snow is predicted than in the Boston area. Let's not talk about the sub zero temps and wind! But, I'm prepared.

[Catrin]

Crankin, I commend you for getting out in those temps, I couldn't. I hope you both have fun!

I do wish I had discovered my activities long ago. My hand treatment on Tuesday flared everything up and it impacted my training session last night. I can't even write right now, but it will pass. I did what I could that didn't hurt and modified what did. Onward and up!

[Catrin]

Hand recovered from Tuesday's treatment, another next Thursday. Good conditioning workout today, I and my training partners return to competition training next week. I think my next comp will be in Chicago on Aug 2.

I AM looking forward to when the weather warms enough to hit the hiking trails and get some fresh air. Until then, it is back to the rowing machine - though in more moderation than what I did in December. I was racing then, basically, it was part of an overall challenge.

Had fun cooking tonight, had some pastured ground lamb and made some bangers and roasted veggies for dinner. I misread the spice part of the recipe and added WAY too much to the ground lamb - but it turned out fine! A bit on the heavy side spice wise, but I think I would have found the prescribed spice level to have been a bit bland, so it worked out well.

[Crankin]

I find most recipes have way too little spice.
Laying in bed at the B&B and looking out at a true winter wonderland. The place we skied at yesterday was good, but not thrilling. We skied about 10K, not a lot, but I find the first time I go to a touring center, it's some work to figure out the trail system. It was snowing the whole time we skied, which actually made it harder. The snow has stopped here, but it's really bad at home still.
Had a great dinner last night, in a blizzard, at an amazing place in Gill, MA, a teeny, teeny rural town.

[Crankin]

Yesterday's skiing was awesome. We did about 14K, most of it, climbing up to the summit of Northfield Mountain. Despite it being 12 degrees, the only place it was cold and windy was at the top. We made the mistake of skiing down on the road, which is an easy green trail, and it was slow because it was open to the blowing snow, unlike the woods. After we ate, we did another small climb, so we could ski down some blue trails. Fun. Today is a rest day. Will drive home and deal with snow clearing and getting food.

[Crankin]

Spin this morning. Hadn't been in awhile, so it was tolerable!

[Catrin]

Yesterday I dropped into a session with my coach at another location. It was a good one! Tonight it is back to my usual group, and a return to competition work. I am excited to return to it after doing lower intensity fitness kb work since our competition last week.

[Crankin]

I was going to snow shoe with a friend, but she had to schedule it around taking her dog to various appointments, so she said just go ski!
I could have gone on a ski with my cycling group, but they were doing the usual romp through various trails around Walden Pond and in Lincoln, and given that the winter participants tend to be a slower group, I bagged that and went alone to the local touring center.
Bad idea, it's school vacation week here. However, once I got even 500 feet away from the start, it was not crowded. Conditions were OK, mostly packed and slick from a lot of wear, not ice. Saw no one on the "hard" trail, but I did see lots of people my kids' age teaching their 2 year olds to ski and lots of groups of moms with older kids, as well as lots of groups of women, who were obviously teachers.
I like this place much better when it's not invaded by others. I skied for about an hour and a half, did a little extra at the end. It's much warmer out today, around 32.

[Crankin]

I gave myself 30 minutes today, for going to the PT and him definitely putting me through my paces. It was work...
My SI joint was locked, again. Big sigh. I have to get better at the home "gapping" technique. I can't move Walter in with me.

[Catrin]

Had my usual Thursday night KB training group. My partners and I are considering a team name, currently playing around with "High School Gym Class Rejects" :-) Interestingly enough, all three of us were!

Playing with wraps and wrist braces to help my thumb and wrist out at the advice of my ART guy - not so much during training, but I might need to. Feels darn good though, was told I might want to sleep in it to allow those joints to rest in the right position. Training doesn't hurt, which is pretty amazing when you think about it. Certainly makes me think about those who have crippling hand pain!

[Crankin]

I can't imagine crippling hand pain, either. I have a strange hand issue when I put on gloves/mittens. Not just really tight ones, either. My hands just ache and feel like they are being squeezed. I solved this by buying bigger cycling gloves, but I've been buying different gloves/mittens for x country skiing and it just makes no sense. Same brand, same size, different style, and the difference is startling. The thing is, the gloves fit, are even roomy, but I still feel the pain.
I went to boot camp this morning, another class where we did stations. One was to stand on a Bosu ball and do kettle ball swings for a minute. This was the first time I've ever managed to stand on a Bosu, and the challenge of the kettle ball swings made me mighty shaky, but I did it. Then, we had to do a second set! We also did jump over the Bosy, squat things, as well as other nasty stuff.
I was a gym class reject, too.

[Catrin]

It's been a wake-up call in this flare-up for sure. There have been days when my thumb hurt so bad that I couldn't even write! I found ways around and through, but I can't imagine this being permanent.

Do the gloves that cause the problem hit your wrists differently? Could be referred from the wrists.

[Crankin]

I think the gloves that I tried on last night had a tighter wrist area than the lobster mitts of the same brand. It's just slightly tighter. Once I get them on, the squeezing eventually goes away. And, after wearing lobster gloves for skiing on Wednesday and driving to the gym early this morning, I know why I couldn't wear them riding. My hands feel totally weird, claustrophobic, and when I can't touch my 3d and 4th fingers together in the skin, it freaks me out. It was fine for skiing, but I definitely could not shift with those types of mittens. I have this with several other aspects of my body, causing me to be able to only do things from one side, or one way. I feel like I'll absolutely kill myself if I do it differently.
Off to pack for the 5 AM ride to the airport tomorrow.,

[Catrin]

Glad you were able to figure it out! For me, while I wear skiing lobster gloves (separate thumb) for the frigid 4 block walk to the office from where I park, I HAVE to use regular gloves to drive, can't have my fingers together like that to drive. Wish I could, my hands would stay warmer. I am the only one I know who routinely needs two pairs of gloves to go to/from work - but it is such much kinder to my hands. I am hoping that my thumb will calm as the weather warms. Assuming that happens.

Meanwhile... for the geology nerds out there :-)

[Crankin]

Ha, ha, very funny. The walls of snow look a bit less daunting out here in the "country," as compared to the city, but still. My street is down to one lane and I cannot see to turn out of my driveway. Hoping some will melt down over the time I am away.
It is 45-50 degrees in the Methow Valley, WA, high 20s at night. It was hard to pack for this trip, as far as skiing goes. Around here, when it gets to those temperatures, you can't cross country ski, unless you get out at 6 AM! The snow is just too mushy. But, I packed short sleeve and sleeveless base layers and my 2 light weight jackets. Probably will forgo the long underwear, too, but I brought a light silk pair in case. My mid layer tops are either light fleece or running tops with a thermal inside. I'm going to be a ball of sweat.
Going to sleep. Will report in Sunday, after I do my first ski.