Happy March – Happy Ski Day!
Stephen made the cross-country trek from New Hampshire to enjoy our Colorado powder AND to visit Ro of course.
[Aside – Ro will make a blog return for Spring hiking season. Appreciate everyone’s emails & comments :)]
Warm weather weekend but still lotta snow on the slopes after last Wednesday’s blizzard. Headed out early to Eldora after dropping Ro for the day at his pal Molly’s house. Next year I’ll venture past Eldora – still my first year of downhilling.
Grabbed a half day lesson with Wilf, a veteran German ski instructor (> 40 years of experience). Most of us feared Wilf but I did learn additional skills (Christie turns) to help improve traversing.
Still believe the key is to stay aggressive, show no fear. Skied Blue this day (bit embarrassing at my age but not crazy horrible after only 2 downhill lessons). Love the challenge of tightening turns. The tighter the turn, the more snow I spray & the more physical the sport becomes (the part I like). ALSO helps to maintain some semblance of control.
Fun day – always fun skiing with friends.
All said, ready to x-country ski again. Easier on my wallet, love the back country isolation & enjoy the workout. Next year, think I’m investing in x-country skis and an annual pass to RMNP.
LOVING all the possibilities in my Colorado life!
Happy March 2013!
Colorado powder
learned ‘Christies’ from instructor Wilf
1st time Skiing ‘Blue’
Cross country skiing 2 weeks ago, today was Downhill day. Can’t live in Colorado without attempting our #1 sport.
Travelled to Eldora with my Colorado friends, Annmarie & John, who patiently baby-sat thru lesson sign-up & equipment rental – before dropping me off at Ski School & hitting the slopes independently (both already experienced skiers).
Made fast friendships with 3 folks at Ski School before our class was split because of size. Our first 2 hours (before lunch break) was super elementary because of varying skill levels within the group — consisting of me, a lady named Kate, a CU sorority & 4 guys from Pakistan. Pairing was like a reality show social experiment.
After lunch our group was split again based on ability level – and FINALLY hit the slopes! (Getting down the basics is essential but who doesn’t want to ‘ski’ after you’ve enrolled in Ski School? :)) Me & my new all-girl group learned to traverse – and most important, how to STOP. Didn’t want to end up wrapped around a tree 2 ski outings in a row.
Had to endure riding the ‘Magic Carpet’ before graduating to the beginner’s ski lift. Riding the ‘Magic Carpet’ was our Ski Class, a blind skiing group (literally BLIND), and thousands of wunderkinder. Yeah…a slightly humiliating experience.
wunderkind [ˈwʌndəˌkɪnd (German) ˈvʊndərˌkɪnt]
1. a child prodigy
2. a person who is exceptionally successful in his field while still young
Everything AFTER the ski lift – AWESOME! Skiing is definitely in my blood. LOVED it! I think the key is being aggressive & showing no fear (like a wunderkind). Once you start over-thinking, you end up on your backside – in a pile with others.
Completely hooked! LOVE this sport, LOVE this place! Think I’ll buy a season pass next year.
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- equipment rental
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- dropped off by my ‘ski parents’ for a 4-hour lesson (you’re coming back, right?)
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- still smiling after lunch break – ready to hit the SLOPES!
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- FINALLY! Riding the lift & downhill skiing! YES!
8 degrees and light snow – SUPER COLD start to my first race of the year. YIKES!
Bundled up and on a mission this day – gonna kick-off my 2013 New Year’s Resolution & of course, enjoy a huge bowl of Quaker oatmeal at Lafayette Colorado’s Oatmeal Festival.
Folks: Not gonna spin this happy, had not run since December 1st. Today’s time was 2 minutes faster than my Colder Boulder finish – which isn’t soooo bad considering the cold & my lack of any prep. I did finish. But yeah, I was sucking wind.
UPDATE: Fast forward 2 days, have logged in an additional 6 miles in single digit temps. Think it takes 3 weeks to start & successfully create lasting change. Day 3 – still hate running (just calling it out — in the event others are also struggling with 20-13 goals). For me it’s nothing physical, all completely mental. No run rhythm, pace akin to speed walking 🙁 & I’m clock-watching before I finish 2 miles. Ugh. Change is not easy.
Something positive…hmmm.
I have finally started this year’s Resolution. I’m gonna do this; this WILL happen – just gotta keep my eye on the prize. Expect to see pics from my 2013 target marathon in Anchorage Alaska on June 23rd.
How cool is that – ALASKA!
Results for K R Haga:
You placed 185th out of 654 finishers in a time of 27:37 for a pace of 8:54 per mile. Your chip time was 27:30.
2013 Quicker Quaker 5K
weathered COLD 8° temp w/ Brett & Austin
heaping bowl o’ oatmeal
