Ski Shape...getting in

[Gary]

I'm kinda, well I am OCD about trying to stay in shape all season long for skiing, golf and biking....but I realize that when we stop behaving like children, our overall conditioning just might slowly sneak away.

I've been blessed with 2 beautiful granddaughters ages 2 and 3. Over the weekend we camped out...well they were log cabins in the woods, and found myself chasing them up and down slides, pushing them on swings....swinging myself, balloon battles, chase grandpas hat, climbing trees, pick up the child put them down, pick up two, spin them around, and all in all...I think I've discovered a sensational workout regiment.

Chase and play the 3 year old! Advanced training...take 2!

SO if you're struggling about how to get in shape for the ski season...with permission, borrow a 3 year old (or two) and turn them loose in a park with all it's "training" impliments. I guarantee you'll feel the burn.

Hope all are feeling healthy and physically ready for another superb ski season.
Best, G

[midwif]

I biked 42 miles this past saturday, will do a short ride today, yoga tomorrow.

Commute to work by bike on thursday (10 mi each way for a mild workout.)

Planning an 80 mile ride this  weekend with Jim as prep for the Seagull.

BUT!!!!When I spend some time with my stepgrand kids, they WIPE me out.

There is no keeping up with them.

Clearly, you are in great shape!

[Gary]

Nice Lynn...biking is an amazing way to fire for ski endurance and leg, hip and butt strength. Glad you're out there enjoying!

For sure though..chasing around those little ones uses every muscle in the body...EXCEPT the brain!

Ha!

G

[jim-ratliff]

... and found myself chasing them up and down slides, pushing them on swings....swinging myself, balloon battles, chase grandpas hat, climbing trees, pick up the child put them down, pick up two, spin them around, and all in all...I think I've discovered a sensational workout regiment.

Sounds like a lovely weekend. No wonder you didn't care to compare east coast and west coast terrain.

And, if you're at a playground, much of this running and chasing is in the sand or some other soft surface which adds to the workout.  And, when do you plan on teaching them to ski??

Grandkids are great, especially because at the end of the day you can sort of check them back in to their parents.  And on those rare occasions when they aren't having a good day, it can be largely someone else's problem .

I'm actually concerned that by the time my 9 and 7 (and 1 month) grandsons return from being assigned in Hawaii for 3 years the older two may have outgrown playing with grandpa in the playground. (or worse, that they'll have become good enough bikers that I can't keep up with them, that would really be horrible).  And I'll never have the bond with the baby that I was able to build with the first two when I could visit them more frequently.  In fact, the older one went on his first ski week at the age of 6 months.  I remember crawling around on the floor with the older one at a restaurant in Park City while everyone else was feeling sorry for my embarrassed son.

[Gary]

Hey Jim..yes sand would have added another dimension to the work out event...total exhaustions!

At their ages....you can do jungle training, slides for life, volcano climbing...yeah.... they'll love it!

I do foresee flights to Hawaii in your near future....they say you CAN ski there too!

If you do make the trip..let the parents have a couple days off on there own....on another island...yeah...

Rest now my friend...rest now!

G   

[jim-ratliff]

I am resting -- well, maybe more recuperating -- from a couple of very nice bike rides with Svend along the banks of the Potomac this weekend.  I'll post that in a new thread, though.

[LivingProof]

I'm kinda, well I am OCD about trying to


Best, G

OK team, we can have some fun 

I'm kinda, well I am OCD about trying to _________ (fill in the blank for Gary).

I'll be gentle = "live life".
I'll be a skier = "powder"
I'll be honest = "find another ski"
I'll be a good husband = "keep Alice smiling"

Any others out there?

[jim-ratliff]

I'll be like Ron = "get fashion coordinated"
I'll be more careful where I aim = 'not Yellow Stain other's skis"

[jbotti]

Wow, grandkids!! My daughter is 12. I am certainly old enough to have a few but I certainly have a ways to go.

I have a simple plan for getting into shape for ski season: never get out of shape!!

On a more serious note, after 25 years of endurance athletics and racing on and off in that span, I am cycling less and strength training much more. It has helped a ton. My body was out of balance and was lacking strength. I will up the strength training starting in October.

As I get older the strength training and plyometrics seem to pay bigger and bigger dividends.

First snow in Montana on Thrusday!! It won't be long now!!

[Gary]

Nice Mike....I hope I get a chance to try you 88's this season......

Jim, I spoke to Svend and he said he had a great time with you...I'm sure you'll elaborate more on that later! 

JB...I've been an avid gym rat all my life. Strength training M W F (slow reps) and cardio via bike riding T and Thur...

I had a crazy thing happen last Nov...I notice my right hip was more forward than my left...total muscle out of balance issue. With the help of a great chiro who uses pressure point active release therapy, got things back in line. However, he added another 15 minutes to my early morning workouts with additional and specific stretches that have made a huge difference. I BELIEVE IN YOGA....been wonderful for core and back.

So...live and learn and what I've found most important...listen to your body!

G

[midwif]

Nice Mike....I hope I get a chance to try you 88's this season......

Jim, I spoke to Svend and he said he had a great time with you...I'm sure you'll elaborate more on that later! 

JB...I've been an avid gym rat all my life. Strength training M W F (slow reps) and cardio via bike riding T and Thur...

 However, he added another 15 minutes to my early morning workouts with additional and specific stretches that have made a huge difference. I BELIEVE IN YOGA....been wonderful for core and back.

So...live and learn and what I've found most important...listen to your body!

G

Ahh, welcome to "the practice"!
I have been doing yoga 1-2/wk for 10 years. Occasionally 3x/wk.
I feel best at 3 times, but rarely get to class that often.
It really keeps my back functional. And like many people, I am much tighter on my dominant side, so work that side a bit more.

It's a great adjunct to skiing/running/biking.

L.

[Liam]

Yoga is a great balance to biking---I love biking but it tends to reduce the lateral flexibility in my hips.

Never getting out of shape is the key, JBotti...one I use to hold, but not anymore.  My kids are 13 and 9--I'm practically a full-time youth sport coach (plus work, and fun...hey, nobody is paying me to be model!

I mountain bike competitively and recreationally (I gave up road biking as it's just too dangerous).  It keeps my baseline high, and prevents me from becoming another American chubster. 

I start to mix in power-lift strength training every October through december, and then again March through may.  It's too abusive as a year round strength builder, but seasonally it jump starts my body like nothing else.

Basic work out-3 times a week (if you can recover fast enough)-Free weights only: Barbell Standing to full squat; Dead Lifts; and my favorite (or at least the one I love to hate)  Clean, Jerk and Press (both from the floor and from pelvis height depending on day);  dumbell squat to full press.  I mix in a  few other lifts (all free weights--no machines, smith machines or assistors of any kind) for arms, chest, etc-but the full body, multi-plane movement power lifts are the core of the two 'pre-season workouts.


I also start training myself to handle high-octane beer again...because I choke down nearly unpalatable American light beers in the heat of summer, but not in the cold months where after a day of skiing I look forward to savoring all those great denser, darker, more potent micro-brew ales more than ever. 

[midwif]

Yes, the beer training.....very important.
Nothing like an amber colored, full bodied confection after a day of great skiing.
And it's mandatory after "bad" days of skiing.

[bushwacka]

typical week. done in a pretty unstructured fashion when time allows

15-20 hours on the bike. A mix of Mountain Biking, and Road. Use a Single Speed on both sides some of the time as it help keep leg/core strength.
2-3 hours a week running. A mix of pavement and dirt. usually high pace for 3-6 miles roughly 6 minute miles on pavement
2 hours a week of at home power yoga
a day hike once every couple weeks.

I do not lift weights as I put on muscle mass way to easily and it would hinder me to carry around extra weight.

In the winter Ill alpine ski, alpine tour and new to me Skate ski. I just got a set up and can not wait to try it out.

[jim-ratliff]

Obviously he can speak for himself, but I'll bet BW's concern is keeping his bike racing weight down as much as possible.