South Kaibab Trail

South Kaibab Trail at Grand Canyon

Warning:  there may be some off topic references in this post that do not pertain to life in the mountains of Colorado.

Ok, got that out of the way, here we go.  I received my Rocky Mountain Super Pass Plus ski pass in the mail the other day and I was pretty pumped.  This is the first year I’ve sprung for a mult resort pass, and am hoping the Snow Gods cooperate and bring plenty of snow so I can get my money’s worth.  The RMSP+ includes unlimited skiing at Winter Park (my fave), Copper Mountain, Eldora (the Nederland local resort) and six days at Steamboat.  Knowing that ski resorts will start to open in about a month, all the season I’m in full court press to hit the weights and get myself ready.

Downhill  skiing is one of the most fun sports I’ve ever participated in (and you know this, if you’ve been reading this blog or know me personally), but it can also be one of the most painful for the legs, especially in the early season.  When you’re schussing down the slopes, your thighs will burn in the most intense way possible.  And by the end of the first ski day, your legs will feel like jelly.  While there’s nothing really like skiing, doing lots of steep hiking, and lots of training can help ease the transition.  Right now, I’m trying to hit the weights hard, doing lots of squats and lunges, as well as core work to help my body get ready.  And getting in the last of the autumn hikes by doing a few peaks can be helpful as well.

But confession time (here’s the off topic part), I have an ulterior motive that’s driving my training as well.  My friend, Megan and I planned a backpacking trip to the bottom of the Grand Canyon for the beginning of November.  With over 4000 feet of climbing to do to get back out of the canyon with a full backpack on, doing some training now seems like a very good and smart thing.

So when I have those days like today with the rain coming down and am feeling less than motivated to get my butt in gear and do some training, I come back to this.  Just how much do I want to suffer in November?  Whether it’s hiking up from the Grand Canyon or schussing down the ski slopes, it seems it’s better to suffer a little every day now in hopes that next month is just a bit more enjoyable.

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