Earn Your Turns

Skinning up and skiing down

Reflecting

My favorite way to ski is to skin uphill before anyone else has skied that day.  Some resorts allow it, but this is mostly a backcountry activity.  I keep skis on for all but the steepest slopes that require ice tools and crampons because I prefer the feeling of skis when they are even remotely possible to use.  But the best feeling is gliding downhill on a mountain that you conquered without assistance.  Resort skiing is okay but backcountry skiing is far more rewarding.  Skip the chairlift and earn your turns. 

In other winter sports plans, I just scheduled some ice climbing with a friend in the Adirondacks; for world-class ice, this is quite convenient for anyone in New York or Connecticut.  It is somewhat further than the Catskills but totally worth it for more consistent conditions.  There are a number of good guide services; we’re using High Peaks Mountain Guides who have worked with me on mountaineering prep in the past.  For a quick intro to this sport, I recommend Will Gadd’s new series starting with this:

Training

This morning’s white board:

As many rounds as possible within three minutes x 5

• 3 wall walks

• 6 kettlebell deadlifts 140 pounds

• 9 sit-ups

• Rest 1:00 between AMRAPS

Fueling

I get pretty full after five eggs but want more protein for breakfast so drop a sixth in my whey protein shake after CrossFit.  One of the huge benefits of a high protein diet is being totally satiated all morning.  I don’t even think about food after breakfast for many hours.  This satiation is helpful whether, like me, you want to gain weight or if you’re trying to lose weight.  Either way, it is optimal to be in control and the best way to be able to control diet is to start the day with a lot of protein. 

Measuring

Gaining muscle mass is still going slowly; BMI is still stupid.

Planning

My birthday run this Saturday morning:

Closing

Turning 46 on Saturday, I’m grateful to be as healthy as I ever have been in my life.  Everything is working better than years past and months past.  The biggest change is slowly (way too slowly for my taste and expectations) building up muscle mass.  Getting stronger makes everything better.  Even a few months ago doing overhead press, the bar was essentially resting on bones but now rests on shoulder muscles.  Doing a push-up, at the top and bottom of the range my joints would ache from the tug of the motion but now at least some muscle holds everything together.  It is like body armor and it is worth building.