Ski Trip!

Is downhill skiing a good form of cross-training?   Hal Higdon mentions that he preferred cross-country as he feared injuries from downhill skiing.  He later tried downhill skiing again and decided that it is a safe form of cross training.

Downhill skiing does use different muscles than running.  You spend much of the day in a squat position and I've already mentioned that squatting is one of the forms of strengthening that I do regularly.

Since 2008 Alek and I have taken several ski trips each winter (either long trips or weekends) but this year we haven't had the chance because of my busy race schedule.  We finally got up to Killington for a couple of days and had a great time.

Finally made it to the bottom of a long mostly flat run!

Posing at the top before we head down.

I'm not a great skier.   Normally I'm ok on blue trails but during the first trip of the season it always takes some time for me to work up the confidence to go fast.  I'm most comfortable on greens that aren't too flat.

Running has helped my skiing.  I was able to ski two days in a row (1 hour on day one and 3 hours on day 2) without any muscle pain!  In previous years I've been so sore after one day of skiing that I didn't want to go a second day.  

There was snow in Vermont, so the slopes had lots of fresh powder, but the temperature was 30+ for both days.  That was a relief to me, since I only had wind pants on over my jeans (I haven't bothered to buy new ski pants since losing weight).  

Alek and I finished our ski trip (2 days and 13 miles of skiing) in the best way possible.  A trip to the Waffle Cabin near the base lodge.  Their sugary chocolate coated waffles are one of the best parts of any ski trip!

Alek with his waffle!