Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

Paul--I always struggle with the run/ski issue in the winter. Skiing is a great way to spend time outside with my friends who are not runners and there really is nothing like spending a morning in fresh powder. I find it impossible not to smile on those days. Running is a much more time-efficient activity and that seems to get more and more important every season, unfortunately. Hopefully I can strike a better balance this year; and I hope you can reach your goal of getting out a couple of times a week.

Do you have any x-country skiing opportunities in Utah? In my experience, downhill skiing is not much of a cross training, but x-country is awesome! You can go 4-5 hours at a good pace and not be terribly beat up due to no impact. Granted, it's not as exciting as downhill, but I love it - it's something I grew up with in Russia.

Chad -- agreed 100% with your comments. Skiing expands my network of friends, and although it's hard to get out of bed at 5AM and start hiking in the dark, I'm always invigorated and smiling afterwards (and during).

Maria -- Yes, there are many many xc ski opportunities in Utah. After all, we hosted the 2002 winter olympics! I have a cheap xc setup, and I get out about a half-dozen times over a winter; not often, but it is enjoyable. My HR is usually where it is during a hard run, and I know it to be one of the best forms of cross training out there. My main form of skiing is actually telemark, not downhill. Think of telemark as a cross between nordic (XC) and alpine (downhill) skiing. I actually don't really know how to downhill ski, so can't really say what kind of workout it gives. Telemark skiing, though, will absolutely blast your legs. If skiing in the backcountry (touring), a tele skiier will typically climb several thousand vertical feet (and then descend, the fun part). You can actually hike up very steep hills in skiis if you have the right gear and technique. It's quite a workout, and will crank my HR up to LT levels. Doing downhill runs in telemark gear is an equally hard workout. The telemark turn is like doing lunges (lunge, turn, repeat), so it's like doing lunges in the gym for minutes at time, wearing a backpack. I like to ride the chairs at resorts too, and that will just blast my quads, because there is so little time to rest between runs. I can usually only go a half day before I am exhausted.

Ah, now I see! Telemarking is quite different from downhill. I haven't actually done it, but I've seen it done at resorts (only the downhill part), I haven't seen people climb! It looks pretty hard, as the turns are done pretty low to the ground, kind of in a lunge position you're describing, and because the heel isn't attached to the ski, I would think it places different loads on your muscles. Interestingly, downhill skiing kills my quads too, but it's not good aerobic workout - you finish the run and stop to go up in a chair, and I usually have to stop in the middle of the run too, because my quads are burning so much. But I always thought, it's because I only ski once or twice a season, and then it's a shock to my legs! Telemarking sounds like fun, though!