I did it!

[MaineSkiLady]

Didn't really want to toot my horn, but hey----I don't have anyone to share this joy with other than DH, a few other skiers, and YOU DIVAS !

This is my 7th season skiing here at Sugarloaf (although I've been skiing for much longer)---and on Tuesday, I finally did the whole mountain, top to bottom (summit often is closed)...NON-STOP - upper stuff is double black (Gondi Line extension to Upper Gondi Line) - and I've always had to stop and pant at least at one cross-cut. Not this time. And then it opened up to cruising territory, so I just kept going.

The best part? I did it 4 times, non-stop!! (2820 vertical rise)
(After that, didn't push my luck with the non-stop stuff )
Okay, conditions were perfect, no excuses there - and temps were downright balmy (inversion meant it was actually warmer at the summit), so everything was in my favor here.

My fitness training has paid off well, in addition to the incredible early ski conditions here in northern New England.

So----to those of you worried that maybe you'll be peaking sometime in your 30's - or 40's - I'm here to say NOOO WAY!! I think I might be having my strongest season ever.
At 58!

 

[geargrrl]

you go, grrl!!!

 

[num]

Woohoo!

 

[Sheena]

WOO HOO!!! :cheer: :cheer:

 

[ski diva]

You have every reason to be proud of yourself!!!!

Good going!!!!

 

[ski now work later]

Awesome!

 

[SueNJ]

I read your post twice, just to make sure I digested it all! Congrats--what an accomplishment! :cheer:

I'll hit 7 years of skiing at 55, and right now, I can't imagine myself doing what you did, and 4 times in a row, no less.

What kind of fitness training do you do?

 

[MaineSkiLady]

II'll hit 7 years of skiing at 55, and right now, I can't imagine myself doing what you did, and 4 times in a row, no less.

You'll get there!! Takes me awhile EVERY season to really get my skiing endurance settled in, believe me.

Fitness center I belong to offers classes in the Les Mills Body Training system (good website, google it). There are quite a few different types of classes, of which 4 are currently offered locally: Body Step (step aerobics), Body Pump (free weights), Body Combat (aerobic/upper body), and Body Flow (tai chi/yoga/pilates). I currently do 3 of the 4, just don't have enough time to fit in the 4th (Combat) but should try it. So I'm there at least one hour a day, unless I'm spent from skiing. After my glorious, triumphant endurance day of skiing, I actually had enough residual adrenaline energy to do the weights class -- which I have to go get dressed for again today.

However, I will say that if you are remotely urban in locale, one of the most fun workouts I ever did - and enormously leg beneficial - was Jazzercise. It isn't offered anywhere up here. I did it for years in my previous location. What a blast.

 

[SueNJ]

MSL, thanks for the info. Members of a fitness forum I belong to rave about Bodypump. I know there's a gym locally that offers some, if not all of the Les Mills program classes, and it's on the way home from work for me. I'll have to find out what the gym membership costs--I've got a membership at the fitness center at work that costs me $10 per month, but they don't offer Les Mills classes.

There is a Jazzercize center in the next town over. I've always been curious about it. Will look into that one as well!

Again, congratulations on your achievement!

 

[SkiNurse]

I agree. I worked with a personal trainer just prior to the ski season and into a couple of weeks of it.

Wow. My stamina and strength is so much better! Runs that I have always had to stop at least once, if not more, I can do the entire things without stopping.

But, ski season came and I had to break up with him. I told him I had other priorities during the winter, but I'll be back to see him in late April!

 

[Lori_K]

Woot! Great accomplishmet, MSL. Gonna go for 5x next week?!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

Thanks LK! I'm gonna try - and I hope this wasn't an altogether a serendipitous event.

SueNJ, shoot me a pm if you want specifics on the fundamental differences between the 2 programs, Les Mills vs. Jazzercise, in terms of the workouts. Would be too long-winded of a response to post here (unless anyone else is interested).

 

[Bravosarah]

Hey that's great MSL! Gives me hope!

 

[haylmom]

Awesome MSL!!!! Keep up the great work!!

 

[SnowHot]

What a great testement to fitness and, of course, skiing!

Way to go!

 

[ski chick]

I'm not worthy.

 

[ski chick]

You deserve to put this smiley in your post:



Absolutely! MSL ROCKS!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I'm not worthy.

Hey, come on - you are, totally - that's why we're SKI DIVAS

 

[Ski Spirit]

Awesome accomplishment!!! Thanks for sharing it. I loved hearing that you're 58 and it's your best season ever! Personally, I would think doing that run non-stop once would be impressive - but 4 times! You are in very good shape!!! Thanks for the example!!

 

[NannyMin]

Bravo MSL!!!