January 15, 2010

Hi Friends and Ski Fans,

A Chinook is raging here in Canmore... warm temperatures make for fun fast skiing on the man made snow but do some damage to the trails that are only thinly covered with the natural stuff. I gotta say, I love the feeling of spring skiing even if it's January.

Here are two Alberta folk tales about Chinooks:
A man was riding his sleigh to town when a chinook overcame him. He kept pace with the wind, and while the horses were running belly deep in snow, the sleigh rails were running in mud up to the buckboard. The cow that was tied behind was kicking up dust.
A man and his wife were out during a chinook. The wife was heavily dressed and the man was wearing summer clothes. When the couple had returned home, the man had frostbite, and the woman had heatstroke.

In a place like Canmore with tons of trails deeply covered in man-made snow it makes for fun, warm training that is super enjoyable.

Following Christmas I did big hours for a volume training week and am on now my second week of harder faster work, taking advantage of my time here at home on our very own World Cup course where the races will take place February 5th and 6th. I can't stress enough that if you don't live too far away that coming to these races is a great alternative to going to the Olympics. Same racers as the Olympics doing the same racing action but without all the transportation/accomodation/ticket hassle... what's not to love! For more info see here!

I've been doing lots of training with my friend Sarah Daitch who is also a top shelf Fast and Female ambassador. Here's a photo of us testing out some new Lululemon Cheer Gear on a recent jog by the Bow River. Fast and Female Instructors will be sporting the same stlye hoodie but in pink at all the events over the next few months. Thank you to this great Canadian company!

And in other great news, my boyfriend Devon is back home after wrapping up his two month racing trip with an impressive 16th place in the Tour de Ski. As his hairdresser I am seeing that the consequences of our separation the past few weeks have allowed an unruly mullet to flourish. Get me some scissors!