Winter Fun & of course, Training!!!

Life just seems to get busier and busier. Last fall, as we closed up our little camp on the lake, I remember thinking, "Ok, things will be quieter for a while now." Summer is just so busy in our home. We are gone most weekends to camp or races which results in a never ending cycle of packing and unpacking.
It's a blast. But secretly, I would crave an occasional quiet weekend.

Well, Fall and then Winter arrived but quiet isn't exactly how I'd describe the way things were. So I had to resing to the fact that hey, who wants quiet? After all, that might end up being boring!

We got through the giant Christmas Holiday, celebrated New Years in the best way we can remember in years, got through the weeks of turning 41 and then, we realized how good the snow was in Maine.

That's right, this ski family hit the slopes in January and we never looked back. Phew!! We've skied so much and so hard this winter!! It's been great.
It's Amazing how far we've come in just a few years. My three little boys were all put on downhill skis at age two. I was incredulous when my husband and his cousin declared it was time to get our first two guys out there 9 years ago. Mark and Paul literally hauled Cam and Jack up and down and up and down a small trail, wearing only turtlenecks because they were working so hard, until they could stand alone.
Two years later, I would stand outside with the baby and video tape the now 4 y.o. Cam skiing independently with Daddy. Two years after that, well, you get the drift. Eventually, all 3 were out there. It was Hard! They were little and we had to be Careful!! (Mom talking here... it was kind of nerve wracking with my babies out there at first.) Nick was on a harness (imagine straps around his body with longer straps that went back to Mark. Mark skied behind him to keep him in control. Nick Hated the harness and when he felt it yanking on him, he'd turn around and growl for Mark to let go. He was out of that thing very quickly. But we'd ski slowly and constantly holler out, "slow down! Turn! Let's see good turns!" to keep them safe and in check out there.
It was fun. But it was not easy and it took a lot of patience.
Flash Forward to 2011--
My kids have turned into bona fide ski bums and we're having a blast!!
I think we've skied nearly every weekend. Two weeks ago, we stayed on the mountain (we live only 30 min away so we usually go back forth each day) with my family (including my brother and parents) and another family that we ski with each weekend. Between us, there were 8 kids and 8 adults. It was a total blast. We skied, swam in the warm outdoor pool, lounged in the outdoor hot tub w/ our drinks, and stayed up late having fun with great people.
This past weekend, my baby boy turned 7. I won't get started on how that makes me feel. He's the best little kid around and I'm incredibly blessed that he's 100% healthy. He was born way too early and under scary conditions so each year when his birthday rolls around, I feel particularly lucky.
We were at the mountain for his birthday and met up with our friends. The boys have been anxious to ski a super hard trail that runs under one of the lifts this season. It's called Agony. For some reason, I agreed to it the other day. Below is a picture of Nick post-Agony. He made it look easy. We've come a long way in 7 years. It was fun to see.
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I have more ski stories right now than I do training stories. I guess that makes for a boring Triathlon -themed blog. That's why I've been absent for a while.

Sure, I'm training. But my weeks in between skiing have been so busy with life that I haven't found time to sit and write about it.

I have several things on my mind right now. Things that are juicy and interesting. I just can't write about them. Sorry. I must put the filter on. I'm not totallly boring... I just can't write about that stuff!

A few weeks ago I was having a hard time keeping up with things. Mostly, my quads. They were trashed. Day after day. I was super tired and my legs never recovered between workouts. We tweaked a few things but after talking it out with a few experts, we determined that it was in fact, mostly the skiing.
Hmmm....
OH well. I can't change that!! It's who we are in the winter so I have to figure out how to make it all work together. My quads were just never getting a break. It's better now. I think because my workouts have changed just enough. And, ski season is winding down. I'm sad to say.

I also found out that my Ferritin levels are pretty low. Low for 'normal' people but apparently fairly average for women who are endurance athletes. The average range is 10-232. MIne is 21. What is UP with that range?? It's Huge!? I don't understand that. But again, after checking in with people who know these things, I'm only on the low ave for someone like me. That is, a woman over 40 who runs a ton.

That said, I am no longer trying to cut meat out of my diet. I am making sure my multi-vitamin has iron in it. I take my VitC and Iron tabs separately at night too. We'll see how it is when I get retested next month.

Ironman Lake Placid is only 4+ months away. Time flies. That's all I can say. It's cliche but it's true. Four months. Instead of the total Fear I felt at this point two years ago, now I feel serious drive. I am fired up for that race. THat's right, now it's a race. I've only done two of them, but I feel ready to attack that bad boy.

I'll leave you with a few pictures from the last couple weeks. I'll dig up a more interesting post asap.

Oh and I forgot! That ABC thing is at the bottom of this too. This post is full of boring randomness!!!

Our ski gang

Heading up to Jordan Grand Hotel

Cameron and Mom before his debut on the trumpet at his concert

Tommy and Nick watching Cameron's Band Concert

overlooking Barker Mtn at Sunday River

Nick's 7th birthday

Nick after skiing effortlessly down a double black diamond trail - called Agony
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ABC Quiz


Age: 41 How did that happen ?
Bed size: King.
Chore you dislike: emptying the dishwasher and putting away laundry. Two things that never end.
Dogs: No dogs here. We aren't home enough on weekends to take care of them.
Essential start to your day: coffee, hugs from boys, refill the coffee
Favorite color: cranberry red, slate blue

Gold or silver: I like both.

Height: 5'5"

Instruments you play: I played the trumpet in 5-6th grade. I have always wanted to play the drums.
Job title: Mother. Coach. Speech-Language Pathologist

Kids: three boys. Ages 11, 9 and 7.

Live: in the mountains of Western Maine. Someday, I hope to be back to the ocean.

Mom's name: Sherron

Nickname: Ange ( I really don't like being called Angie. Sounds like a barbie doll to me and I am not a barbie doll and I never even played with barbie dolls.)

Overnight hospital stay: The Birth of 3 babies, to sit by my husband's side when he was sick and to sit by Cam and Nick's sides in the NICU when they were born.
Pet peeves: when people don't RSVP, making small talk with people to be friendly and having them ignore you.
Quote from a movie: I remember a lot of random details. Movie quotes aaren't one of them. I've got nothin'...
Righty or lefty: Righty
Siblings: I have 1 younger brother. Jeff.
Time you wake up: I wish it was the same every day! 4:30 a.m. three days/week, 6:30 on the other week days and Hopefully a bit later on the weekends.
Underwear: I'm very picky about what kind I wear.
Vegetables you don't like: Carrots
What makes you run late: Getting three kids ready before myself!
Xrays you had: my feet, shoulder, head, teeth
Yummy food you make: shrimp over pasta, I love my salads.. such talent
Zoo animal favorites: I can't think of any I don't like.