Get ready for ski season

Strengthen your small stabilizing muscles

We know you train the big guns: quads,  hamstrings, abs, lower back. But while those large muscle groups do the bulk of the work on the hill, they don’t operate alone. They need support from smaller stabilizing muscles to do their jobs right.

http://www.skinet.com/ski/fitness/workouts/2009/09/fitness-supporting-cast?page=0%2C0

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What's Your Ideal Weight? Find out at Runner's World.com

What's Your Ideal Weight? Find out at Runner's World.com

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ski girl hits the trail

Run more, walk less.  That is my plan for tomorrow's Timberline 1/2 Marathon.  Somehow in my last 1/2 marathon, Haulin' Aspen, I became a walker.  I was stunned. I don't even walk on my training runs.  I may run slow, really slow, but I keep running.  A combination of mountain town elevation, improper nutrition, and the flu lead to a lot of walking.  It was one tough run! 

Today I'm well rested, eating great, and most importantly feeling good.  I'm watching the Ironman China for inspiration.  And also to remind myself that however tough the run feels tomorrow at least I didn't swim and bike first.  I'll let you know how it goes.

xoxo,
ski girl
p.s.  It may not be skiing but at least I'll be on the mountain!!!

ski kitties

Loveland, Breckenridge, and my little ski princess.

I'm sure you've heard of ski bunnies, ski bums, ski girl... well here's something new the ski kitty. We have two new additions to our skiing family, Loveland and Breckenridge. Notice anything interesting about their names? I swear I didn't name them. They came pre-named and the ski princess opted not to change their names.

We adopted them from Cat Adoption Team. They were lovingly raised by a foster mom with the rest of their litter Aspen, Arapahoe, and Telluride. Someone has spent a little time skiing Colorado.

This winter when I'm using my Epic Pass to ski Colorado I can pick up logo gear for my little ski kitties. They will be the coolest cats in town with their very own Breckenridge stickers and Loveland t-shirts. How about a personalized shot glass? What other kitty has that?

xoxo,
ski girl

trail running Hawaiian Style

I'm having some serious post Hawaiian vacation withdrawals so I thought a photo retrospective of my favorite beach run would help. Hope it makes you as happy as it made me. I woke up each morning at 6, that's 9 in Portland (I was on vacation!). I'd head outside and eat my Mother's Peanut Butter Bumpers with Vanilla Soy Milk while watching the waves roll in and the sky light up as the sun made it's way over Mauna Kea. A little morning stretch and then off I'd go on my favorite part of my day, my run. I'm running the Timberline 1/2 Marathon this weekend so I had to keep the miles up vacation or no vacation.

End of Puako Road, Paniau Bay

Holoholokai Beach Park & Puako Petroglyph Preserve

Beach at the The Fairmont Orchid

Trail to the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows

Beach at the Mauna Lani.

Kalahuipua'a Fish Ponds

Eva Parker Woods Cottage

Mauna Lani Beach Club

Rough trails!

Watch out for the golfers!

The King's Trail

Near The Fairmont Orchid entrance. The bellmen graciously hand out bottled water

and a towel under the assumption that you are a guest. I stopped there daily.

The road to the Puako Petroglyphs

Back at the Beach Park

The path back to Puako!

Home again for a little oceanside circuit training in the backyard.

I will dream about this run as Portland rains begin to fall. I can't wait to go back! Spring break? Wait shouldn't I be making ski vacation plans?!

xoxo,

ski girl

p.s. Running on sand, lava, and other varied terrain is a great way to get those ski muscles working! Just watch your step and enjoy the gorgeous view.

Relaxing in the backyard. Puako, Big Island, Hawaii