Rave: Skiing and Snowboarding

 I went skiing several times as a teenager and enjoyed it a great deal.  I was never an expert but did progress to Intermediate trails.  Now, after a long hiatus, I am interested in getting back in the game.  They say that it's like riding a bike.  You never forget how to do it but you may be a bit rusty for the first few hours.  I'll probably have to stick to the Beginner area for the first day.  

 Why did I lose interest?  I sustained a minor knee injury after falling on an icy patch.  It was late in the ski season so it was probably a mistake to go out there on that day anyway.  It proved to be nothing more than a bruise and it only cost me a couple practices during track season and a lecture from my coach about avoiding dangerous activities.  My college roommate was a pretty avid snowboarder but I never joined him on his trips.  Now, I wish that I had done so.  I was afraid of getting hurt and that fear was not overblown as my ankle was quite shaky at the time and I did not want to risk further damage.  I've since gotten a shot of prolotherapy, which was probably helpful.  As an adult, I never thought about going because I did not want to miss my weekend long run.  Now that it is unlikely that I will get back into serious running, I need something to fill the void.  

Believe it or not, there is one ski resort in Alabama, located between Fort Payne and Chattanooga so that can easily be done in a day trip.  The resort is nothing special and probably won't open until December because of the lower elevation but it could be perfect for my first day back.  The best resorts east of the Mississippi are located in western North Carolina, roughly 5.5-6.5 hours from Birmingham.  Too far for a day trip but certainly doable on a weekend trip.  Even an overnight trip is possible if I drive part way on Friday night.  I gain an hour on the way back.  Ski season typically runs from mid-late November through at least the middle of March.  

I recently saw a YouTube video about a man from Los Angeles who went skiing in the morning then surfing in the afternoon and evening.  That's DEFINITELY something that I would do.  There is a pretty good ski resort in Maggie Valley, North Carolina just outside of Asheville.  From there, I could hop on I-26 and it is only 4 hours and 15 minutes to the South Carolina coast in Charleston.  That's a bit too far for a same day trip but it can certainly be done on back to back days.  After I finish my ski session, I can drive to Greenville or preferably Columbia.  Then, it's not far to Chuck Town from there.  Water temp in Charleston never drops below 60F and in November, it may be closer to 70.  Still, I'd need at least a thin wetsuit for protection from the cold.  Santa Cruz, California is a very popular surf spot and water temps there never make it much above 60 even in the summer.  I've considered an epic California road trip that would include skiing in Lake Tahoe, Pacific Coast HWY and surfing in Malibu or Santa Monica.  

Any chance to meet some people this way?  YES.  There is a ski club in Birmingham.  Birmingham Ski Club  It looks like they have social activities and group trips as well.  Some of the trips that have been discussed include not only the Western US but South America, Austria and Switzerland.  That would be awesome!  Both Innsbruck, Austria and Grindelwald, Switzerland are on my bucket list.  I did come to one of their dinners and unfortunately, it was an older crowd but yes, there are people my age in the club.  Learning to snowboard?  Sure, I'm up for it.  Supposedly, it is harder to learn than skiing but "easier to master."

Possible Future Trips:

North Carolina can easily be done.  Breckinridge, Colorado is less than 2 hours from Denver, which is accessible on a direct flight.  Of course, there is Vail and Aspen as well.  Utah and Taos, New Mexico could be fun as well.  The one that I'd enjoy the most however appears to be Lake Tahoe.  I'll be riding down the slopes with stunning views of surrounding mountains AND the lake.

Training 8/29-9/6

 Here's where I stand:

My best hope for recovery is Glutathione plus TRS detox spray.  The only things that I cannot tolerate now are caffeine and probiotics.  The latter does make sense because probiotics reduce sulfur, which is a key component in Glutathione and a powerful cleaner of toxins.  The two products must be taken together.  Without either of them, I am flat out awful.  TRS alone is helpful but not nearly enough.  Glutathione alone is pretty much worthless as is Taurine.  Taurine with TRS is better than nothing but not nearly enough.  Extra Glutathione doesn't make much difference but extra TRS does.  Problem is that I will go broke if I have to take 20 sprays per day (10 morning/10 afternoon).  It would cost me nearly $300 per month.  I've got to limit it to 10 sprays with the exception of race or hard workout days.  The Crazy Horse Half Marathon in South Dakota is apparently ON for October 4 so I've got a little over a month to train.  If I can avoid a relapse, I may manage a sub-2 on a downhill course.  Supposedly, Lead is the last toxin to get out because it is stored deep in the bones rather than in organs.  I can only hope that is what I have been eliminating because it would explain a lot.

8/29- Lakeshore 3 in 30:45 (10:15 pace).  OUCH.  Ran it in the rain and did have a little bit left at the end but not good by any stretch.  Got home and found that extra TRS made a big difference.  Dropped from 78 to 70 on a half lap at Montreat (MINUS 48/mile)  Again, I can't afford to do this every day.  I just have to hope for slow and steady progress.  Figure that I would have been in the low-mid 9s on the full dose.  Perhaps better because effects are greater at longer distances.

Distance=3.5

8/30- Hoped to do at least 6.5 on Lakeshore and it was an abject failure.  Had to quit after just a half mile in 6:20 (12:40 pace) and it was getting slower every step.  No idea!  If this had been race day, there's no way I beat the time limit.

PM- A lot better.  Another half mile this time at Montreat in the rain.  Time was down to 4:48 (9:36 pace) then added a cool.

Distance=1.5

8/31- AM- WORSE than ever.  Half mile at Montreat this time over 6:30.

PM- Much better once again in the afternoon.  Down to 4:20 (8:40 pace)

Distance=1.0

9/1- Lakeshore 3 in 30:42 (10:14 pace).  Splits were 10:37-10:15-9:50.  Better than yesterday but I've got a LONG way to go.

Distance=3.0

9/2- Lakeshore 5 in 48:38 (9:44 pace).  Good progress.  30 seconds faster on the pace over 2 extra miles.  I'll take it.  Not a night and day difference but I want to see slow but steady progress.  That's a sign that this is working.

Distance=5.0

9/3- Another very positive step.  4 miles in 35:36 (8:54 pace).  I could have gone 5 again but don't want to ramp things up too quickly.  I bet I'm still sub-9 for 5 miles but just barely.  Lately, I get off to a very slow start but the pace picks up after about a half mile.  I might struggle a bit in the 3rd quarter but still finish strong.  Splits today were 9:21-8:41-8:55-8:39.  This is exactly what I want to see.  A slow but steady climb out of the pit.  It appears that I can handle occasional beer but I won't try caffeine.

PM- Crestline 3 miler in 25:21 (8:27 pace).  Another step forward.  I did struggle pretty hard in Mile 3 this time (8:38) but it was mostly uphill.  I've hacked off more than 5 minutes at this distance in just 2 days.  Could the next 5 be this easy?  NO.

Distance=7.0

9/4- Planned rest day.  I deserve it.  Planning to go long tomorrow.

9/5- 10 miles.  Double out and back on Lakeshore.  Finished in 92:13 (9:13 pace).  Very pleased with this one.  Just 4 ticks shy of sub-2 pace for a half mary and I had something left in the tank too.  First half was 46:50, 2nd half was 45:23 with several miles below 9 minutes.  No crash this week.  Can I keep it going?  We shall see.  I've done well in staying off caffeine.

Distance=10.0

9/6- 3 mile at Railroad Park.  Planned it as a recovery day.  Ran the first half with a group at 8:50 pace then decided to see what I could do on the back half.  Responded well with a 7:44 clip for an overall time of 24:51 (8:17 pace) to keep the streak alive.  Every 3 miler has been faster than the previous one this week.

Distance=3.0

 -29 miles in the last 7 days.  I can handle 30, maybe 35.

Western Gulf Coast Trip Report

 

I left after work on Thursday and drove almost to Gulfport, Mississippi.  After an early wake up, I arrived at the coast just after sunrise and captured a few nice shots. 

In Mississippi, there is zero surf on the mainland because it is blocked by barrier islands and the Mississippi Sound.  The sand is nice and white, but the water does not look too appealing.  It is even less so once you actually get in as it is brown and smells nasty too.   Fortunately, this state does have a beach with rideable waves and nice water too. You just have to take a 1-hour boat ride to Ship Island.  I had read that it rivals the beauty of the Emerald Coast in FLA/ALA but I would not go that far.  Surf was minimal but that was a risk that I was willing to take.  I’d rather have that happen than see the water closed to swimmers due to currents and high surf as has happened in FLA/ALA.  For the record, I’ve gone in on red flag days plenty of times and never felt unsafe.  I would not allow for young children however.  Still, I caught a few small waves on the board, which was enough to check off Mississippi and complete the Gulf states.  For the Atlantic, I only need Maine, New Hampshire, New York and New Jersey.  I’m glad I did this once, but I am unlikely to return.

I left Gulfport around 4 and arrived as planned in Houston around 10:00 that evening.  I had a drink at a local bar but did not meet any characters here.  The next morning, it was a walking tour of Buffalo Bayou Park with nice views of the city skyline. 

I got cleaned up then hit the road about an hour south to Galveston.  Here, the water was clearer than I remembered, and the surf was pretty decent too.  It rained for a few minutes, but I never left the water because there was no thunder or lightning.  Soon, the sun was back out.  I didn’t have too much time here because I had a full day ahead.  

Next stop was the NASA museum, which had some really cool exhibits.  I marveled at the technology available and the power of the human mind.  From there, it was a stop at the San Jacinto monument to Texas Independence from Mexico which featured an observation deck similar to the Washington monument and an interesting film about Texas history. 

I would leave here just before 5 PM and made it to Baton Rouge for the night after a quick stop at Lake Charles.  

Here, even though the bars were closed, I did meet a couple characters.  One was a drunk girl who flirted with me a bit.  She didn’t believe that my teeth are real and repeatedly asked how much I paid for them.  The next morning, I did a walking tour that included the Mississippi River, State Capitol and a Greenway park. 

My last destination before home was Dauphin Island, Alabama.  I was worried that the surf would be too rough because of the approaching hurricane but it was perfect.  Plenty of long rides to the shore.  Several head shots but no knock downs.  Just an hour or so east, Pensacola was closed.  Next time, Dauphin Island is a realistic option.  The beach is not nearly as nice but to me, the water being open is a lot more important. 

Training 8/3-8/9

8/3- Just a junk run.  Hurting after the trip but that's to be expected.  It's officially confirmed that the best course of action is 1 Glutathione and 1 Probiotic pill.  How long will it last?
Distance=1.0

8/4- AM- Gap is closing.  It is down to 72 per mile on the half lap loop.  Splits were 94/82.  That's bad but I wasn't putting much effort into it.

PM- Terrible at Crestline.  1.5 miles in 15:30 (10:20 pace).  It got worse as the run progressed too.  1st half was 7:18, 2nd half was 8:12.
Distance=2.0

8/5- 1 mile in 12:14.  I wasn't expecting to set the world on fire but I did expect an incremental improvement over yesterday.  Instead, I was much worse.  The culprit was Probiotics.  WHAT THE HELL!  As recently as 2 days ago, I couldn't get along without that stuff.  Now, I can't tolerate it yet again.  One way or the other, I need stability.  If I need probiotics AND sulfur, fine.  Sulfur without probiotics?  That's fine too.  STOP IT WITH THIS BACK AND FORTH STUFF!  This is exactly why I can't date anybody. 

PM- In what was absolutely no surprise, I got better with more sulfur and no probiotics.  Opener in 3:40.  3:18 with Taurine.  3:00 with Glutathione.
Distance=2.0

8/6-AM Got the incremental improvement today.  3 miles on Lakeshore in 31:13 (10:24 pace).  Tripled the distance and improved the pace by nearly 2 minutes.  I'll take it.  If weather permits, I'll run this evening too and will probably break 30.

PM- 3 miles on Crestline in 27:44 (9:15 pace).  Another big improvement.  MINUS 69.  The gains won't be this drastic going forward but I'll take the incremental gains.  1st half was 14:08, 2nd half in 13:36 so I nearly dipped below 9 on the back half.

Distance=6.0

Collapsed again.  Probiotics are the culprit.  I'm off those suckers for good now.

Charleston and Savannah Road trip

It’s slightly less than 7 hours from Birmingham to Charleston but you lose an hour going east.  I “worked” a full day on Thursday, stayed home that night then hit the road early on Friday.  The route was I-20 to Augusta then I decided to take the back roads and skirt past Columbia via US-278.   The distance was shorter, but it may have taken slightly longer due to occasional small towns.  I still enjoyed it as the scenery was very nice.  As planned, I arrived in town by late afternoon to find a cloudless sky with temps in the low 90s. 

My walking tour included the Historic District through King, Market and Meeting Street.  I stopped at the Marion Park then went down to the harbor just before sunset.  Dinner was a high priced but tasty burger at a fairly high-end restaurant bar.  You’ll find that just about every street is lined with palmetto trees with several historic churches and cathedrals.  There is some Spanish moss but not nearly as much as in Savannah.  The next morning, I went for a junk run at the harbor to Battery Park and its military monuments. 

After getting cleaned up, it was just a 15-minute drive to Folly Beach.  I normally prefer Isle of Palms but heard about parking restrictions plus rumor has it that the surf is usually better at Folly.  If anything, the surf may have been a little too rough.  The waves broke too deep, and those rides were bumpy too.  However, if you stayed a little closer to the shore, you could still catch some long and epic rides all the way to the sand.  If you prefer white sand and clear water, stick to the Gulf Coast.  For more consistent surf and longer rides on the board, go with the Atlantic coast.  Since I gain an hour on the way back, it may be possible to do this on an overnight trip in the future.  Nah, I’d probably need 2 days.  

At any rate, I had to cut this session a little shorter than I would have liked in order to make it to Savannah at a decent hour.  It was a surprisingly boring 2.5 hour drive south on US-17.  Not much there in terms of scenery but I made it before dinner time.  This time, I splurged a bit with a Holiday Inn hotel on Bay St. just above the river.  My evening consisted of a full tour of River Street, where I took advantage of the open alcohol rule.  I was up early the next morning for walk through the historic district from Bay St down Lincoln to Forsyth Park then Bush Street back up.  I was treated to beautiful live oak trees and yes, plenty of palms as well.  The question as to which is my favorite of the 2 cities remains unanswered.

Again, I had to leave a little earlier than I wanted in order to steal a few more hours on the coast.  This time, the destination was Tybee Island.  Georgia’s beaches are not as nice as Florida or South Carolina but still worth a stop and usually a bit less crowded too.  Despite the approaching Tropical Storm, the waves were a little calmer here today.  Still, I caught many awesome rides all the way to the sand.  From there, it was a manageable 6.5 hours back home.  When I left around 3:30, there was no sign of a coming storm.  It was still mostly sunny with relatively calm winds.  I’m sure that I’ll do this trip again someday with more time in each city.