Finally.......

There here......got them yesterday....now, I just gotta skate in them. I love 'em!! Last night I soaked my socks, well, my daugther did cause she got a kick out of that....wetting perfectly dry clothes.....wet, warm socks into the skate and tie them real tight, more than you would normally, so at least the skate and leather start to take on the form of the foot. Then, 20 minutes by the fireplace, cause it was freakin' freezing yesterday, so the skates can get warm and humid since they were wet by the socks, and once more, tight as heck for another 20 minutes and walking in them around the house....thank God for skate gaurds or I would never hear the end of it from you know who......
Tonight, one more time with the wet socks and then I will be ready to try these fast rockets.
I am really frustrated that I lost a half season already waiting for these skates and then also waiting for snow and cold weather for ice so I can skate. I have booked a trip to Calgary for February so I can skate on the oval again....this time I will bring the camera.......I will keep you all posted.
In the meantime, we have been keeping ourselves busy with some cross country skiing....my daughter has done it twice now and she is a pro.
Training is going well and soon I will be starting some serious UFC style conditioning with a couple of friends from work..........at least I know I have the energy to expend that's for sure.
Stay tuned for stories of bumps and bruises....
Peace.

Cross country anyone.......

So we had a nice snowfall, and today was mild after a couple of days of -25 degrees weather and 24hrs usage of both fireplaces so after shovelling the driveway...again....we decided to try out or brand new cross country skis for the first time right in our own backyard......that's the beauty of living where I'm living.....lots of space.
So Meli and I strap them on and off we go.....I carve a figure 8 in the backyard and she follows in my tracks.....she did amazing!! I tell you folks, whatever she choses to do as sport, she will be darn good at it....she's a natural!!
So tomorrow, no school and no work so we will try to go on a true trail for some good solid skiing.
I will be in Calgary a couple of times in February so I will be skating at the oval there and looking forward to that. So far here, apart from the weighted sled pulling, I have been skating with my ankle weights and playing hockey with my ankle weights....the only time I don't use them is when I play in league games but otherwise, I use them all the time. Five pounds a leg sure feels like 10 pounds a leg after 5 minutes.....plus I don't have to sharpen my skates cause with the weight, my blades just dig in the ice heh heh.
Well, off to stain some moulding....a different kind of training.......mental nothingness.......eases the mind.
Peace.

Let it snow, let it snow.......

Well, we had our first real snowfall and it was a doozy, it came down pretty much all day. This gave me a chance to build Mount Meli.....ever since we've lived here, when I shovel the driveway (and it's a long one), I would build a small Mount Meli where my daughter and her friends can slide on but every year, it gets bigger. Yesterday, I shovelled the whole driveway onto Mount Meli and it is definately the biggest Mount Meli to date, and in one snowfall. I usually shovel one half the driveway onto Mount Meli otherwise I'd be shovelling backwards but, I figured that would be my workout......maybe I should call it Mount Love cause it's amazing when you love soemone so much.....what you would do for them....in this case, it is straight up, unfettered, natural love......wouldn't that be amazing if it existed between adults?
Her little school friend and neighbour, Jason, initiated the hill, then stayed over for supper, and then we went skating at their house on their outdoor rink.....old pond hockey. Jim (Jason's Dad) did an excellent job on the rink and for him too, every year the rink gets bigger so more shoveling......and happened to be caught in the pic too is my other neighbour Marc, the friend who helped me with my skeleton sled.
Training has been going well. My training for now consists more of cardio, boxing, light weights with circuit training, hockey and weighted skating, and of course, weighted sled training. The other day, I increased the weight on the sled......first couple of runs was with my daugther only (45lbs), then I added a 25lb plate and my daughter (70lbs) for a couple of more runs and then I added another 25lb plate (95lbs) for a final couple of runs......the last ones were something but this training really works....you sense the power. I also finally ordered my skates from the U.S since the store here was jerking everyone around.....I should have them within 2 weeks.
Well, now we are looking like winter......time to crack out the cross country skis!!
Peace.

What a beautiful day today, I can't believe this is winter.
Well, while I am still waiting for my freakin' speed skates, but I must continue training in the way I know how. I actually went to see if a one size smaller pair of speed skates would fit me and they are not bad so I may just end up buying those.
In the meantime, my training sled is working just fine. A couple of days ago, I slapped on 50lbs of weights and went for 4 100m consistent sprints and 4 30m all out bursts and yes, my tongue was licking some pebbles off the asphalt.
Today, my training partner Melia and I went out for a one mile warm up run (her first ever attempt at that and we only walked twice for one minute each but she did it) and then, her favorite part, she plopped herself on my sled and away we went for 4 100m sprints. I padded up the shoulders of my harness and the leg straps so now it feels nice and snug. The neighbours look at me kind of funny but they are used to me doing stuff like this by now.
Then, cause it's such a beautiful day, I hit the bag for 3 rounds outside like I do in the summer time. Boxing, believe it or not, is such a toning exercise. Helps on speed, co-ordination, and uses all muscle groups.
Exercise in general just revives the body and senses. I always tell people, 'you may be loved by many, but no one can take care of yourself but you'!!
I usually take Sundays off but with alot on my mind lately, training just gives my coco a break........now I have to try and put an office work desk together.....this could be interesting.
Peace.