Two things I really missed about Colorado – Snow and being physically fit.  So, I was quite excited to go snowboarding.  I’m not sure mother nature is as excited about me going snowboarding.

My first attempt involved me driving up into the mountains in a white out blizzard.  I got to the tunnel and it was closed.  This is not abnormal.  They often shut it to let hazardous materials trucks through when the road around it closed.  Sometimes they close it when the roads are bad to clear the road or clear accidents.  So, I waited patiently.  I always have a book with me for situations like this.  Two hours later, the tunnel was still closed.  I turned around and went back down through the blizzard to go home.  Later I found out the ski resort I was going to was closed at 1:00 because of avalanche danger on the roads.  Welcome back to Colorado!

Then the next time I went snowboarding, I got up late because I was going by myself.  I got to the resort and there was a line of cars for the parking lot.  A parking guy came up and told me the lot was full and only cars with 3 or more people could wait for the lot.  So, people without friends are no longer allowed to ski.  I found a spot along the road quite a distance from the resort and managed to catch a ride in the back of a truck up to the resort.  I was determined to get that board on the snow.  Wow!  There is no oxygen up there.  I have also gained weight and every time I bend over to buckle my bindings, my stomach gets in the way.  Then I’m bent over trying to get these things buckled which is actually more work than I remember.  My belly is pushing on my lungs so I can’t get a full breath.  Add that there is a severe oxygen deficiency and I was exhausted before even getting on the lift.  I managed to do three runs before my legs started complaining.  At that point I decided that I could say I went snowboarding, but I couldn’t say I was enjoying it.  It took me a half hour to walk back to my car.  As far as snowboarding went, it was a disappointing day.  As far as getting a good workout in, it was a fabulous day.

Now, I’ve decided that snowboarding needs to happen during the week because the weekends are too crowded for single people.  The next time I went I made the goal of doing at least 4 runs.  I got there and it was -3 degrees and dropping.  I met a friend which was nice.  I did manage to do 4 runs, but was so cold by the end of the 4^th run that I couldn’t stand it anymore.  And of course, it’s still painful, work with no oxygen.

The next time, I got up there late, but managed to get 4.5 runs in so I count that an improvement.  I would have done more, but the resort closed.  This time I took advil before which helped a little with the screaming legs.  I hope there’s a steep recovery somewhere in the near future.

Interesting question on the extra weight I’m carrying.  Some of it has to do with being weak and out of shape.  Some of it has to do with Valentines Day candy that mysteriously jumped into my shopping cart.  But, all of last year I was out of shape and didn’t have the extra weight and I ate sugar as if it was one of the major food groups.  I’m back in the US for less than a month and I put on so much weight that my skin hurts.  I am wondering if all the conspiracy theory drama about the horrible toxins in our food is actually part of this.  Is my body freaking out from the change in food?

(c) All rights reserved Kimberly Fiore