Spin class at Twist/XC skiing/LASIK update

Well, spin class started last week, and I have to tell you, these are some of the hardest spin classes I have ever done. The intervals we do are brutal, they leave you breathless, and some of them actually almost register on the puke factor scale. You know that feeling you get at the end of a sprint, like the finish of a crit. When the world turns dark and there is nothing but pain. Yep, it is possible to get that in a spin class. It's funny, the instructor knows I can ride, so she's constantly telling me to up the tension on the bike. Even when I have it cranked, it's not enough (so she says).

The hardest part of this class though is AFTER we get off the bike. Then we do 20min of bosu core work. I have zero core strength - so I have found. The instructor is really good, she helps to modify the exercises for me (yeah, it's that bad), and she is very encouraging. Even after a few sessions I can already do things I couldn't in the first class, so I guess that's progress. I have 10 more sessions, hopefully after that once I get back out on the road, I will not feel like I have little to no leg strength.

Last night, P and I went up to Cypress Mountain to get in some xc skiing. It's been about 3 years since I'd been skiing, so I was expecting it to be a world of hurt. It wasn't for me, but it was for P. He badly bruised his right torso up a year and a half ago from a bad mountain bike crash, and apparently the heavy breathing plus the upper body motion sent his right side into muscle spasms. He couldn't breathe, that's how bad it got. So we called it a short evening, and he went to the Dr. today. Anti-inflammatories, heat and rest for three days, see how it goes. Hopefully it's just cranky intercostals that just need to be loosened up and given a chance to heal. Fingers crossed that's all it is. I would hate to find out later one that it's something like a pesky rib that never healed right... As a consolation (I guess) I felt pretty good, smooth, stable, strong. I didn't get as winded as I used to, and my legs were fine. My upper body is a bit tight as a result of the poling, I could really feel it in my shoulders, and a bit between my shoulder blades. I am using P's heatpad right now ;-).

LASIK update: my eyes are fine says the eye doc. 20-20 vision. They get a bit dry, especially when watching tv or staring at the computer screen for too long. But overall, everything is good and I am so happy I did the surgery.

So First Half Half Marathon is Feb 10th. Then UBC Sprint Tri (800m/23k/6.6K) on March 9th. Then Tri camp in SoCal April 19-20. Should be good.

Ciao,
AP