MONDAY
Treadmill 1 hr
Back, hip, and shoulder stretching/rolling

TUESDAY
Warmup
Trap bar dl 225 5x10
*alt band face pulls and pull apart between sets
Circuit:
Football bar inv row 3x10
Physio ball reverse hyper 3x10
Band pushdown 3x10
Football bar curls 3x10
Physio ball crunches 3x10

WENESDAY
1.5 hrs of zip lining/challenge course
Back, hip, and shoulder stretching/rolling
Band face pulls and pull apart 3x10 each
Epsom salt bath

THURSDAY
Back, hip, and shoulder stretching/rolling
Skiing 8 hrs

FRIDAY
Back, hip, and shoulder stretching/rolling
Skiing 8 hrs
1 hr Swedish massage
Jacuzzi, cold plunge, sauna 3x

SATURDAY
Back, hip, and shoulder stretching/rolling

SUNDAY
Warm up
SSB squats 225 5x10
*Seated pulley rows x10 between all sets of squats including warm up sets
Circuit:
Back raise 3x10
Pushups 3x10
V bar curls 3x10
Planks 3x30 seconds

I am definitely finding balance in my life and training. Just a few years ago I would have never imagined going away on a ski trip a month out from a meet. That was the old me. Now, I don’t care about squeezing every ounce out of the bar, but I do want to squeeze every ounce out of life.

It was however fortunate that this trip coincided with a deload week. With my shoulder in disrepair, it forced me to take Friday’s bench off for the mere fact that I wasn’t near a gym. Sometimes things just work out for the best.

For those who keep up with my log, it was this same time last year I nuked my mcl out in Canada. That would not dissuade me from going back. Jess and I headed to Mt Tremblant to test fate again. It was a trying start as we drove through snow and sleet the entire way. Once we got to Tremblant, everything was right in the world. It’s so gorgeous up there. The village is picturesque.

Right after we got out of the car we headed over to a zip lining and challenge course. This was awesome! There were four courses and each progressed in difficulty. The guide told us many would skip the third because of its difficulty. It was the hardest part before the longer zip lines. Jess and I were more than up to the test. It turned out to be a darn good workout.

When we finished up, it was off to the room. It was great. I made sure to book a place with a kitchen so I would not stray too far off course with the 220lb weight class looming. Another nice benefit of our suite was a large tub. After all the activity and the ride we ran out to get some Epsom salts. I tool a nice long soak and felt like a million bucks.

Activity from there only ramped up. We spent the next two days skiing. It was great especially when it was snowing on Thursday. We really love the snow in case you have not noticed. Friday it was pretty damn cold. It showed -5 at the top of the mountain and that was not including the wind chill which was wicked. No fear though, as long as one is properly bundled that temp is no worry. It did freeze my beard though and that feels really weird.

We did figure out how to warm up when getting off the slopes. A popular item we discovered a few years ago when we visited the Hotel De Glace (The Ice Hotel) in Quebec was maple whiskey. I definitely enjoyed a few of those along with a few Heineken’s. I was most definitely a cheap date. This is a very cool side benefit to consuming alcohol just a few times a year.

I did save the best for last. Friday night we went to a Scandinavian spa. We both had massages booked. The massage was great, but the amenities were even better. The Scandinavian spa preaches the benefits of hot and cold. We would go from outdoor jacuzzis to cold plunges, then inside to a sauna. There were also other buildings with tranquil lighting, waterfalls, and zero gravity chairs. I don’t know that I have ever been more relaxed.

I will say that I almost wimped out at one challenge. One of the cold plunges was a river on the property. When we walked down to it there was nobody there. Actually, there were very few people hearty enough to participate in any of the cold plunges. I looked at Jess and said no way, as the cold plunge tub had been enough for me. Jess rose to the occasion and hopped right in. She’s a bad ass. So of course I then had to go. It was so crazy. My feet actually had to break a paper thin layer of ice as I jumped in. Holy crap it was cold. I did not even put my robe back on. I ran full speed to the sauna. My body felt like it was on pins and needles for a solid ten minutes. It really was awesome and the pefect way to end a great trip.

So Saturday morning we packed up for the eight hour ride home. I could tell my body was doing well because in the past long rides like that would wreak havoc on my back and hips. All of the stretching and hard work is paying off.

Again, the point of all this other than sharing my life with all of you, is balance is possible. Will it come at a price when I’m at the meet? That remains to be seen. There was a time when the weight on the bar is all that mattered. Maybe that’s how I was able to accomplish so much. Right now I am happy with what I have accomplished and where I am at the moment. Life is good and I am indeed grateful.