Hitting the Trails! XC Ski trails that is!

Moving back north has been a bit challenging with the record snowfall we've had in the Twin Cities this December. Pulling out into intersections is a bit scary as you can't see around/above the tall snowbanks! I'm not sure where snow is going to be put if/when we get more snow here! My husband and I have contributed to the MN economy with our recent purchases of down coats, boots, hats, scarves, gloves, snow brushes and snow tires...and it has all been worth every penny spent. We even bought passes to Three Rivers Park District for a season worth of cross country skiing. It wasn't pretty, but we've dusted off our cross country skis and hit the trails twice so far.

Our first attempt didn't last too long...my fingers were frozen after I fell down a steep hill with a 90 degree curve, and my typically really warm fleece mittens got wet. Good thing I didn't slide into the 2 women that were at the bottom of the hill! According to an experienced xc skier we met that day, the snow was fast that day. Temperatures were in the single digits that day...the wind chill was below zero. It took about a day for my fingers to regain full sensation. Not what I needed after 6 winters seasons in Atlanta where anything under 40 degrees is considered really cold!

The next 2 days my hip flexors were so tight...it was difficult to lift my legs to take normal steps. The workouts and stretching I did on those days helped loosen me up to attempt another round on the trails.

Our second attempt was so much more pleasant. We tried a less hilly course (still had trouble climbing some of those hills!) with a lot less curves. We were passed by many on the skate skiing trails, but we plodded along on the classic trail. After one pass around the trail, we took a short break to see if our bodies could manage a 2nd round. We decided to go for it and made the next round in about half the time as our first pass on the trail. We're very excited to continue our xc skiing this season and get our snowshoes out for our next adventure!

Being an avid runner, I'm always amazed at how my body responds to new exercises/workouts. Cross training is so important to build strength and mitigate injuries, but as in any sport, it's always a smart idea to listen to your body. Repetitive injuries are so common in endurance activities. And endurance sports are typically performed by people who love to push their own limits...through pain. I know from personal experience on that topic! If you're participating in sports, especially endurance sports where repetition is common, do your body a favor...get routine bodywork so that you can continue participating in the activities you love. Otherwise, you might be injured and miss the rest of the season.

See what Livestrong.com has to say about massage for athletes:
Benefits of Sports Massage