November 27, 2011

Sunday 11/27/11

Today was a recovery day.  In order to allow our bodies a little time to recover we decided to take today to rest.  We lounged around and spent time in the hot tub (which overlooks the mountain).  It was very relaxing and awesome! 

We currently plan to get plenty more skiing in the next few days.  

View of Beaver Creek from The Westin

Matt and I on our way to lunch
(The Westin and Beaver Creek behind us)

Saturday 11/26/11

So I haven’t been skiing in about 7 - 8 years and as a reminder I have been on a vacation from strenuous physical activity since January 2011 (that is 11 months).  

The weather was absolutely beautiful.  The mountain is open but there has been a limited amount of snow - so not all lifts / trails are open.  Our intent was to ski greens for the day and maybe even the week (green is the easiest level).  We made it to the top of the lift and we found a route that had both green and blue.  So we started off and it went well.  When suddenly we made it to what looked to me to be the steepest slope EVER - small children as young as 4 / 5 years old were skiing right by me.  I found myself starting and stopping several times down the mountain.  Matt was ahead of me and asked me to descend.  I was very scared and told Matt that I felt like I was going to cry.  The second ski patrol who stopped next to me - after I took a small spill asked me if I was having trouble getting up.  I said, “No, I am having trouble getting down.”  The ski patrol person said there was another trail that was easier -- but that it got better further down the mountain.  So I finally figured out how to make it down that super steep portion of the trail and the difficulty varied through to the bottom.  I learned a lot more about skiing on my way down.  At the bottom we found the area that is used for lessons and it was perfect for practicing my new skills.  

After several runs through the lesson area I gained confidence and started to go faster -- unfortunately I took a fall.  We decided to stop for lunch and a little rest.  After lunch I realized that I was pretty tired and I stayed behind to rest.  Matt did another run and came back pretty tired.  He shared that this was the final run and it was time for both of us to call it a day.  

We had a great day of skiing!!

Matt and I waiting for the bus to hit the mountain

Matt and I - we just got off the lift and were headed to our first run of the day

Photo of the bruise from my fall today

Friday 11/25/11 

We were there before the airport officially opened (which by the way is 4:30 am).  The great news about that is we beat the entire Thanksgiving rush. 

The flight was turbulent -- which left me feeling quite nauseated throughout the day.  I am the last of 9 children and we were able to see most of my family on our way through town.  We made it to Beaver Creek late (due to the fact that it was snowing on the way up the mountain) had a little dinner and went right to bed.  

Matt and I at the airport (3 am)

Matt on the Tram in Denver International Airport
(was so early we were alone)

Thursday 11/24/11

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Matt and I started the day with a Turkey Trot.  We learned this morning that Vera and Ryder were also doing the Turkey Trot - so we met up with them in the parking lot before the race / run.  There was a big crowd today and with the weather hovering in the mid 60s - it was a great day for a run.  The run is done through the galleria the route has changed a little from previous years, which is a good thing since the event has outgrown it’s previous venue.  Of course the bad part was that along the way many galleria area residents were frustrated with the street closure.  We witnessed several people arguing with police officers (which is totally wild).  I think I heard Vera yell out “Happy Thanksgiving” during the run :)

I started the run with the objective to run the entire way and finish strong.  As the crowd thinned out Matt and I encountered a couple that kept running ahead of us followed by a walk, during which we would pass them.  They kept looking back at us and eventually Matt told me that he wanted to beat them (of course I did as well).  So at mile 5.2 we turned it on - but eventually I slowed down and the couple passed us ... again.  I couldn’t believe it so with 1/2 a mile left until the end of the race Matt and I looked at each other and decided to sprint to the finish.  Matt noticed that I was having a hard time and he decided I needed a little extra motivation - so he said, “The couple is right behind you.”  I was not having that, so I hit the gas.  We reached the finish line together and the couple came in about 5 minutes behind us.  And he confessed that he actually had no idea where the couple was when he told me they were right behind me.  It was a great day for a race!!

We went home and relaxed for a little while and then went out for our Thanksgiving Lunch at Benji’s.  

Anyone who knows us or reads this blog knows that this year has been full of many different challenges.  With radiation complete we figured it was time for a vacation and we are leaving for a ski trip to Beaver Creek tomorrow.  We will be there for a week and will see my family as we pass through Denver.  Our flight is early in the morning and Matt wants us to be at the airport almost a day early - we packed our bags tonight and took what I would call a nap and headed out for the airport.  

Matt and I before the race started

Ryder before the race

Me - after we crossed the finish line

Matt and I after we cross the finish line

Wednesday 11/23/11

I am not really sure where the week went - but with a short week and the day before a holiday I was glad when the day ended.  Matt and I signed up for the Turkey Trot a while back (10 k / 6.2 miles) and at the end of the work day we went into pick up our race packets (including # and t-shirts).  It was great weather and packet pick up was quick and painless.  Hopefully the race is just as painless. :)

Sunday 11/20/11

Today was a recovery day and while there are times when working out is physically challenging - that doesn’t mean recovery is a walk in the park.  Today my body felt like I got ran over by a train - but I realize that self inflicted pain (such as like caused by mountain biking) deserves little to no sympathy I thought it best to listen to my body and take the day off.  I rested and while Matt had a lot more energy then I did - he was very understanding of the relaxed nature of my road to recovery (as always).  

Saturday 11/19/11

Question:  How does a SuperMonkey celebrate the completion of radiation treatment? 

Answer:  Mountain Bike Ride

So I haven’t been on a bike in about 4 months -- my surgeon suggested that I avoid mountain biking while getting radiation due to the strain radiation causes on my pectoral (pec) muscles.  So since treatment is over Matt and I decided to go for a mountain bike ride.  There is a biking trail near our house (it is paved and it runs all the way downtown).  Today’s ride was great!  It reminded me of 2 things:  1)  I am very out of shape and 2) Doctors may actually know what they are talking about.  We rode less then 15 miles and at about half way through the ride my left breast was hurting pretty bad.  After a quick assessment Matt and I decided to return home a little early.  

Despite feeling really beat up from the ride I realized that physical activity is really the only thing that helps me feel better.  I am excited to have radiation complete and get back into shape.  

Photo of me at the end of the bike trail
(outside of downtown Houston)

Stay tuned for more SuperMonkey Adventures,

Nancy

AKA:  SuperMonkey

Last week Matt told me the following while we were mountain biking,  “You hurt the ones you love the most.”

My response, “I thought it was ... love the one your with.”

I guess we are both right :)