Mud and Snow

I've just returned from Val Thorens in the French Alps. It's been a long-standing ambition of mine to experience a proper ski resort, ever since watching Ski Sunday as a child. I can vividly remember seeing the athletes flying down the slopes and thinking: "I'd love a bit of that."

My closest prior experience was a handful of Snowboard lessons on the dry slopes at Sheffield Ski Village around 20 years ago. I ended up injured and miserable but still harboured a deep yearning to try it on real snow.

It would probably have been wise to take some more lessons before the trip. But, to my own surprise, I was fairly good at it. We had two full days on the slopes and by the end of the second day, I was confident picking up speed and felt reasonably competent. I  was happy on the green runs, tried a couple of blues and even survived an accidental red.

It was an unforgettable experience, in the beautiful French Alps with my friends, and the time flew by. 

When I was in hospital, I'd vowed to say "yes" to more opportunities and experiences. It's starting to pay off.

Prior to our jaunt in the snow, I ran in the Services Cross Country at Delapre Park in Northamptonshire. Interestingly, it's held at the site of the Battle of Northampton (1460), which was a major part of the War of the Roses. Carved wooden statues pay tribute to the Yorkist victors and you can almost hear the battle cries as you follow the direction of the Lancastrian rout, before looping back around the Abbey. 

It was a long round trip, roughly 150 miles of tarmac for 6.5 miles of mud and puddles. But I really enjoyed this one and felt good. I finished in 18th place.

I've also done my bit as a cheer leader and photographer. My Partner and her Daughter put in an excellent morning's work at the Sherwood Pines Trail Race on a wet and miserable Sunday morning. It was inspirational stuff!

As an aside, the Personal Trainer Course is going well and I'm making good progress.

I've got just enough time to recover from Snowboarding before the next Inter Club Cross Country fixture tomorrow.




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