Thursday 31 March 2016

Hypolit

More sun and even I am beginning to feel it.  Barely seen a cloud.

The boys and J had their last day of ski school culminating in their races. In the sibling rivalry Jack beat Tommy by 0.4s but we all agreed Tommy was the more smooth. Lukie and Ryder also did well.

The big news of the day was that both Jaqui and Ryder skied blacks. They were both elated and feels like things are clicking for J.

Picture with Uschi - our ski instructor friend:



We realised today that Hypolit Jacqui's teacher was this guy in the picture below (unbeknownst to us he was a famous skier back in the day). He's been skiing for 60 years starting at the age of 2. Jacqui asked him earlier in the week if he was any good? And he simply said that he liked to go fast when he was young! You can see the resemblance still. He says skiing is like walking merely transferring weight from one to leg to the other.  For the record, he had 3 schnaps today for lunch.



On the running front I did the 8 x 5min session feeling dog tired.  My average was 3.38s so not too flash but given circumstances I was not too fussed.

On the skiing front the snow was good before midday and enjoyed myself with the fluency really coming but in the afternoon the snow was too 'weich' as they say here in Austria.

Pictures of the day:





Lunch @ Breitealm:


All the boys' times:


Dinner including the boys' favourite Kaiserschmarm and Schnitzel for me:









Pictures taken with the good camera:










The post day award ceremony:






 Sibling rivalry:




Wednesday 30 March 2016

Double again

A double again today but this time just a recovery run around the lake in 4.35s (11.4ks).

For the 4th day in a row it was another stunning Spring day and this time around the lake at 4.30 in the early evening it was still warm with no wind (helps now having daylight until 7.30).

After yesterday's post mortem I took it easy with the skiing reducing the intensity and coincided with monitoring Ryder in his group as he's getting tired as the days go by. At lunch we all met at the restaurant near the Kettenbahn - the first time all of the groups have descended on the same venue.

My thoughts for the day in today's run - in no particular order:

1. Tommy is fast becoming the best skier in the family - he is technically very good.

2. Passed a lot of triathletes on the run today and remembered that Zell is famous for its Ironman.

3. On that note, all the best 'Lap of the lake' times on Strava are all Anglo-Saxon - what is it with us Brits?  It's the same in London and why cycling in London is such a nightmare because every idiot is gunning for bloody Strava records. The juxtaposition with Amsterdam could not be more stark.

Europeans could not give a damn about Strava records. (* I am also guilty as charged).

4. On that note again, I find it amusing how the English press once again got ahead of themselves after England beat Germany.  The Germans went on to thrash Italy and we lose at home to Holland who are so poor at the moment it is untrue. Have said it many times that the youth set up is a million miles behind Germany and whilst we may have a good Euros it will be short lived.  Germany will be there time and time again.

5. The air here is to die for.  London air sucks.

6. Really must find the time to come back here in summer.

7. Mum, today I helped out with Ryder's group with getting all of the kids on the lifts and sat next to a little girl called Kala from Wolfsburg (your home town no less).

8. My legs are heavy - I somehow need to freshen up.  Some speed work is in order.


Pictures of the day:







Ryder's group:

The Kitzsteinhorn (c. 3,000ms) with the glacier below where we will be skiing next week:

@ lunch:






Ryder's group again: