Post your pre-season workout

[Bumpsis]

My approach to working out has changed. In your 20’s 30’s and even 40’s when things hurt or just didn’t want to do what you tell them to do, you just has to push harder. Just like you had to push harder to get into the same shape you were in the previous year. No big deal the body just required more work every year. Now that I’m in my 50’s that approach just doesn’t seem to cut it anymore. If you “just push harder” something is likely to give out, and it takes for ever for these “things” to recover. Now I have to listen to those aches and pains and try to interpret them. I have to decide whether this ache one going to turn in to something that is going to sideline me for a week or should I just ignore it and “push harder.” In discussing this with my contemporaries it seems that there is no clear cut protocol for this, so I’ll ask here if anyone (old guys) has any incites for dealing with the inevitable decline.
.

I hear you Sparky, I just hit 50 and yes, things do change but it is possible to stave off the "inevitable decline". It is important to listen to your body and having experience of previous pains/injuries just be judicious in what to do. Don't just do one kind of excercise, do a whole different ones and lots of it!
If it hurts (in a bad way, like tendon), then stop. Muscle burn is always good.

I think that some of the bigger problems we "older" guys face is a loss of muscle and accumulation of fat due to slower metabolism. That just destabilizes the whole body and invites all kinds maladies previously not felt. So I do whatever I can to keep up the masculature and stamina.

I keep a weight training routine but I favor repetions over weight. I don't "work through pain", that usually leads to injuries. Low impact aerobic stuff like rowing on a machine (I love my Water rower), biking (road and mt) and playing soccer with kids keeps me mobile.

To keep my "core" strong, lots of situps and some pilates type stuff I picked from my wife for flexibilty and back muscles.
When skiing time gets close, losts of leg isometrics - yes, the dreaded sitting against the wall rouitine.
I also have small ski hill in my vicinity (Blue Hills) so ripping up and down the fall line of the hill is great conditioning.
Then there is till the fun stuff like hiking at a good pace, surfing and biking until it gets really cold and nasty.

 

[CapeSkier]

I have gotten an early start this year...30 minutes on the elliptical trainer, followed by Cybex weight machines...Knee lift, leg adductor, leg abductor, then chest presses and free curls with dumbells. I usually do this 4 to 5 times per week. I am losing weight and increasing aerobic capacity and muscle strength in my legs. I want to take my skiing to the next (past?) level this season, and I need to get back into something approaching proper condition. At my age, avoiding knee injury is paramount. Anyone else doing leg work?

 

[mattchuck2]

Umm . . . 10 push-ups every other week. Trail running on fridays that my fiancee makes me go.

Other than that, I ski tele early season until my legs are in shape for alpine.

 

[gymnast46]

Workout regimen

12 ounce curls (with Long Trail Ale, my sponsor) :lol:

For the last ten years I've alternated between extensive workouts in the gym and doing nothing and I struggle at the beginning of each season regardless. I know from experience that the first few times on my alpine snowboard each season are going to leave the quads and calves (especially the forward leg) feeling like jelly. No matter which exercise I do, I never seem to be able to target the places that do the most work on my board.

For skiing and ski racing, I don't seem to be bothered as much. I log some distance each summer on a 28" Sun unicycle and that keeps the quads from becoming too soft.

 

[askstowell]

Daughter and I are going to try and do some good pre-season stuff this year. Stretching everyday with some leg work (bends, hops, thrusts, etc.), some core/stomach crunches/bends, some endurance whether its bike, run, ladder sprints, and some speed/quickness drills thrown in for fun. I still have to map out the week and balance/spread out/combine certain things on certain days as only the stretching is everyday but we're hoping to improve speed, agility, flexibility, balance, etc. to get season off to a good start. She's also going to use her Skiers Edge machine that's been loaned to us indefinitely...she loves that thing every year at the Boston Ski show and is thrilled she has her own now.

Take a look around the internet and you can usually find some good dryland stuff to fit your needs.

 

[bill2ski]

My approach to working out has changed. In your 20’s 30’s and even 40’s when things hurt or just did’t want to do what you tell them to do, you just has to push harder. Just like you had to push harder to get into the same shape you were in the previous year. No big deal the body just required more work every year. Now that I’m in my 50’s that approach just doesn’t seem to cut it anymore. If you “just push harder” something is likely to give out, and it takes for ever for these “things” to recover. Now I have to listen to those aches and pains and try to interpret them. I have to decide whether this ache one going to turn in to something that is going to sideline me for a week or should I just ignore it and “push harder.” In discussing this with my contemporaries it seems that there is no clear cut protocol for this, so I’ll ask here if anyone (old guys) has any incites for dealing with the inevitable decline.

By the way I roller blade to try to stay in shape during the off season. I can get a decent aerobic workout as well as practice my technique on the down hills. I have been getting about a 1000 miles a year and it does help a great deal, I can ski all day right from the beginning of the season.

I hear you Sparky, I just hit 50 and yes, things do change but it is possible to stave off the "inevitable decline". It is important to listen to your body and having experience of previous pains/injuries just be judicious in what to do. Don't just do one kind of excercise, do a whole different ones and lots of it!
If it hurts (in a bad way, like tendon), then stop. Muscle burn is always good.

I think that some of the bigger problems we "older" guys face is a loss of muscle and accumulation of fat due to slower metabolism. That just destabilizes the whole body and invites all kinds maladies previously not felt. So I do whatever I can to keep up the masculature and stamina.

I keep a weight training routine but I favor repetions over weight. I don't "work through pain", that usually leads to injuries. Low impact aerobic stuff like rowing on a machine (I love my Water rower), biking (road and mt) and playing soccer with kids keeps me mobile.

To keep my "core" strong, lots of situps and some pilates type stuff I picked from my wife for flexibilty and back muscles.
When skiing time gets close, losts of leg isometrics - yes, the dreaded sitting against the wall rouitine.
I also have small ski hill in my vicinity (Blue Hills) so ripping up and down the fall line of the hill is great conditioning.
Then there is till the fun stuff like hiking at a good pace, surfing and biking until it gets really cold and nasty.

I'm a firm believer of, in-line skating, as a cross training tool, during the snow-less season.
I love long, downhill, lightly traveled,newly paved roads, the feeling is as close as it gets to skiing, just on asphalt.
With the added bonus of possibly being mowed over, bye a wayward motorist, the thrill level is right up there.
I have found some incredible places to skate in my travels as well as some hairy situations that required a trip to the E.R.
This is my last season as a thirty-something and hope to continue my training regimen for years to come.
Though, as the years have progressed, I find myself doing more road work, to get the desired result.
I still find the rewards worth the effort.

 

[SnowRider]

3-5 miles everyday in cross country....

weight lifting for LAX next fall....

Biking....

Wakeboarding.....

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

I get into a walk in freezer, crouch in a tuck while one of those commercial fans, set on high, blows in my face. The wife repeatedly hits me in the thighs with a 2x4 and throws crushed ice into the fan...a month of that and I'm ready.

 

[roark]

I get into a walk in freezer, crouch in a tuck while one of those commercial fans, set on high, blows in my face. The wife repeatedly hits me in the thighs with a 2x4 and throws crushed ice into the fan...a month of that and I'm ready.

Somebody has been reading powder!

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

Somebody has been reading powder!

ahh, the skier's bible...of course. If I ever get a tatoo, it'll be of their cartoon caricature of Ullr in the 30th anniversary issue.

 

[deadheadskier]

Nice little chill in the area this morning, so I figured I'd bump this thread.

For my legion of AZ fans who follow my posts :lol:, I often mention that the biggest thing I want to improve in terms of my skiing these days is always fitness. Each year it becomes more and more difficult to just come charging out of the gate in November skiing up to my ability and it's always because I'm out of shape. Used to not be in an issue in my early to mid 20's as I skied 50-80 days a season. These days only skiing 20ish, I simply can't ski myself into shape. I'm sure age is starting to play a factor as well. :???:

Every year on here I state a goal of getting in shape for ski season, but I never do it. NO MORE

This week I have started my plan. I am waking up an hour earlier each morning and hitting the rowing machine plus other exercises everyday Monday through Friday. Day three was today and I am going to keep at it right up to ski season and hopefully am disciplined enough to keep at it through ski season.

I NEED to do this. I really want to see how well I can ski again if I'm actually in shape. No excuses

Who else is committed to starting the 2008-2009 season in the best shape their life will allow them to be in? I say that life allows them to be in as obviously, work, family etc can limit oneself. It's not like you can devote five hours a day towards ski specific exercises. If I did that you'd all be sad because I would have no time to craft masterful posts for alpinezone :lol:

 

[severine]

Who else is committed to starting the 2008-2009 season in the best shape their life will allow them to be in? I say that life allows them to be in as obviously, work, family etc can limit oneself. It's not like you can devote five hours a day towards ski specific exercises. If I did that you'd all be sad because I would have no time to craft masterful posts for alpinezone :lol:

I already am in the best shape of my adult life. Thanks to MTBing and the bit of running I did earlier in the summer. I'd like to continue with both, but life will be getting rather hectic starting next week. Still, I'll continue with what I can and I'll still be better off than last year. I'm 15 lbs leaner and more active than I was at that time, so it's a good start.

 

[bvibert]

Nice work DHS! I'm similar to you in that I keep saying I'm going to get in better shape, I say for ski season, but I really want to be in better shape in general. This year I've kicked up my mountain biking a bit, but I still feel I need to do more to really get in shape. At the very least I plan on doing more crunches and stuff at home to help.

Last year I did quite a bit of MTB through out the summer, but then slacked off as it got colder. I felt like I lost some of the conditioning I had done by doing that. This year I intend on keeping my activity level up all the way to the first day on the slopes.

 

[deadheadskier]

This year I intend on keeping my activity level up all the way to the first day on the slopes.

If I can keep it up until the start of the season, I'll be psyched. Truthfully I want to keep it going and have it be part of my everyday life; a lifestyle change. I can't do anything about being stupid, but I can work on the fat and drunk part. :lol:

 

[bvibert]

If I can keep it up until the start of the season, I'll be psyched. Truthfully I want to keep it going and have it be part of my everyday life; a lifestyle change. I can't do anything about being stupid, but I can work on the fat and drunk part. :lol:

:lol: I hear ya! Sounds like a good plan.

 

[Geoff]

I'm slightly off-plan in August. I'd been trying to hike something once per week with at least 1400 feet of vertical. I got one in the first weekend in August out in British Columbia and missed two in a row because I was on the Vineyard one weekend and in Provincetown the 2nd weekend.

I'm riding my mountain bike on the street a minimum of 10 miles per day and I'm getting quite a few days with more like 20 miles. I've been rowing a lot though bailing the water out of my dinghy from all this crap weather is probably almost as much exercise as rowing.

I'll be making turns in Chile on Sunday. At the moment, they're predicting very high winds and a big dump as I'm arriving so the first few days might be fairly limited terrain.

 

[Greg]

My work-out:

Seriously, I need to have an activity to help stay in shape. Hitting the gym or even running is just not for me. I clearly recall my first few runs last November with my lungs simply on fire and having to stop all the time. I don't want to go through that again and I don't think I will this season. My wind is pretty strong after all the mountain biking this summer. In fact, I feel like I'm in the best shape I've been in for many years. Like Brian, I plan to ride right up until skiing starts as long as the weather cooperates.

 

[snoseek]

I've been been hiking up this plateu and running the trails on top several times a week. Sometimes I go in different spots.

Overall I ramped up my excersise routine in the last few weeks. About a year ago I started this and have only eaten food with redeeming qualities. It is about more than just skiing for me as I needed to lose a pile of weight. I don't own a scale but know I have lost six inches off my waist and greatly increased my muscle along with overall fitness. I haven't felt this good in many many years, I can't wait to ski.

 

[Geoff]

I NEED to do this. I really want to see how well I can ski again if I'm actually in shape. No excuses

Who else is committed to starting the 2008-2009 season in the best shape their life will allow them to be in? I say that life allows them to be in as obviously, work, family etc can limit oneself. It's not like you can devote five hours a day towards ski specific exercises. If I did that you'd all be sad because I would have no time to craft masterful posts for alpinezone :lol:

I've been a "work in progress" for the last year. I've lost 80 pounds and I'm trying to sustain losing 5 per month until a tape measure around my stomach says 37". I get daily exercise. I'm eating properly. I've gained a lot of muscle mass. My blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol numbers are all fixed. At the moment, I'm planning to take the winter off and ski every day. I should start this season in the best shape I've been in over the last 15 years.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I've been a "work in progress" for the last year. I've lost 80 pounds and I'm trying to sustain losing 5 per month until a tape measure around my stomach says 37". I get daily exercise. I'm eating properly. I've gained a lot of muscle mass. My blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol numbers are all fixed. At the moment, I'm planning to take the winter off and ski every day. I should start this season in the best shape I've been in over the last 15 years.

Wow..Geoff..I didn't realize you used to be so fat...Losing a few pounds for me would be nice as well..I'd like to drop from 210 pounds to 195..