I'm not dead!

I'm back in Cyberspace, baby! It's been quiet in this corner of the web for a while. Inspiration has not been a commodity. I've been a total couch potato (at least nearly) for two weeks as Prince Charming was climbing in Sardinia while I had to work. Bummer. Today we had some quality time out running together. Neither of us are avid runners but I enjoy spending time with him to such and extent that I didn't mind running. Actually, I've traditionally been running more often than he has. But now! Maybe this is the start of a new and better life - again?!?

Staying in shape

Photo found at Running Past Vintage Photos

Wednesday I convinced Prince Charming to go running with me. I'm not an avid runner but I try to stay in shape by periodically running a couple a times a week, mostly in summer. I thought I should be able to keep up with him after having spent five weeks at high altitude. I must have been born with extremely small lungs. Not only did he outrun me easily, as usual. A really fat guy kept up with us up the steep hill. Demotivating? You can say so.

The good part is Prince Charming's promised to go running together again. If it's wet outside tomorrow we'll go, as long as it's not raining.

Healthy Norwegian Youth (Sunn Norsk Ungdom)

Today Y and I went skiing in the woods around Oslo. You can take the subway for 40 minutes and you're in the woods. Oslo is a small city. Neither of us are any good at crosscountry skiing but we had a nice couple of hours skiing. It's really fun to watch all the other people out skiing so close to the city on a Sunday afternoon. The man pictured above is very classic and with that certain old style. You meet lots of old people out skiing on such a day. It's great that they keep in shape and spend time outdoors!

To have gear or not to have gear

http://trangia.no/

Now I'm on my way out to hunt for this pot from Trangia. I'm pondering if it's too heavy (530 g) or if it's going to be so useful for boiling drinking water that it's worth it. I think I might get it anyway if I find it since it can be good for boiling pasta and the like on later camping trips. It's quite big, 4,5 liters.

I've been a good girl today, already finished with a spinning session. That feels good. After searching for the kettle I'm meeting up with Y for tea and some more planning.

Supergirl - or Just Do It!

http://www.eightieschild.com/category/80s-films/

Today I had a "I wish I was perfect"-tantrum. I wish I could work fulltime, train cardio three times a week, strength twice a week, yoga twice a week, climb at least three times a week and go away skiing or hiking or climbing every weekend. But I can't. Or rather - I won't. I don't want to give up having a life, evenings with Prince Charming, planning the Nepal trip, (window-)shopping and the old lounging on the couch from time to time. I'm not content with giving up all that and settle for 4 hours of sleep a night. But I wish I was. Aargh! It's so annoying I can't (or won't) Just Do It - or be happy with my life as it is. I wish I was perfect.

Bouldering

Oslo Climbing Club had their Christmas Bouldering Contest today. It's all very informal, you keep your own scorecard and there are different classes for each difficulty level. A lot of people and a lot of chalk. That's my excuse for not getting a very good score. I guess the truth would be that I wouldn't have scored much better if I was alone. It was fun being social and I hope the boulders will still be there after Christmas when I'm back in town.

The season's first day of skiing!

20th February 1952 - 20 Feb 1952
Stein Eriksen

(Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Several ski resorts have opened and today was the first day of skiing for Prince Charming and myself. The first run of the first day of the season always feels a bit like Bambi on Ice. But after a few runs the skills came back and we had a very enjoyable day in the pists. I didn't go off piste at all this time since the conditions weren't very good. There was enough snow to ski comfortably in the pists but it hadn't snowed much in the past week so the off piste conditions weren't all that. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed the day together, remembering how we used to ski together when we had just started dating.

The picture is of Stein Eriksen when he wins the Gold Medal in Norefjell at the Oslo Winter Olymics in 1952. Since that's where we were skiing today it was a very fitting image.

Climbing and Bouldering

www.robinssport.com

Last night I was climbing at the Gym again with Prince Charming. Not in World Champion Shape but did fairly ok I think. Tonight it's bouldering with the girls. That's going to be fun! If you haven't tried climbing before I definetely recommend trying it. It's such a good work out both for body and mind. And you can hang out with your friends at the same time. I have a couple of projects that I hope I'll manage to complete today.

New spinning shoes

Henri Pelissier, Winner of the Tour de France 1923
http://www.topfoto.co.uk/

I got new spinning shoes on sale yesterday!

I happened to see them in a sports shop - reduced 50 %! They were cheap to start with but at half price they only cost me NOK 300,- (AUS $60) so I'm sure they're worth the money!

I've borrowed Prince Charming's cycle shoes so far and they've been a bit large so I've really wanted spinning shoes of my own. The only thing is that I have to mount the thing underneath that makes them click into the pedals myself - and the manual is missing. But Prince Charming promised to help me, so I'm very optimistic I'll get to try them very soon. Another reason to train cardio more often. I could use that!