Yah, so I'm fighting an illness while I'm still visiting family here in Colorado. I frequently get sinus infections from the combination of dry air, the altitude (my parent's place sits at 7,700 feet above sea level), and all the running around that goes with holidays and family visits. I'm sure my aggressive workout schedule while out here didn't help, but I'm like a kid in a candy store in the mountains west of Denver. There's just so much fun outdoor stuff to do!
The sinus infection, I'm sure, is also a sign that my body wants me to slow down . . . I've learned over the last several years that if you listen to your body, it will communicate lots of information to you: your body will give you many indications of overtraining, insuffiicent nutrition, and other aspects to your health.
Infection or not, I'm committed to a fun New Years Eve plan: snow shoeing into the remote Tennessee Pass Cookhouse for a great meal and an even greater view. The Cookhouse an only be accessed via snow shoe, cross country ski, or snow mobile . . . it's a very unique kind of place. Snow shoeing is great exercise and, if there were more snow in Hampton Roads, I think I'd like to train for a nordic adventure race (cross country ski, snow shoe, etc).
We'll have to drive to a little known "locals" ski area, Ski Cooper, and snow shoe in from the Piney Creek Nordic Center located there. Ski Cooper is close to Vail and Copper Mountain. Here's a map to where it's located:
See you in 2006!