Wikipedia defines ?seasonal affect disorder? (SAD), as a mood disorder?in which people that have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience depressive?symptoms in the winter or summer.? Most common in the winter and largely caused by a lack of sunshine, the disorder can be described as winter depression.? I was surprised to see that 9.7% of people living in New Hampshire suffer from seasonal affect disorder, the highest reported percentage in the US.
I don?t know if it because we have 300 days of sunshine here in Boise with plenty of fun winter activities, but I love the winter season and this year I really embraced it.? I am sure if I lived in the North East and it was dark, cold and grey for 5 months I would be picking up the Boca Raton real estate news paper, but I don?t live in the NE and for me any slight winter depression symptoms are smashed out with a little fun winter training.
With Mac on both the Nordic and Alpine ski teams and Lucy skiing every weekend, I decided to take a step back from the early season triathlon training and do some fun training that would allow me to be around the kids as much as possible.? The jury is still out and I might be a slow old man this summer, but I am hoping the winter training translates into fitness I can use this summer.? The focus was completely different than what I have done in past years; I have always skied in the winter but it was secondary to getting in my running, swimming and riding.? This winter I wanted to pick a couple fun winter races and some fun trips into the mountains just enjoying the change of season with a change of focus.? This would mean running on, ?maybe two times a week, riding in the snow, nordic/alpine skiing, ski mountaineering, and most importantly swimming at most once a month.? I picked a local Nordic ski race and the Winter Triathlon National Championships as training and I would make the Pole Pedal Paddle in Jackson the winter objective.
The winter started off with a great December and January.? I had some excellent high mountain trips in the Tetons and the Sawtooths and I got to ski some fantastic terrain.? The backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering is really fantastic all-around training.? You not only get an excellent workout with significant elevation change at altitude, but it is also fantastic for your mental state.? Being in the high mountains releases something in your soul.? Don?t get me wrong, I love to race and be competitive, but it doesn?t compare to the enjoyment I have with a day with friends/family in the mountains.? Here are some photos from my experiences:
From the summit of Albright Peak.
Looking forward to keeping up with these two for at least the next couple seasons.
Lucy and I enjoying some sun after a fun day.
As far as racing goes, I was really pleased how this part of the year turned out.? I had a good race in Montana at the Winter Triathlon National Championships with a 3rd place podium finish.? The event was held at the Homestake Nordic Lodge which is an amazing facility and very worth checking out if you are a Nordic skier.
Winter doesn't mean you can't ride outside; here is the setup I used for Winter Tri Nationals and throughout the winter.
Podium for Winter Triathlon Nationals
And as mentioned above, the goal for the winter season was the Pole Pedal Paddle in Jackson.? Last year I finished 2nd to super-mountain-man Spencer Morton and I wanted to give it another go.? The race is a crazy combination of a 4,000 foot giant slalom from the top of the Tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, a 10K skate ski (shortened a bit this year due to a low valley snow year), a 19 mile time trial on the road, and finished with a 9 mile downriver paddle.? The event is in its 37th year and it offers a passage from winter to spring with a combination of these events into one of best races I have ever done.? I should also mention that it takes place during Spring Break with much of the racing/awards at the base of the resort so you have large crowds, bands and parties that make this a fantastic all around event.? In the end it was a super tight race and I still am having a hard time believing I edged Spencer out by just 37 seconds for the win.? I have to give huge props to my wife and Mac as the race/transition managers.? With the gear and logistics of this race, your support team is crucial and they did a fantastic job.? I also have to thank the Jackson Hole Ski Club.? They do an unbelievable job putting on this event and with a variety of team and individual classes it is a race everyone should come and do.
Some tough racing against Spencer Morton and Dave Bergart.
As the flowers bloom and the grass turns green, I can say that I am getting excited for the summer riding and training, but it was fun to mix it up this winter and spend more time on the snow.? I have no idea what it will do for my fitness and summer racing, but I certainly had a great time and my mental attitude is the best it has ever been.?? There is still snow up high and I might be able to sneak in a couple more days before it is all gone.
Source: http://www.adamwirth.com/2013/04/seasonal-affect-disorder/
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