2013 So far... Where am I going?

Late 2012 provided us with much better snurfing conditions than last year and has thus far continued into 2013. We've also fared much better in terms of avalanche conditions, though the lingering high pressure will certainly have something to say about this as we transition into late winter and early spring.

My year thus far has been pretty good. Like many folks I've previously posted my to-do lists at years end and like many folks I've failed to follow through on most all of them. This year I really didn't have any plans. Hell, I was still trying to find my way through lingering knee problems and the associated problems that have plagued me since SpeedGoat 2012.

As it turns out; God, Fate, Karma, or whatever you want to call it; did have a to-do list for me. On Christmas day, as I was returning from a morning of snurfing at Snowbasin, I began to feel nauseated and developed a throbbing migraine. By the time I'd gotten home the vomiting ensued and I was about as sick as I'd ever been before.
Apparently, while touring a midst the brutal Christmas Eve storm I'd gotten extremely dehydrated and had my core temperature drop so far, as to have lingering affects.
To make matters worse, I spent Christmas Eve eating nothing but sugary garbage, failed to re-hydrate and skipped breakfast before heading to Snowbasin. As a result, I later found myself barely able to speak, stand or drive; with numb and freezing extremities (this while in a hot bath) and I had no electrolytes or sick guy appropriate food on hand. Water would not stay down!

As evening fell I was beginning to feel desperate and scared and felt my only option was to call paramedics to check me out and get an IV. You see, despite having loving family members in the Wasatch area, I don't do Christmas and as such felt ashamed at the very notion of calling them on Christmas. But knowing that I'd gladly take their call if the roles were reversed, I did the smart thing and called my sister. I'm certain I frightened her, as I was barely able to communicate, but being the great person she is, she and her son's drove through the storm to bring me a bunch of Gatorade.Oh my god, it was the most delicious thing I'd ever tasted and its positive affect was almost instantaneous. Of course I later barfed it all up, but wow I got feeling back in my hands and feet and was able to think and speak. Although I was over the worst of it, I remained sick for several days, missing all of the best powder of the season, BUT...

Something else happened, I got my head right about diet; about making myself available to loved ones, and in a broader sense I got clear about "Doing things, not Listing things".

Where I'm at now/ Things I'm Doing: 

• I've had but two beers since a few days prior to getting sick. This isn't born out of any problem, but rather is normal for me this time of year as I like to spend late winter into spring "On the Wagon" as part of a cleansing ritual. 
• I've more or less embraced the Paleo Diet and have begun eating a lot more protein. I suppose this has more to do with giving up processed foods, sweets and grains, than becoming a caveman devote'. But yeah, I'm no longer a semi-vegetarian.
• As one might imagine I've begun losing body fat and I'm working through the pain in my knees in a healthy and sensible way that includes yoga and strength training. 
• I've registered for SpeedGoat 2013 and at last check it was already down to just over forty spots remaining! 
• My training plan is in place and I've already begun working back into running.
• I'll be running five days a week (T,W,Th, Sat,Sun) with minor speed-work on Thursdays. The plan is to minimize descending until I'm strong enough to protect my knees (Oops more listing things). 

Other Stuff:

• I'd love to go for the course record at Amasa Back (Oops listing again!), but my first priority is longevity (doing). So if it isn't meant to be, I'm okay with running it for fun. After all, when it comes down to it, I'd much prefer to be slow and continue to enjoy running, than have a number recorded somewhere as a reminder of what used to be.
• The Wasatch SplitFest is right around the corner and I urge anyone who has a passion for snurfing to join in the activities!
• As snurfing season winds down and the running takes over I'll likely post a photo dump of my season's finest visuals. Until then stay warm and don't breathe the air ;)