Let me offer a suggestion: Austrian hill repeats (x10) while dragging 30 pounds of sled and toddler.
December 28, 2014
Austrian Hill Repeats
Trying to stay in shape on your last day of a ski vacation with no skiing?
Let me offer a suggestion: Austrian hill repeats (x10) while dragging 30 pounds of sled and toddler.
Let me offer a suggestion: Austrian hill repeats (x10) while dragging 30 pounds of sled and toddler.
December 26, 2014
December 25, 2014
Merry Christmas!
To the entire Pavement and Peaks crew and readers, merry Christmas from an unseasonably-warm and snow-free Austria!
December 24, 2014
December 21, 2014
Slopes and Powder?
Ski boots? Should've packed trail shoes.
Though we've been enjoying touring in warmer weather through Germany, we were really hoping to find snow when we gained elevation in Austria. We arrived this afternoon at St. Johann to find nothing but green pastures. In decades of skiing, this is the first time we've seen grass on these slopes.
Though we've been enjoying touring in warmer weather through Germany, we were really hoping to find snow when we gained elevation in Austria. We arrived this afternoon at St. Johann to find nothing but green pastures. In decades of skiing, this is the first time we've seen grass on these slopes.
December 17, 2014
Proud to Represent Nuun
It was certainly an early Christmas present this week to be named a brand ambassador for Nuun and be selected for their competitive Team Nuun for 2015. I've always been a strong believer in the product, especially since it provides optimal hydration with no fillers, unnecessary chemicals, or sugary syrups found in competing products. It's simple, it's easy, and most importantly, it works. I've used it for years running, cycling, skiing, and backpacking. I even use it to give water a little boost during days at work and on long business flights.I'm very excited to begin this partnership, look forward to promoting their products, and can't wait to see what they have in store for the future.
December 14, 2014
Good Morning from Garmisch
Woke up to a beautiful view of the Alpspitze this morning. It's day one of three weeks touring through Germany and Austria, hitting our usual spots of Garmisch, St. Johann in Tirol, Munich, and revisiting Vienna.
December 3, 2014
Running Across the World
It's not every day you get to run through the American Southwest and German cities in under an hour, but that's what my workout looked like today. I didn't pack my rain gear this week, so I ended up in a Rochester Marriott on the treadmill for a quick 10k.
The TRUE Fitness treadmill had a virtual run option, a trend creeping into more fitness equipment lately. Although this option wasn't based on Google Maps or famous road races, it was through famous trails and scenic areas in California, Chicago, and the Southwest in States, and overseas locations in Germany and Italy.
After my 10 day Southwest trip with my father in 2012, I had to select the Southwest option first. I immediately recognized the first trail as it took off from the parking lot at the base of Angel's Landing and ascended into Zion NP. The next segment took me along more red rock to Zion's Emerald Pools. The next two segments were also instantly recognizable, with the first being through the Buckskin Gulch slot canyon in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument area, one of my favorite hikes in the Southwest. I stayed in the same park with the next segment heading through Coyote Buttes and near the Wave sandstone formation. The final segments of the region were two runs along the Las Vegas strip.
After I wrapped up with the sand, I decided to head over to Germany; very timely since I'll be there in the snow in a couple weeks. The run started through a gorgeous green forest in the Thuringian Forest, continuing into the Berchtesgaden area with a mountainous climb of the Wimbachklamm and city running in the spa town of Bad Reichenhal. The trek then took me to Munich for a run along the water and through the city's walking street to Marienplatz and the Englischer Garten. Marienplatz was especially exciting since it's an annual visit for me. It was fun to run past my favorite fest halls, restaurants, and end at the Glockenspiel. The experience ended with a quick trip through Nuremberg. It was a new experience to run through Germany without snow on the ground, although I did get hungry running past my favorite restaurants....not to mention getting thirsty seeing all the Erdinger beer umbrellas.
In summary, it was nothing like actually running the trails of the Southwest or the cities of Germany, but it was a lot better than staring at a wall. So for making my treadmill run less painful and making the hour go by faster, I have to give the TRUE Fitness treadmill high praise to get in hotel mileage. Only downside was only having six regions at about three miles each; it would be better with Google Maps integration or expanded route downloads since the limited options may lose their novelty and get old after a few times through.
The TRUE Fitness treadmill had a virtual run option, a trend creeping into more fitness equipment lately. Although this option wasn't based on Google Maps or famous road races, it was through famous trails and scenic areas in California, Chicago, and the Southwest in States, and overseas locations in Germany and Italy.
After my 10 day Southwest trip with my father in 2012, I had to select the Southwest option first. I immediately recognized the first trail as it took off from the parking lot at the base of Angel's Landing and ascended into Zion NP. The next segment took me along more red rock to Zion's Emerald Pools. The next two segments were also instantly recognizable, with the first being through the Buckskin Gulch slot canyon in the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument area, one of my favorite hikes in the Southwest. I stayed in the same park with the next segment heading through Coyote Buttes and near the Wave sandstone formation. The final segments of the region were two runs along the Las Vegas strip.
After I wrapped up with the sand, I decided to head over to Germany; very timely since I'll be there in the snow in a couple weeks. The run started through a gorgeous green forest in the Thuringian Forest, continuing into the Berchtesgaden area with a mountainous climb of the Wimbachklamm and city running in the spa town of Bad Reichenhal. The trek then took me to Munich for a run along the water and through the city's walking street to Marienplatz and the Englischer Garten. Marienplatz was especially exciting since it's an annual visit for me. It was fun to run past my favorite fest halls, restaurants, and end at the Glockenspiel. The experience ended with a quick trip through Nuremberg. It was a new experience to run through Germany without snow on the ground, although I did get hungry running past my favorite restaurants....not to mention getting thirsty seeing all the Erdinger beer umbrellas.
In summary, it was nothing like actually running the trails of the Southwest or the cities of Germany, but it was a lot better than staring at a wall. So for making my treadmill run less painful and making the hour go by faster, I have to give the TRUE Fitness treadmill high praise to get in hotel mileage. Only downside was only having six regions at about three miles each; it would be better with Google Maps integration or expanded route downloads since the limited options may lose their novelty and get old after a few times through.
 Virtual run selection screen |  Southwest US region |  Angel's Landing trail (Zion) |
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 Buckskin Gulch slot canyon |  Germany region |  Thuringian Forest |
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 Munich nearing Marienplatz |  Munich walking street |  Aldstadt in Nuremberg |
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