lazyotter

For the last 10 days I’ve been struck down with a nasty cold virus. This had me in bed for a number of days with fever, followed by irritating cough, and now followed by extreme lassitude. Typically this also corresponded with the easter weekend.

I dislike being ill immensely, especially when it stops me doing what I want to do. It seems bearable for the first couple of days, but then the negative thoughts start to creep in and soon the outlook grows gloomy.

I ventured out on my first run since getting sick today, a short but hilly 4 miler. Actually did a new best time, although I felt tired and like I had a sack of bricks on my back.

Also had some news today that sucked, but life goes on for the moment anyway.

I feel like I’ve had a fight with a mountain, and lost. I think the mountain used a big stick to beat the cr*p out of me too. Got rather a lot of aches and pains this evening, some from skiing and some from this blasted cold/fever thing. Hate being ill on holiday.

Today I decided to throw myself literally into the skiing deep end, and without practice or tuition headed to the top of Schlossalm (2050m) to refresh my knowledge the hard way. It has been a day of falling over and being very wobbly really, although some progress was made. I’ve discovered that Bad Hofgastein is rather a tough place for beginners, as its mostly steep and narrow red runs and hardly any blues. In fact the only way off the mountain is down a long and vertical red - not really what you need after a day of humiliation and bruising… Still, I stuck it out for 5 hours before a sore left ankle and exhaustion made me call it a day.

Tomorrow I think I’ll take a bus up the valley to where there are more blue runs and practice my technique. I’ve just eaten the entire menu in the restaurant and am now planning to get an early night. I’m sure I’ll find some new bruises in the morning…