The first ten kilometers glided by in a pleasant blend of sunlight, a blue for colorful skin suits, heavy breathing and smiles. The skis were fast, so fast the expected resistance of ski-on-snow was not there and more forward lean was needed to avoid falling backwards. Fastwax recommended two layers of highly flourinated salmon over a layer of blue with a topcoat of pure flouo, and I had a set wasxed that way, but today it was 10 degrees andthere wasnno new snow, so the other skis with the finer base structure were the choice and they were flying. 
We looped north on the 58k trail, splitting from teh 35k skiers (about half of the field), riding the light tailwind and feeling the sun on our backs. I wasn't looking for a personal best today; this was a day to build more base miles in the legs to prepare for the Birkie in two weeks. 'Ski with joy.' was my mantra. I smiled as I thought my Karl and Johann racing the day before in the 7k Miniloppet.
They were both successful. Johann, coming off of a Strep infection, still on antibiotics and skiing with swollen legs that would have sidelined
most people, deciding to forgothe 4k course in favor of the longer 7k course and crossing the finish line in downtown Mora with a huge smile on his face. Karl, lining up in the front at the start and getting into a five person pack, reduced to three at the trail split and then getting fourth for the 7k race. Character, confidence, and the joy of skiing beaming in their faces.
I needed that memory at the halfway point as the trail softened and the my legs started feeling weariness from the relentlessly flat trail. Smile, ski with joy and have a highly caffeinated Gu shot. Much better. How many left? Mth gets difficult, dividing 30k by 4 Gu packs... 2 kilometers later the answer pops through the gauze.
The trail snakes through the private land of hundreds of land owners on a trail that, for the most part, is only groomed for skiing once a year. Each crossing is manned by groups of local volunteers shoveling snow onto the road, holding back traffic and ringing the cowbells that create the unique background noise of ski events.
For some reason, the ten kilometer marks are significant for some reason. 50k comes very quickly, a quick note to take it easy; 40k, will the whole race go this fast? A comment from a skier behind from Thunder Bay "We're doing a sub 3hr pace!" 30k, I get passed by a JV skier on a climb and my legs are getting into trouble. 20k, another hill? I thought this was a flat race. 10k and now the push for the line, my body is not my own, the legs aren't listening to me and I eat my last Gu, circle behind the Mora ski center and head towards the bell ringing at the edge of town, up the incline onto the soft snow of Main St. around the corner...
'And there's number 477, Chris Sauer from Colesburg, another Iowa finisher!'
We looped north on the 58k trail, splitting from teh 35k skiers (about half of the field), riding the light tailwind and feeling the sun on our backs. I wasn't looking for a personal best today; this was a day to build more base miles in the legs to prepare for the Birkie in two weeks. 'Ski with joy.' was my mantra. I smiled as I thought my Karl and Johann racing the day before in the 7k Miniloppet.
They were both successful. Johann, coming off of a Strep infection, still on antibiotics and skiing with swollen legs that would have sidelined
most people, deciding to forgothe 4k course in favor of the longer 7k course and crossing the finish line in downtown Mora with a huge smile on his face. Karl, lining up in the front at the start and getting into a five person pack, reduced to three at the trail split and then getting fourth for the 7k race. Character, confidence, and the joy of skiing beaming in their faces.I needed that memory at the halfway point as the trail softened and the my legs started feeling weariness from the relentlessly flat trail. Smile, ski with joy and have a highly caffeinated Gu shot. Much better. How many left? Mth gets difficult, dividing 30k by 4 Gu packs... 2 kilometers later the answer pops through the gauze.
The trail snakes through the private land of hundreds of land owners on a trail that, for the most part, is only groomed for skiing once a year. Each crossing is manned by groups of local volunteers shoveling snow onto the road, holding back traffic and ringing the cowbells that create the unique background noise of ski events.
For some reason, the ten kilometer marks are significant for some reason. 50k comes very quickly, a quick note to take it easy; 40k, will the whole race go this fast? A comment from a skier behind from Thunder Bay "We're doing a sub 3hr pace!" 30k, I get passed by a JV skier on a climb and my legs are getting into trouble. 20k, another hill? I thought this was a flat race. 10k and now the push for the line, my body is not my own, the legs aren't listening to me and I eat my last Gu, circle behind the Mora ski center and head towards the bell ringing at the edge of town, up the incline onto the soft snow of Main St. around the corner...
'And there's number 477, Chris Sauer from Colesburg, another Iowa finisher!'
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment