Training Log Archive: biggins

Event: American Birkebeiner
 

Birkie. Soft and slow and crappy, but thats what we were expecting, so no surprises there. Started in wave 1, which is all the people who aren't fast enough for the elite wave, but are still respectable fast skiers, and so somewhat cocky about it. Mostly ex-college racers and crotchety old men who don't care, so a mix between a frat party and a bar fight. Double poled the entire first two km, and then probably half of the next three, because it was safer and not any slower than what people could skate. Things got worse once we got off the power lines, since it narrows down a bunch, and I came to a standing stop half a dozen times waiting for the uphills to clear. Things finally started to thin a little bit after about 15km, and I thought I had a chance to just start hammering out some fast kms. Which worked until OO at 23k, when a different club must have taken over the grooming because it instantly turned to soft deep crap. Those 8k were the only time during the race I actually got the hr consistently up at 160. Also according to the splits I passed 120 people in that stretch, usually in groups of 5-10 that were mobbed up in a traffic jam. After that the trail was a mess for the last 25k, but the people had thinned out a bit so I had my pick of whichever side of the trail was least fluffy, which helped. Not disappointed, I was expecting the conditions to be junk, and the water and food and energy and training were good and I felt fine the whole time, and percentage wise I was closer to the winners than any previous years, just frustrating to not really be able to ski.

C • Frat party + bar fight 1

Around the North End trails in a couple inches of new snow. Slow and lumpy, and not really inspiring confidence that tomorrow won't be a mess.

Also midwest water is gross.

Into MSP and up to Hayward, where we went right to the 'opening ceremony' since Mom and Dad got picked to carry the VT flag in a short and very coldy windy parade. Then dad somehow scored five free dinners.

New snow, which was sortof groomed out, but still soft for an inch or two in most places. I don't know if I'd like to live somewhere that it snowed all the time, skiing on snow like this isn't so fun. Or I just suck at waxing for it. At least it usually only takes one night of freeze thaw to get back to perfectitude.

Got all the different versions of SCD done and submitted this afternoon. Woot. Now time for three weeks of ski racing! Or maybe some sleeping. Then ski racing!

Also got the new road bike delivered today, in many pieces. It looks like they're all there, but I don't have time to unpack it and start putting it together, so that'll have to wait until I get back from Kaz. Its already been seven months, whats another one. It is awesomely orange though.

All sorts of snowy outside, and I picked a pair of skis with definitely the wrong wax on it, so things weren't going very fast. Easy lap through a couple inches of soggy new fluff.

Rest day today, because I haven't had one in a while and my arms were tired yesterday, and because I'm working on getting all the parts of the new game released before the next adventures start this week.

C • SCD! 4

fast ski with Jonis aound the valley.