Plan was to start moving after the race as legs were very heavy. Started with program 3 level 7 but couldn't keep up with the pace. After reaching 115 spm had to switch to level 6.
ski race (classic) 3:57:35 50.17 km (4:44 / km) +513m4:30 / km ahr:161 max:174
Winona Forest Tourathon (ex. Tug Hill Marathon) classic ski race. 4 12.5 loops. Hey. My first classic 50k. Was not too bad. First in my age group and I believe 7th overall (turned out to be 10th overall). Biggest problem was waxing issues. 32-33F on the start and 38 F at finish + fresh snow. I put universal clister night before and covered with red wax in the morning of the start. Tracks were nicely set but in fresh snow. First loop was like skiing with applied breaks. The second loop the conditions were much better as tracks glazed. By the time of the third loop snow started again as well as problems especially at the tops of running hills. On the one of the tops I almost fell as I got a huge build up of snow that I couldn't remove until stopped and scrapped one ski by the other. The last loop was better again as gliding improved after snow stopped. Most of the race I was all by myself after Marty started ski faster when I tried to pass him on the very first loop. After short chat he double poled faster than me. Still I was able to see him from time to time on the long straight hills for a couple of loops. Hi finished third overall. On the last loop 2k before finish somebody tried to pass me and I shifted the next gear and found that I still have plenty of juice left. After I spurted not only I left behind this guy but also passed another in front of me. Food. I ate just perpetum solids I carried with me 1 tablet for each loop, several sips of perpetum mix. I carried a bottle of electrolyte mix but did not drink it at all as got enough of Gatorade and water on help stations without even without stopping for it. Had some light cramps in tights and side trunk but not too bad. Also some left elbow pain but manageable.
Overall nice race, great location , good tracks likable course.