Oh Baby It's Cold Outside!

hello snow!  winter took a little while to get up to speed this year (that means..January vs November around these parts of Ontario)  Have been busy skiing up a little snow storm in the last few weeks.

I race in my first cross country ski marathon, 51km classic point to point race in Marquette Michigan.  Was a bit concerning.....the combination of lack of snow early in January, hack classic skills, wild workouts that engages all your muscle groups,  headlamps in the dark, wee bit of frost bite and that, oh so tired feeling .... all smashed into a few weeks of focus training  (oh ya and a really great coach Peter).....guess it rings victory!  I won the much sought after Moen Cow Bell for 3rd place in age.

3rd Place. with Super Fast Gman @ 2:30min 51km!

The most humbling and awe moment was the elite men skate race lead pack...I could hear them breathing and snorting so loudly before I saw them come around the corner. They passed me on an up hill, said thank you (they could still speak and be polite at that speed?) made my hair blow in the wind (literally) and they were gone!

Lake Superior with Ice Bergs!

It was pure work.... the double pole is the power horse of skiing and a weakness for my little stick arms...double poling in the flat sections (some up to 1hour) was like giving time and energy away to the ski gods....not sure if I really remember much of the promising scenery, but was proud to ski that far!  After a quick nap and ice bath! was time for great awards after party of food, dancing, drinks...those skiers sure have lots of energy!

I learned a few things along the way....(some great articles at this site)

1) Learn to Embrace the Suffering (http://www.masterskier.com/article.asp?aid=361)
2) Leap and the Net Will Appear (http://www.masterskier.com/article.asp?aid=423)...most of the time ;)
3) Ice Baths (http://www.masterskier.com/article.asp?aid=356)....just jump right in the river!

...until next year!