Sunday, February 24, 2013

Quiet Time

It has been quite quiet for 2 weeks. I usually try to use some time during the season to sit back, let all my training sink in, and enjoy the lifestyle that I train so hard for. Most times this leads to me getting into some fun backcountry skiing. The last week we went and enjoyed some backcountry skiing for my friend, Sarah's, birthday.

Otherwise I had been resting, catching up on some work and getting ready for the Birke!

The Birke this year I thought I had prepared the best for than I ever had. For those who don't know it is a 50km skate race from point to point in Wisconsin, finishing on Main Street in Hayward. Really cool scene at the finish. Because the prize money is so great, many foreigners come with their team to win some money.

This race is no piece of cake though. If you want to win the Birke, to have to have many things come together. For me this year unfortunately, not much came together except for my fitness. I, all blame on myself, picked the wrong skis to race on so much of the race. Was struggling just to stay with the lead pack. I also don't get my second feed bottle until 30k and when I finally took it, I think it was such a shock to my body, it didn't know what to do with it. I managed to lose the group around 40k, catch back up at 42k, crash, get back up to the group, and then lose them the last time around 6k to the finish.

Unfortunate but this race is a really great time and I love coming to back to do it. I'm looking forward to future years of the race!

S





Sunday, February 10, 2013

Colorado Racing

So nice to be home and racing. I am happy to say that the feelings in my body have been really good recently as well and have translated into some good results in the 2013 season so far. The past two weeks have been very fun racing under the Western Sun.

Last week I went to Sun Valley, ID for the Boulder Mountain Tour. I came out on top the last time I raced there after breaking from the pack with 5k to go; however, this year the group stayed together right until the very end. Pretty exciting stuff. Watch the last 3k here:

 (I am leading)

After The Boulder Mountain Tour, I stayed in Sun Valley and trained with some good friends/competitors on mine. Hit the road on Wednesday for a 13 hour drive back to Colorado and then stated up racing again on Friday.

ITA teammate, Brian Gregg, and I duked it out on Friday at the Vail Mountain Games 10k Skate. I really wanted the hometown win, but couldn't quite manage as Brian took off in the last 500m. I finished 2nd. After the race I had to pack up for the next two days (and 3 races) in Aspen.

Saturday brought tons of snow and slow conditions and we raced once at 9am and then again at 11am, a race format unlike many others in the US. I again managed 2nd in both races.

Sunday was a race that I have won in the past, the Owl Creek Chase. I worked again with ITA teammate to pull away from the pack but again it was Brian that had the legs in the final 500m. 2nd again. After 3 days of racing, 4 races, and 4 - 2nd places, I am ready to be home and resting for a little bit. It had taken a bit out of me but will be inspired to train well for the Birkebeiner in Wisconsin coming up on the 23rd of February.

Haven't been in my classroom recently because of the teacher's warnings of sick children. I love to help during the season but I'd rather put all of my focus and energy into helping in the classroom instead of trying to exercise heathy habits in the classroom.

Also a promotional video I did for a non-profit in Denver called Ski Denver:



Ta-ta for now!

S