Training Log Archive: AliC

City of Lakes Loppet (Skate 42k)

Holy moly bonkage. I don't think I've ever truly bonked before. Maybe in the long final in France WOC, but I think that was more dehydration. Anyways, it pretty much sucked, but at least struck near the end of the race. With 2k to go, I really couldn't ski anymore. Technique went out the window and I really wasn't sure how I was going to get up the little hill I knew I had to ascend to get to the finish. Answer - I basically walked, going a similar pace to the Tour skiers next to be. And then I double poled across the top of the hill, because that seemed faster than actually skiing. Ah well. Still good for 4th-ish in today's race and I think 2nd for the whole Minne-Tour, behind Nataliya V. from Russia.

Oh, and it's probably my fault I bonked. I didn't have a gel, just some shot blocks in my pocket and given the temp, I was pretty sure they weren't going to be possible to chew. I did take energy drink at every station, but just not enough with depleted from the past 2 days legs!

I mostly skied with Nataliya for the race. Mixed leads, with taking the draft from the men around us when possible too. My legs never felt good and that was the limiting factor for sure. I never remember breathing particularly hard at all. The demise of my technique set in on the last golf course, with 7k to go, but could still move forward until that final 2k. I think Nataliya must have gotten a full minute on me in those 2k, plus the third place woman passed me at about 1.5k to go. Nothing in me to put up a fight.

C • Regardless, I say "Wow... 7

Hoigaard's Classic Marathon (42k)

Cold temps so easy-peasy wax. Started all tangled up, but no stress, there's time in a marathon. I saw Nataliya and Nikki (1st and 2nd in yesterday's sprints) in front, knew they were my targets. I caught up a few k in and skied with Nataliya for the next 35k, when she made an unanswered move on the Minnekahnda golf course. Maybe, just maybe, if I were more with it when should moved I could have put up a fight. With 6k to go, she made a total of 35s on me, so not great, but wasn't oozing away easy time either. Next women were pretty far back, so I should be good for 2nd in the Minne-Tour standings unless catastrophe tomorrow. And unless there's a catastrophe for Natalyia, she's probably safe in 1st.

City of Lakes Loppet Ski-o

Woo, ski-o! 35 or so participants in two categories- short and long. Mass-start and with a maze. Definitely had to think, just to determine best routes, and weigh cut-through options. Although, to be honest, the guy who lead off the start did a pretty good job with all his routes, so I was mostly just following and checking. I also benefited from his skating in the cut-throughs... Ari caught me, but I went for a different option than I initally planned in the maze, in order to avoid other humans, I think that benefited me, and I stayed in front until the finish, when I crossed the line and totally forgot to punch. Fatal flaw! =)

Many thanks to Pete and all other MNOC folks for making it happen!

C • Splits here... 2

Whoa there, sprinting! Really unsure the last time I did an xc-ski sprint. (Ski-o sprints are longer.) The women just had 10 entrants, so semis and finals for us. The course was pretty good, with a double-decker hill and then a jump on the way down, for entertainment purposes. Or test if you could stay up while your legs were burning. I took the lead from the start (a suprise, I'm pretty slow off the start, usually) and then Nikki tried passing on the bigger uphill, but I took the lower side of it, which meant I still led at the top. Then around a dark loop and down the hill and done. Ahead of her by a second, maybe.

In the final, we faced the Russian Nataliya who had absolutely destroyed her heat, winning by at least 10 seconds. She took off from the start, then Nikki, then me. I kept looking for a place to pass, but with them side by side up the hill, no luck. Still, I gained a lot on Nikki down hill (fast skis) and almost got her across the line. Good enough for 3rd and $50.

Yeah! Up at 6am to join the Amity Hill runners at 6.15 for the normal 3 laps up the hill. Great to see the old apartment, chat with folks, have coffee at Amherst coffee...

On a visit to Amherst for an interview that ended up being less so. In a good way, because I have a job offer at Reed College that I need to accept before hearing the final word for Amherst, so that's the way the cookie crumbles. Helllooooo Portland, OR. And West Coast generally. =)

Excited for the new adventures!

C • WOW 24

C • Nominative determinism 3

5th day in a row skiing in Toledo! Woke up to another inch or so of fresh stuff, 12F and -5 with windchill. Decided I could take that and headed out for a classic whirl around Wildwood. First tracks. Body is a bit tired from all the skiing...