The GREAT Bear Chase
Sunday was my last ski race of the season, the Great Bear Chase, in Calumet, MI. I did this race two years ago after having a great Kortie and I felt like dropping out the whole time. However, in the end it was because I was skiing so much faster than I ever had before.
This year I felt like dropping out of the Kortie the whole race so I was determined to have a good Bear Chase. I had at one point set a goal for myself to ski this race in less than 2 hours but I told myself it was more important to feel good about the race than to ski fast. I wanted my last race to help me remember skiing as fun so that next year I'm motivated again.
On Saturday the temps in Calumet were around 50 degrees but the overnight lows would be below freezing. I waxed wtih one layer of Moly followed by one layer of Toko Moly/Yellow mixed together. I followed that up with putting structure in the ski base and then Helx Warm as the temps were forcasted to climb up to nearly 40 degrees on Sunday.
At the start line I lined up about 3/4 of the way back in the field as I knew from experience that only faster racer tend to come out to race after the Birkie. The first part of the race (maybe 10k) is mostly downhill to the Lake before your turn around and head back. This was my least favorite part of the race which is funny as it is the easiest terrain. However, the race hasn't settled out and everyone is bunched up. There was one good lane for skiing but if you pulled out to pass you had to go into this ball bearing like icey snow lane which was really hard to ski on. Add into that some downhills with corners at the bottom and you've got nervous skiing.
I kept reminding myself to just have fun and try to focus on good ski technique. Sometimes I sat behind people longer than necessary but it was not easy to pass. However, my skis were running fast so I took opportunities on faster downhills to get into a good tuck and try to glide past people.
About half way through the race I realized I was really glad to be done racing for awhile. Non-stop racing since September was starting to catch up with me. I realized I better enjoy the day as it was likely the last day on snow for the season. I kept chugging along trying to ski with some skill. At one point we hit a nice long flat section with snow warmed by the sun and I just flew. I dropped the group I was with, caught another group, passed them and was on a tear. There's nothing like the feeling of really fast skis!
At the aid station with 10k to go I stopped and made one of the volunteers my personal helper. First I took water, then I gave him the empty cup and took a gatorade. It was a bit strong for my taste so I gave it back to him and asked for another water. Of course, while I was hanging out having fun at the aid station a bunch of people I passed got in front of me again. That's the norm for me though as I seem to really love the aid stations at ski races. I think it is all those years of never stopping during mountain bike races. Right before leaving I checked my watch and thought that I had already skied for 1 hour and 10 minutes. At that point I realized that a sub-2 hour race was out of the question as I couldn't do a 10k in 50 minutes unless it was super flat and fast which this wasn't. I wasn't too bummed as the day was going pretty well.
The last 10k has a really hilly section right after the aid station. Luckily I got around most of the people who had gone through the aid station faster before the climbs. However, I was still behind some people who were clearly suffering more than me. I kept rejoicing that my legs weren't as shot as at the Kortie. I slowly worked my way by a couple of guys that were reduced to basically walking up the hill on skis.
I caught some more guys and made a really nice pass on a downhill. I shot around them on the inside of the corner at the bottom and was able to glide just enough farther to get around them. I passed another woman at the top of the hill as she took a momentary recovery stop. Personally I really try to not stop as I think it is better to press on if at all possible and just try and recover on the skis. (Recover on the skis . . . that's funny!).
The Bear Chase doesn't put up markers every K of the race so you're not totally sure at every moment how far is left. Finally though I reached the 6k to go mark and I knew the end was near. I told myself to just enjoy it and forget about being tired as this would be the last skiing I would probably do this year unless there is a miraculous snow storm at home. On the flat sections I skied some without poles to try and rest a little.
Finally the 4k to go sign and I know I'm close. Only a few more hills before the finish stretch. I'm feeling good since I've been passing people at the end of the race and no one has passed me. With about 1k to go that changes as Andre Watt and Adam Swank go cruising by me on the way to a 1-2 finish in the 50k race. They look to be skiing effortlessly with their skinsuits sleeves rolled up and chatting. It seems that they might have already decided that Andre would take the win.
Right before the corner to the finishing stretch I pass another woman. Finally I can see the finish banner but it's slow going to get to it. The warm sun has turned the snow into mashed potatos and it takes seemingly forever to reach the finish banner.
And when I finally do reach the finish I take a look at the timing clock and realize that I skied the 26k in 1:47:50! That was far faster than I had even hoped. I realized that clearly my watch reading skills were no good and that I had been on track for a sub-2 hour finish the whole time. That made a good day of skiing even better.
After waiting for Dave and all the other Madnorskis to finish we headed to the Calumet High School for a shower and a free UP lunch. Yes, a UP lunch with a great veggie pasty, cookies, donuts, soda and live music. SWEET!
And since Calumet is in the eastern time zone we got an hour back on the drive home so were back in town by around 7pm. Of course, we were too exhausted to do anything but order delivery food.
This year I felt like dropping out of the Kortie the whole race so I was determined to have a good Bear Chase. I had at one point set a goal for myself to ski this race in less than 2 hours but I told myself it was more important to feel good about the race than to ski fast. I wanted my last race to help me remember skiing as fun so that next year I'm motivated again.
On Saturday the temps in Calumet were around 50 degrees but the overnight lows would be below freezing. I waxed wtih one layer of Moly followed by one layer of Toko Moly/Yellow mixed together. I followed that up with putting structure in the ski base and then Helx Warm as the temps were forcasted to climb up to nearly 40 degrees on Sunday.
At the start line I lined up about 3/4 of the way back in the field as I knew from experience that only faster racer tend to come out to race after the Birkie. The first part of the race (maybe 10k) is mostly downhill to the Lake before your turn around and head back. This was my least favorite part of the race which is funny as it is the easiest terrain. However, the race hasn't settled out and everyone is bunched up. There was one good lane for skiing but if you pulled out to pass you had to go into this ball bearing like icey snow lane which was really hard to ski on. Add into that some downhills with corners at the bottom and you've got nervous skiing.
I kept reminding myself to just have fun and try to focus on good ski technique. Sometimes I sat behind people longer than necessary but it was not easy to pass. However, my skis were running fast so I took opportunities on faster downhills to get into a good tuck and try to glide past people.
About half way through the race I realized I was really glad to be done racing for awhile. Non-stop racing since September was starting to catch up with me. I realized I better enjoy the day as it was likely the last day on snow for the season. I kept chugging along trying to ski with some skill. At one point we hit a nice long flat section with snow warmed by the sun and I just flew. I dropped the group I was with, caught another group, passed them and was on a tear. There's nothing like the feeling of really fast skis!
At the aid station with 10k to go I stopped and made one of the volunteers my personal helper. First I took water, then I gave him the empty cup and took a gatorade. It was a bit strong for my taste so I gave it back to him and asked for another water. Of course, while I was hanging out having fun at the aid station a bunch of people I passed got in front of me again. That's the norm for me though as I seem to really love the aid stations at ski races. I think it is all those years of never stopping during mountain bike races. Right before leaving I checked my watch and thought that I had already skied for 1 hour and 10 minutes. At that point I realized that a sub-2 hour race was out of the question as I couldn't do a 10k in 50 minutes unless it was super flat and fast which this wasn't. I wasn't too bummed as the day was going pretty well.
The last 10k has a really hilly section right after the aid station. Luckily I got around most of the people who had gone through the aid station faster before the climbs. However, I was still behind some people who were clearly suffering more than me. I kept rejoicing that my legs weren't as shot as at the Kortie. I slowly worked my way by a couple of guys that were reduced to basically walking up the hill on skis.
I caught some more guys and made a really nice pass on a downhill. I shot around them on the inside of the corner at the bottom and was able to glide just enough farther to get around them. I passed another woman at the top of the hill as she took a momentary recovery stop. Personally I really try to not stop as I think it is better to press on if at all possible and just try and recover on the skis. (Recover on the skis . . . that's funny!).
The Bear Chase doesn't put up markers every K of the race so you're not totally sure at every moment how far is left. Finally though I reached the 6k to go mark and I knew the end was near. I told myself to just enjoy it and forget about being tired as this would be the last skiing I would probably do this year unless there is a miraculous snow storm at home. On the flat sections I skied some without poles to try and rest a little.
Finally the 4k to go sign and I know I'm close. Only a few more hills before the finish stretch. I'm feeling good since I've been passing people at the end of the race and no one has passed me. With about 1k to go that changes as Andre Watt and Adam Swank go cruising by me on the way to a 1-2 finish in the 50k race. They look to be skiing effortlessly with their skinsuits sleeves rolled up and chatting. It seems that they might have already decided that Andre would take the win.
Right before the corner to the finishing stretch I pass another woman. Finally I can see the finish banner but it's slow going to get to it. The warm sun has turned the snow into mashed potatos and it takes seemingly forever to reach the finish banner.
And when I finally do reach the finish I take a look at the timing clock and realize that I skied the 26k in 1:47:50! That was far faster than I had even hoped. I realized that clearly my watch reading skills were no good and that I had been on track for a sub-2 hour finish the whole time. That made a good day of skiing even better.
After waiting for Dave and all the other Madnorskis to finish we headed to the Calumet High School for a shower and a free UP lunch. Yes, a UP lunch with a great veggie pasty, cookies, donuts, soda and live music. SWEET!
And since Calumet is in the eastern time zone we got an hour back on the drive home so were back in town by around 7pm. Of course, we were too exhausted to do anything but order delivery food.
posted by MadCross at 6:05 AM
1 Comments:
Way to go! And glad to hear you're getting taller -- oh, wait, short legs mean something else in skiing?
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