8:30 am
400 Nordic Skiers are packed behind a painted line on the snow between flagging tape. It is packed tight - everyone wants to be on the front line and have a great start. The CANNON (that's right cannon) goes off and the blast shakes the mtn. Everyone is racing forward including myself trying to get some room to move.
The race has a big climb at the start and it is hard to pass with skiers everywhere. But I am happy with my start, Devon Kreshaw and I had our skis and poles crashing into each other for awhile but everything was fine. Note:Devon won a bronze medal on the World Cup this past winter and lead the relay for 10km at the 2006 Olympics. Devon is fast!
Once I was on the top of the first climb, I had some room to pass a couple of guys on the flats and one on a downhill corner. After the first downhill section, I now knew I had faster skis than the guys around me. So if I held the pack I was in I could make ground on the flats and downhill finish.
My legs were burning going up the hills, as I have been paddling since early April and only skied a few times since then. I did do a training camp with the National XC Ski Team May 12-17 at Silver Star which helped me mentally at least.
The first 5 guys opened a gap up on the climb and I was not within reach of getting on that train. Although, I wanted to be in that group my legs were not cooperating. They were screaming stop, it hurts....
I was with 4 other skiers about a minute back of the lead group until about 7km and then opened a slight gap in the last 1 km and giving the wrist band to Charlie to carry up the mtn.
After Charlie was on his way, I skied over to my gear/clothes and wondered if my legs have ever been this sore.
I was happy with my race, it hurt but overall things were good. Considering I was not planning on racing the ski to sea at all this year. I had not done any intensity training and that is why it hurt so much.
The hurt was a good hurt - the kind that makes you stronger!
It was a good time! After that I get to watch the race unfold!
