Birkie Fun!

Yes, I said fun. This year it actually was enjoyable, for the first 38 km or so at least. After that, well, let's just say that four hours of doing anything starts to hurt.

The weather was great-- between 10 and 33 degrees during the race. The snow was good, not too deep, not too icy, just right. Even the troughs on the hills were navigable. I enjoyed the splitting off of the classic skiers, so that the trail was much less crowded. This year I could actually use the glide from the downhills to get a little bit up the next hill. I never had to wait in line to go uphill (unless I wanted to, which I sometimes did, because it's a nice break) and I only had two people step on my poles. I think I was actually smiling for most of the race.

The best part was that I achieved my goal of doing it in under 5 hours. In fact, I cut a half hour off my previous time, doing it in 4:42 this year. I'll probably move up a wave, but I have to admit, I sort of liked being in the uncrowded, uncrazed wave 7.

I want to give a shout out to Mr. 9th Wave Large Man, who probably doesn't know it, but he pulled me across the endless Lake Hayward so I could finish strong.

And to Mr. 7th Wave Dude Who Kept Ending Up In Front Of Me After Each Food Stop Even Though I Passed Him Several Times-- please do yourself and your fellow skiers a favor and sew up that hole in the crotch of your lycra.

And thank you to whomever sent me the cute guy at the finish line in the Rossignol gear who helped take off my skis and gave me a hug and said "you did it!" If I'd have known he was waiting for me at the finish line, I'd have picked up the pace!

Hooray for a good snow winter and a good Birkie. Congratulations to my teammates/family, Team Sturdy Women!

Busy Time of Year

This is the time of year when I don't see many people except those on the ski trail, or at work, or in my class, or my writing group, or yoga sessions. Unfortunately, that leaves out a lot of friends. I'm sorry if you haven't seen or heard from me the past couple months. In March things will slow down a little, and then in May, I'll be off from school for the summer.

Update on a few things:
Skiing - Completed the Pre-Birkie last weekend, with a blistering pace of 5:02 min/km. which is almost a half minute faster than last season's pace, so I'm happy with that.
Next weekend is the Birkie. I think I can do it. Again. Only this time, I hope, faster.

Yoga - Taking wednesday night community ed class in addition to going twice a week to the fitness center at work. I would go more often if I could find the time. I want to take teacher training. Will look into doing that this summer.

Writing - Non-existent lately, but I did buy a book called One Year to a Writing Life, and downloaded software to help me complete my novel. Sorry writing group, for not providing you with anything to read!

Food - I'm off chocolate and all sweets and refined flour products now. It's really true that once you get over the two week mark, it's much easier to stay off the stuff. This in addition to staying away from fried food, alcohol, meat, milk, processed food and trans fats. Coffee is the hardest vice to give up. It really does help me wake up, and boy do I miss it on those days when I restrict myself. Trying to keep it to 3x a week or less. Not doing so well with that one.

School - I got a new computer and software to complete my program with up-to-date skillz. After this semester I will be halfway done with my coursework! That means only five more semesters at one class per. Oh well, what else would I be doing with the next three years of my life if I didn't have my completion of the Certificate to look forward to?

General observations:

Driving back from WI last weekend on one of the most bitterly cold days of the season (in a season filled with bitterly cold days) I asked the universe to show me an animal totem and I saw the following in this order: crow, deer, pileated woodpecker, bald eagle, grouse/pheasant (couldn't tell which it was, on the side of the road), and when I got home, a whole murder of crows flying around above my neighborhood. Nice.

I'm actually ready for spring and for cycling season to start. Even though I'm loving the snow this winter, and feel the best I've felt EVER on skis. Cycling is less work. No waxing, scraping, brushing, driving, paying trail fees, etc. But I have to focus on the task at hand right now. Birkie.

Oh, one last thing. Next Wed. is my birthday on the Mayan calendar. Feb. 20th. It also happens to be a lunar eclipse that night. Ooo.

I'm still in my Food Obsession Mode, and going with that theme, I'm recommending this book today.

What to Eat by Marion Nestle

I'm reading it right now, and while it's not helping a ton so far in knowing what to eat, it sure has a lot of good info on what NOT to eat. Let me just say that I'm very glad I've never been a consumer of margarine.

Also, a visit to her website today reveals this bit o' insight into the American diet:

According to a group that tracks this sort of thing, the leading generators of food sales are (more or less in order): soft drinks, refrigerated milk, ready-to-eat cereal, fresh bread, bottled water, cookies, chocolate candy, and potato chips. Soft drinks are #1. A sufficient explanation for America’s weight problem?

Time for a new post. Thanksgiving vacation was lovely. One of the highlights was the first ski of the season at ABR. The only bad thing is that I don't know how long I will have to wait to ski again. I pray for cold weather so the local places can make snow. Real live nature made snow may be too much to hope for this early in the season. But it was great to get out on the trails again!

20th annual Halloween Party

The theme was "old time hocus pocus" and I think everyone did a great job interpreting the theme. Take a look at the fun costumes! I was a Salem witch this year, in a costume I can re-use at Thanksgiving minus the flames.

Grand Marais, MN

Another lovely annual fall trip to the north shore. Nothing like hearing the waves crashing into the shore all night long while tucked into a cozy cabin across the road from Lake Superior.






The only thing that may come close is this view from about 25 miles north, a little ways off the Gunflint Trail. Couldn't you just LIVE there? Ahhhhh...

Crex Meadows
This morning I had the pleasure of waking up to this view.
The lake is full of coots and Canada Geese, along with some flying overhead. The birds were quiet last night due to heavy wind that blew all night long until the thunderstorm in the wee hours. In the morning, I got a couple pictures before I had to head back home. When I was driving out, about 30-40 sandhill cranes flew overhead. Good thing the roads are rarely traveled out there, because I found out that I am not good at driving and birdwatching. We saw a lake full of trumpeter swans on Saturday. More than I've ever seen before in one place. And mom spied a snake in the parking lot of the sand blow, and some unidentified reptile eggshells. The scrub oaks were red red red , and the other trees were starting to turn. Just a beautiful time of year to visit .