When I first started on this thing, Kris said I could blog about anything...so, here's an abbreviated Birkie blog...

Temps were initially and up to the night before predicted to be in the low single digits at the start, which means cold snow, cold toes, slow skiis, cold fingers...it's different than running...toes and fingers don't warm up the same way...snow is stinking slow to ski in when it is below 15'. 

So everyone waxed for single digits...at first the low was like 3' then it went up to 7 and we were all excited...sad to be excited for a 4' increase! 

Race morning...the temp was 17'!!!!! It never cooled down overnight like it was supposed to. Much better for breathing and would have been for glide had we all been waxed for it...new snow and warmer temps...!

Getting there was quick this year...I left the house at 7:30...sat in a line of cars to the parking lot for about 10-15 minutes, parked, quickly got on one of the five busses they were simultaneously loading up, and left!

We had a long walk to the start area and this is the first time in my many years of skiing it that I actually made it in time to see the elite waves go off at 8:20!

First stop the bathroom line...we think someone died in one of the bathrooms or there was a secret backdoor...I think you know what I mean!

After that line, to the tent ...since it was so balmy outside, the tent, which normally has barely enough room to bend over,  had lots of room and I even found a chair to sit in to put my boots on! I got to talk to a man who has MS and was again skiing the full Birkie...he got to work with Bjorn Dahlie the day before, who was there helping to raise money for MS...I was impressed by the fact that he continues to ski the entire event yearly!  He's the kind of person who inspires me and hopefully will inspire lots of others who have excuse after excuse for not getting moving!

My race went off at 9:15...it was fast for the first 7k...TONS of people in the way...I decided to start at the back of the wave so I could "warm up" for the first few k...for those of you who are unfamiliar with the birkie, there are 10 waves, well really 20 now because they alternate classic and skate every 5 minutes and they go off between 8:20 and 10:05 or so...hundreds in each wave!

This year, I should have started up further because people were in the way for quite a bit of it. I snowplow down the hills and tend to catch people on the uphills...however with that many people in the way, it's hard to pass on an uphill...ok, not hard, impossible...

When the Birkie skiers split off from us at 9k, the snow got significantly slower again...that portion of the trail is not as well used and still had some fresh snow on it...making it more work.

I was still having fun and then at about 20k or so, I started having something I've never had before in a ski race...my quads just cramped up on the uphills...it was weird...I did everything the same as I have every year so all I can attribute it to is the new drug I have to take for my reynauds...there must be something in it that affects one of the many factors that can lead to cramping...

I stopped a few times, pounded on my legs and then continued...I found if no one was in my way and I could ski faster up the hills, It hurt less...at one point I had to completely stop on a downhill because my snowplow made it cramp!  I eyed up any of the ski patrols I passed trying to decide if I wanted to ask one for a quick massage...

I finished under 2 hours which is fine...not my best ever...considering the cramps it was ok...I was fine when I was done, not sore and the rest of the day was a blast!

I am pretty positive the cramping thing was from the new drug because I did not hurt when I stopped, I'm fine today...no residual...so it wasn't a real muscle hurt or strain...this was a "new" thing...

If you haven't tried the Birkie...do it...I just do the Kortie which is not too hard...it's a totally different world from running...exciting, fun, and world wide at each one!

Ok...I read some information provided by an "expert" to trail runners...and it appeared to be the exact opposite of what a person should do!!! 

The person asked how they could avoid ankle turning during trail runs... the "expert" told them to get thicker soled shoes to help stabilize the footstrike and help prevent an ankle turn on rough surfaces...

Ok...from what I know...thick soles are exactly what make your ankle turn more and they are going to thinner soles for trail running!  I was kinda disturbed by this info and the stuff that followed....!

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Ok...I had to get a run in today in some form...skiing 50k or so over the past two days just doesn't do the same thing for me...and I needed to get Laambeaux out too.....so....I decided to try the screw in the old shoe trick...

Being pretty much completley tool and screw illiterate...I checked with Lisa and Shelly who gave me the details on the "right" way to do it...MUCH too complicated and involved for me...thanks anyway though!

I decided to take out my tupperware garage sale container of various screws and find some that would make it through the sole of my shoe...I discovered a few things...

1. It is NOT possible to put a screw through the toe box of a shoe, getting a screwdriver in that area is a fantasy...

2. Screwdrivers slip when attempting to put screws into shoes....causing blood blisters on the hands....

3. Walking on your wood floors, deck, and carpeting is not advisable ...

4. They work great on packed down ice/snow stuff and not as well on road surfaces....

5. They will keep a good grip to keep you upright even though they are put in sloppy as heck!

I took random screws of varying lengths, and put about 5 or so in each shoe...the toes had none...they served their purpose, the dog got out, I got a run, I stayed upright, and now I know one thing I can do with the millions of old running shoes I can't bear to part with!

Ok...this is a ski blog today...it does apply to running though! I have found that the combination of being on the very low body fat end of the scale and getting older makes for a bigger chance of owies when taking a fall....and a much longer time getting rid of the owies...even with "vitamin I".

Just so I get a running fact in...I fell during the Grand Traverse...just once, and on something that was relatively flat...and my fall had nothing to do with Laambeaux. I remember thinking....hmmmmm...I may feel this tomorrow...not sure where yet...well, I still feel that dang shoulder from that fall and it's what 4 months later!!! Just one innocent fall...!

Today I was skiiing and planted a pole between my skiis which caused the worse face plant I think I've ever experienced...and the person behind me who was skiing with me kinda fell partly on me too...

I had my water bottle in the front, as I always do because I don't like it pulling on my stomach...so that went into my pelvic bone and hurt...tomorrow I am guessing a bruise may show up...

I landed with both arms in front and to the side so the fronts of my shoulders took the brunt of it...my skiis were in such an odd position I could hardly get up, even using the many methods I have taught others to use over the years!!

I noticed something "not quite right" in my left shoulder while I skied the entire rest of the loop...12k more or so...yes not so bright but heck...I needed to get the "K" in...tonight I'm noticing something in my neck that is painful...and when I wake up tomorrow...who knows what I'll feel!

Yes, I've taken the "vitamin I"...I will take more...it just sucks falling with hardly any body fat when you start to get a bit older...everything takes a direct hit instead of having something there for padding! Hopefully everything will feel peachy keen tomorrow instead of waking up and going ...hmmmm...I didn't remember being run over by a truck yesterday!!!

On a good note..and note to Lisa...I started the internal stuff for the Reynauds and it is working!!! I have not taken as much as they wanted and it is still working...my fingers are warm for the first time in like fifteen years!!! It is amazing!!!

I absolutely love this cold stuff...yes, I'm the odd one out.  I did move to Duluth for colder winters, more snow, and cooler summers though!  If dressed appropraitely cold weather is nothing...warm weather, now that CAN kill because you can only take so much off!

I have been out running every day in this eyelash freezing weather and it's been great!  Park Point's beach is absolutely beautiful!  

I always cover my mouth when it's below a certain temp because of my asthma.  When it drops below zero, (the actual air temp I mean because windchill means nothing when you run in the woods out of the wind),  I have often wondered if you can have lung issues.  I have heard stories in the past, and heard that nothing can happen.  

Does anyone have any information on this that they can back up?  It is seriously my only concern in the cold weather.  At least if you blink enough your eyeballs can't freeze!