American Birkie Race Report #1

 On his 12th American Birkie, Rune clearly has the race totally dialed, and here is his report:

At the finish, I received a pin for having completed my 12th US Birkie.  Given the lack of snow last year, I decided to skip a year but happily returned this year to amazingly good Birkie conditions.  A few inches of fresh snow a week ago followed by blistering cold temperatures all ended in a perfect Birkie day with temps around 14 degrees and adequate snow coverage for a great race venue and a finish up Main street with crowds cheering. What a day!

This year, I decided to drop down from the Elite Wave to Wave 1, thinking it would be a less stressful race in Wave 1.  As it turned out, there were several fast skiers in Wave 1 to ski with and by avoiding the accordion effect of the Elite Wave, I believe my choice was worthwhile. There are 4 distinct sections to the classic race, the first 15k to the high point, then the next 13k to OO (midway point), then the next section to Mosquito Brooks (42k), and then to the finish (53k).  It really helps to compartmentalize these sections in such a long race.

  
As tired as I was after 15k, I knew there was easier terrain to get to OO, and then a nice easy stretch with lots and lots of double pole to get to Mosquito Brooks.  My skis were fast but the grip not the greatest, so I really cherished the opportunity to double pole after OO.

As much as I was looking forward to Mosquito Brooks, I also dreaded it, knowing the hills awaiting and that this is where the race is determined.  This also happens to be where Per Johnsen’s great friends have a cabin. Passing through, I saw Sandy, the Hoidas and other familiar faces to whom I yelled out when passing.  Shortly thereafter, there is a long hill where, in Sandy’s words “Per must have skied up and down testing skis hundreds of times.” It is not that much of a hill, but after 42k, it is hard!  I struggled mightily in the beginning of the hill, but as I got into the hill and looked over to my left, I did indeed feel like I got a second wind and energy to complete the hill in a decent stride.  I had just passed, and looked, at the area where Per’s ashes where deposited. I could feel the energy of knowing Per looking at the skiers struggling up the hill he knew so well and I took that energy with me to the finish, winning my age group by 9 minutes. [ed. note: Rune's time of 3:07 was not only good enough to win the 60-64 age group; it also would have put him in the top three in the 45-49, 50-54, and 55-59 age groups! As David Evans notes, 60 is the new 40.)

Best of luck to all the skiers at the upcoming Per Johnsen memorial 50k and may the spirit of Per be with you all to the finish!!

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Just in case Rune didn't get in enough skiing at the Birkie, he stopped at Soldier Hollow for a couple of days on his way home.  He reports that it was beautiful and the weather was gorgeous, but "I can only do so many loops in a small area!"