Birkie 2010

This year's Birkie started out great. I had fantastic skis and my body
was all there. It could not have been better. I felt like I was
stalking the pack rather than skiing in it, always a great sign.
Unfortunately that ended when I got dragged to the ground by someone
behind me. One of my poles snapped and my ski split in two. I got up
and limped along hoping to get some new gear but the thrill of the
hunt faded after 10 km on broken equipment. I hopped a ride to the
finish at the 30km mark and was able to see my Steinbock teammate grab
third place!

Such is sport. Live to fight another day. I'm off to the Engadin
Marathon on Friday for another stab at the world's largest skate race!

Fight For it. BMT Victory 2010.

As I wrote in my last post, one of my favorite things about racing are the last kilometers... I love to be right in the thick of it, fighting for position– banging elbows. The more of a dog fight the race becomes, the more I enjoy what I'm doing.

If you don't believe me, here is proof... A photo from the Boulder Mt Tour, taken within a Km of the finish.

Having the time of my life - 2010 Boulder Mt Tour (photo by Mike Turzian)

What is missing from this photo is AJ. He is just out of the frame, leading me out as he did for several Km's before this picture was taken. He hit it as hard as he could to keep the pace high and get me to the finish lanes in the front of the pack. And as with any good lead out, he practically keeled over when the dash for the finish began– though he did hold on for a solid 5th place.

But thats not the point, the point is that we raced as a team and won as a team. And there is a lot to be said about that...

-ZSi