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The Iditarod Trail Invitational was many things. Easy was not one of them.

Monday, March 9th, 2009

I am back home now after successfully completing the 2009 Iditarod Trail Invitational race to McGrath. It was an incredible race, and I am still in slight disbelief that it played out the way that it did. Somehow I managed to finish, despite broken equipment, faulty race strategy, nagging injuries, and the worst trail conditions the ITI has seen.

I am planning to write a detailed account of my race, but that might take a while. Hopefully I can start posting it in sections, starting next week.

In the meantime, let me answer the two questions I’ve been asked most often since I finished:

1) What happened on the last leg? You came into Nikolai in second place, but ended up in 6th, as the second skier?
I’ll go into more detail later, but basically up until that point I had not been racing. I had been playing it smart and safe and resisting any urge to be competitive. And that strategy was working great – after all, I was in second place! Plus, I was also dealing with a broken ski and pretty severe tendinitis in my Achilles. I was exhausted and I knew I couldn’t catch Jeff to win the thing. And honestly, I thought I had the ski division sewn up because Pete’s leg times has always been at least an hour or two slower than mine. So I played it smart and safe, and Pete skied an amazing last leg. Sure, now I wish I had left Nikolai with Pete instead of an hour and twenty minutes later, but I still think I made the smart and safe decision based on the information I had at the time. My hat is off to Pete for kicking into high gear when it counted. He’s the record-holder in this race for a reason.

2. Will you do it again?
I doubt it. There are too many other potential adventures on my list for me to continue focusing on this one. Plus, I was pretty disappointed in the skiing aspect of this race. The skiing was never very good. I understand that a race like this will have highs and lows. I don’t mind the lows. I can deal with miles of trail-breaking or skiing through crud if it means that eventually I’ll enjoy gliding down a packed snowmobile track. The problem was that even the good trail sections, the parts that should have been the ‘highs,’ were kind of miserable. The snow was cold, dry and windblown, and I couldn’t get an inch of glide while pulling a sled. I couldn’t skate, I couldn’t double-pole, I couldn’t even stride. I wasn’t skiing, I was shuffling. I signed up to ski 350 miles, not walk 350 miles with skis on my feet.

But having said all that, there were plenty of moments that made the trip worthwhile. I look forward to cataloging all of my thoughts and getting them down in written form. Check back soon.

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Posted in Interior, Ski, Susitna Valley | 1 Comment »

Send a note

Monday, March 2nd, 2009

I created a few threads on the Ultrasport Message Board to consolidate well wishes, taunts, news reports, etc on Cory. Feel free to chime in…

Click on the link above, select either forum (The organizers created a 2009 race board, but then proceeded to keep the old 2008 board in their site links, so messages to racers are spread out on both forums). Look for a thread entitled “Cory on the Trail” and hit reply to add your comment.

- Linda

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Posted in Ski | 1 Comment »

Going strong!

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

Got a call from Greg, a work friend of Cory’s. He wanted to let me know that he was flying his plane in the area of the race today, and spotted Cory at about 5:30pm (3-1/2 hours in). He called to let me know that Cory looked strong. A lot of the cyclists were walking. He mentioned that no one had reached the Susitna river yet, but I haven’t studied the map enough to know the implications of that. Greg noted that the wind has caused a lot of drifts to pile up on the river, so the cyclists may have a rough time tonight. He also said he didn’t see anyone ahead of him for ages and thought that Cory was in the lead! That conflicts with the messages out of the race organizers, but they did state that the cyclists were really spread out.  We’ll see how things look when racers log into the first checkpoint, but it’s nice to think that he’s skiing well and making progress.

Greg noted that he saw Ed (skier w/the backpack) with the cyclists. But he didn’t mention Pete Basinger, so I hope Greg didn’t confuse Pete for Cory. Cory’s ‘safety orange’ sled cover should have been pretty eyecatching.

-Linda

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Posted in Ski, Susitna Valley | No Comments »

Into the wild….

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

[disclaimer- Cory may be pissed I'm posting, but he can always delete this later]

After yesterday’s snowstorm, today’s clear skies were a relief. I doubt any of the racers were excited to see several inches of soft snow arrive, but maybe the nice weather will bring out the snowmobilers and they’ll pack the trail.

There wasn’t much left for the racers to do at the start, since all the gear choices and prep were complete by the time they arrived. Everyone was ordering burgers and fries for one last warm heavy meal and trying to choke them down. It was outwardly calm, but the racers were generally withdrawn into their own little worlds. It was so strange, even I started to feel that pre-race nauseous feeling.

At about 1:45, Cory pulled his sled together, took a short spin to decide which poles to use at the start (skate poles), and then we said our goodbyes. I thought his sled looked pretty compact compared to a lot of the others, but there were a lot of different sizes and designs. A couple of runners were checking out Cory’s suspension system.  They were using rubber tubing over ropes, so their system looked very lightweight, but runners have very different needs than skiers. The only sled that was intriguing to me was Peter Basinger’s metal frame on skies with a backpack attached. It rides a 3-5 (?) inches off the ground, and supposedly it can be lifted up and carried on his back.  With the inches of new snow, it looked like it was gliding easily.  The other skier had a pretty compact backpack, although supposed his load was about 35 lbs.

Watching 50 racers start doesn’t take too long, and Cory was smiling and waving as he passed us. I took some photos (the race website has better ones), and watched until the racers were all out of view. If I hear any updates, maybe I’ll try to post.

-Linda

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Posted in Ski, Susitna Valley | No Comments »

It’s Go Time

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

Okay, its finally time to stop typing and start skiing. Heavy snow yesterday will make for a slow first day (and maybe second day, and ….).

Many people have asked how they can get updates during the race. I followed the race online last year, and I can tell you that updates are sporadic – but they do exist. Here are your best bets:

Iditarod Invitational homepage – there is a ton of info on this site, but it can be hard to find. Dig around a little bit. The Latest News page will get updated during the race. That page is your best bet for accurate information. You can also click the links to some racer’s blogs, which may have updates.

ITI Message Board – The board is a little clunky to use, but it is a great gathering place for family and race fans.

ITI Blog – official blog of the race organizers, Bill and Kathi. Kathi will be in McGrath this year and may post updates on the blog.

MTBCast – a podcast of race reports. Usually this is just an audio summary of information found elsewhere, but sometimes racers call in with updates, especially those going all the way to Nome.

Jill Homer’s blog – Jill has someone who will be posting updates on her site. It won’t say anything about me, but it might include general comments on trail conditions, weather, etc.  Jill is using a Spot, so if you can’t follow me, you can follow her pretty easily. She is a celebrity in ITI circles. She became famous when NPR followed her 2008 race. She has the most popular blog and a book.

Weather and Temperatures on the Course

Here we go!

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Posted in Alaska, Ski | No Comments »

2009 Iditarod Trail Invitational

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

“It’s a dream until you write it down.  Then it becomes a goal.” – source unknown

 

It’s a goal until you post it on the internet.  Then it becomes a commitment.  

I am going to attempt the 2009 Iditarod Trail Invitational race to McGrath.  This is a 350 mile race through remote, frozen Alaska that competitors can tackle on bike, ski or foot (I’ll ski, of course).  The race has also been known as the Iditasport, the Alaska Ultrasport, and many other names throughout its varied history.  

For those unfamiliar with this race, it follows the Iditarod Sled Dog race trail.  The entire course is in the middle of nowhere, far from any roads or towns.  There are some remote cabins and lodges along the way, but that’s about it.  Racers can go to McGrath (350 miles) or all the way to Nome (1100 miles).  I’m doing the ‘short’ option.    The race website claims that this is the “World’s Longest Winter Ultra Race.”  There are a few checkpoints along the way, but for the most part each racer must be self-sufficient as far as food, clothing, navigation, and safety.  For more on this race, go to the race website, or read this recent piece from the New York Times.

The race will take about a week, plus or minus a few days depending on conditions.  There will be a lot of darkness, sub-zero temperatures, wind, snow and many other obstacles.

Why am I doing this?  Here is the backstory.

As you probably know, I was a full-time ski racer until 2002, usually training in the neighborhood of 15-20 hours a week. When I gave up ski racing and moved to Alaska, I was happy to no longer keep a training log or go to the weight room twice a week. I kept in decent shape simply by doing what I wanted, when I wanted. Even with a pretty steep drop-off in training hours, I was still in good shape. I liked to joke that I had 90% of my fitness with 50% of the effort.

Then, in 2006 my job became more time consuming. In 2007, Linda and I had a baby.  My decline in fitness, which had been relatively slow, began to accelerate. My race results went from “slightly less than I hoped for” to “slightly embarrassing.” I was getting soft, but I wasn’t gaining weight. In fact I was losing a few pounds, which meant my muscle mass was decreasing. My fitness was on a slippery slope, in danger of going off a cliff.  I didn’t want to pass the point of no return, where getting back into shape would require a herculean effort.  I needed a goal to motivate me.  Run-of-the-mill ski races weren’t going to cut it.  The goal needed to be not only challenging, but intimidating.

So a year ago, I decided that I wanted to ski the 2008 Iditarod Invitational race to McGrath. It was a third priority, behind family and work, but I still thought I could get in decent shape for it. The race is expensive, so I had a “wait and see” approach. I would wait and see if I was able to get into shape, before I would plunk down the $800 entry fee.

Well, between work and a newborn baby, I did not get in shape and thus did not sign up for the race. But when race day came, I found myself wishing I was out there, even without the training.  I decided then that I would do the race in 2009.  No more wait and see.  I needed to get the ball rolling.

I started ski-specific training on September 1st. I’ve been getting my gear together. I’ve been planning overnight trips to practice my winter survival skills.  I’ve been experiementing with different foods in frozen environments.  And a month ago, I plunked down my $800.  I’m on the list.

Now that the race is less than two months away, my preparation has kicked into high gear.  Check back often for updates on training, gear, and other thoughts as I prepare for this challenge.

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Posted in Interior, Ski, Susitna Valley | 2 Comments »

Beach Lake Freestyle Flyer

Sunday, December 14th, 2008

Today I did the Freestyle Flyer race at Chugiak, which is part of the Anchorage Cup series.  

Recently I was struck by the realization that, while I get really excited for all sorts of local races (running, biking, orienteering, etc.) , I have come to dread the local ski races.  This is particularly odd considering that cross country skiing is, by far, my favorite sport.  

But it is also the sport in which I am most heavily invested.  For a good part of my adult life, my self-worth was directly tied to my ski race results.  And while I try to tell myself that is no longer the case, it is a hard habit to break.

When I do a cyclocross race, I can have fun no matter where I finish because I’m not trying to live up to some previous level of success.  Same thing with orienteering.  I know I’m not the best, but I do it because it is a challenge and it is fun.  Skiing is different because I do expect to be the best.  And I am not.  Not even close anymore.  So it becomes a recipe for frustration every time I put on a bib.

So recently I’ve been trying to reset my mindset.  Just like the old SNL skit: Low-ered Ex-pec-TA-tions.  I’ve been trying to tell myself that my results have slipped far enough that I no longer have anything to lose.  Instead of worrying about getting beaten by my buddies, I can be freed by the fact that they usually beat me. They should be worried that I might beat them!  I am no longer the professional ski racer.  I am a dad and a desk jockey who is just trying to stay in shape.

With that frame of mind, I had a great time today. I skied in the second pack, just out of sight of the leaders for most of the race.  The pace was a bit on the easy side, so I led the pack for a lot of the race.  I just didn’t have the speed to break away.  I finished 7th and managed to beat a few guys I haven’t beaten in years.  For the first time this century, I think my results might actually be on an upswing!  And most importantly, it gave me renewed confidence for my upcoming showdown with Rob.  He didn’t race, so we still have yet to go head-to-head.  But after my result today and a good interval session I had on Thursday, I feel pretty good about my chances.

Anchorage Cup Beach Lake Freestyle Flyer Results

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Posted in Anchorage, Ski | No Comments »

We’re Going To Party Like It’s 1999

Sunday, October 26th, 2008

Flash back ten years…

It’s January 1999. US Cross Country Ski Championships in Rumford, Maine. Tryout races for the World Championships, to be held a month later in Ramsau, Austria. I was an up-and-coming racer, 24 years old, and I finished 4th, 6th, 6th, and 10th in those tryout races. Four strong races that I thought might get me on the Worlds team. However…

There was a junior skier from Alaska who was storming up the ranks at that time. Rob Whitney was only nineteen years old, but he had been beating up on senior skiers for a couple of seasons already. In Rumford, he finished 5th, 6th, and 7th. That included a memorable pursuit race where I edged Rob in the classic race by 6 seconds, but he destroyed me in the pursuit. This earned the promising junior a ticket to Austria, alongside four established members of the US Ski Team. They only took five men on the team, and I was left at home.

Me, racing at Rumford in 1999

Back to the present…

I now spend my days working a desk job in Anchorage. I’m married and raising an 18 month old son, and juggling a few side projects. I exercise whenever I can, which in a good week is about 6 hours. My priorities have shifted, and I am happy with the changes, but I still long for the fitness I had when I could devote 20 hours a week to training.

Rob Whitney is now a firefighter here in Anchorage. He’s got a house, and is well on his way to being married. Like me, he still exercises sporadically and does adventures when he gets the chance, but he has also lost the exceptional fitness he once had. Rob’s put some extra pounds on his tall frame since his racing days ended.

Several weeks ago, Rob casually mentioned that he was thinking of getting serious about training for a few months. The idea was to see if he could lose some weight and jump into a race at the US Cross Country Ski Championships at Kincaid Park in January. I immediately told him I’d do it too. It would be good for both of us to have something to train for.

I always enjoy slightly hair-brained schemes. After all, I’m the same guy who tried out for the Olympic bobsled team simply because they had open trials. Rob and I have no business racing against the best skiers in the country these days. But that is exactly why it would be fun. Plus, I’m always looking for extra motivation to train. There is nothing like the fear of being totally embarrassed to get me out the door.

We tried to recruit others to join our quest, but for some reason there aren’t too many out-of-shape skiers who want to race against guys like Kris Freeman and Andy Newell. So it quickly became an internal competition. The trash-talking commenced almost immediately, and the “we’re both in this together” vibe disintigrated into a mano e mano vibe. Rob versus Cory. Cory versus Rob. The intensity went to new heights on Monday when I went to the APU weight room on my lunch hour, hoping to sneak in a little closet training. Imagine my surprise when I discovered Rob was already there, doing the same thing! Uh oh. He’s already shed some pounds. I quickly regretted my recent two week hiatus. Time to get to work.

So this thing is definitely ON. Here’s the tale of the tape:

2008 Tour of Anchorage 50K Results
(the only ski race we’ve done head-to-head recently):
Cory: 2:23:15.2
Rob: 2:30:31.7

Potential weekly training between now and January:
Cory: 8 hours a week, tops
Rob: potentially a lot more than 8 hours a week (key word: potentially)

Current weight vs Racing weight:
Cory: Racing: 173; Current: 174 (but much softer)
Rob: Racing: 180; Current: Umm, quite a bit more than 180. This could be his ace in the hole. Lots of potential.

On paper, this looks like a tremendous match-up. I’ve got the early advantage, but Rob has the potential to close the gap. Will Rob regain his 1999 form and utterly destroy me? Can I hold him off? Will either of us beat the J2 skiers? Will we both get laughed off the trail before we even finish the race? Stay tuned. This is going to be fun.

Programming Note:

We initially chose the 10K classic race at US Nationals on January 5 to be our showdown. However, we recently realized that we’d need join USSA and pay a high race entry fee, just for the privilege of embarrasing ourselves on the nation’s biggest nordic stage. I’m sure we can find a way to embarrass ourselves without paying over $200 to do it. The showdown date is currently pending.

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Posted in Anchorage, Ski | 1 Comment »

Last Tuesday Night Race

Friday, October 24th, 2008

Official Result: 30:17  (24th place)

Actual Elapsed Time: 27:55 

Since when do they start these races right at 6:30?

Race Results

Full Season Results

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Posted in Anchorage, Run | No Comments »

How To Make Cyclocross Even Better

Sunday, October 5th, 2008

Our cyclocross series wrapped up on Saturday, Oct 4 with a great race at Goose Lake. This course was the best one of the season. It combined pavement, trail, and even sand to make what I considered a true cyclocross challenge. This race was worth double points, so everyone showed up. I finished 13th, and also finished 13th for the season, though I only did four of the six races.

Results | Photos | Photos below by Peter Lekisch

I really enjoyed the cyclocross races, but I can’t help but think that the current cyclocross format is handcuffing the sport. In an article earlier this year, I discussed the similarities between cyclocross and cross country ski racing. In my opinion, cyclocross also suffers from an unfortunate similarity: the over-use of multi-lap courses.

I absolutely hate this trend in skiing. It makes the races boring and repetitive for the racers. Its called cross-country skiing, not gerbil-loop skiing. Let’s cross some country. I long for the days when I could do a 15K or 30K race without having to count laps on my fingers and toes. And the tiny loops necessary for these courses degrade our trail systems. Instead of long, winding, scenic trails through the woods that everyone can use, ski racing now demands extremely short loops which are of little use to non-racers. Case in point: the “new and improved” Kincaid Park. Whoops, sorry for the rant, let me reel it back in here…

I understand that there are many good reasons for using short loops for cyclocross. Its a lot easier on the organizers, it impacts less land, and it is easier for the spectators to see the racers (though it can be impossible to figure out how they are doing – just ask my wife).

But why pigeon-hole cyclocross into this format?  In many ways, cyclocross is the purest form of cycling. The bikes are pared-down. No suspension, no disc brakes. The objective is to cover all kinds of terrain in order to get from point A to point B. So why add in all the contrived stuff like a one hour time limit, multiple loops and man-made barriers?

While skiing has moved to this rat-in-a-cage environment (I’m going to see how many rodent analogies I can squeeze in here), fortunately there are still some ski races that don’t conform to the new standards. Likewise, we need some cyclocross races that break the mold. Let’s have a good old-fashioned bike race from point A to point B over lots of different terrain.

Think about the races we could have near Anchorage:

1) Start at Hilltop, go down the Seward Highway to Indian, up and over Powerline Pass and back to Hillside. Or the same route in the other direction.

2) Start at Kincaid and make your way to Glen Alps or the Dome, using the Coastal Trail, Chester Creek trail, and various dirt trails in between.

3) Start at Moose Run golf course, go up Arctic Valley road, and up the ski area to the ridge, along the ridge and drop down to the South Fork of Eagle River trailhead and back to Moose Run on the road.

4) Start at the Hatcher Pass Lodge, go up and over Hatcher Pass, then climb up Craigie Creek Rd. Then drag your bike up and over a couple of passes to get to the Fern Mine area off Archangel Rd. Ouch. Then back to the Lodge on the road. Is it even reasonable to hoof it up and over while carrying a bike? Probably not, but it would definitely be interesting to try.

Each of these routes offers plenty of the elements that define cyclocross (pavement, trail, bike carrying) and it would be a hell of a lot more interesting that going in circles. I know all of these examples would have issues that could prevent a race from happening, but the point is that there are other options out there.

In no way do I mean to criticize the organizers of our great Arctic Cross series. They do an outstanding job, and it is important to have a series that conforms with international standards. But this is Alaska, where we have the potential to do things bigger and better. Maybe we need to branch out and make this its own sport with a catchy name (Cyclocross Extreme!!) and sign Red Bull up as a sponsor. So who’s in? And more importantly, who wants to organize it? After all, I want to DO these races, not organize them. ;-)

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Posted in Anchorage, Bike | 1 Comment »

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