Nationals 08/09 - 30km Skate

About 8km left to go! Photo by Bill Greer
At the beginning of the week I though that the last race at Nationals would be my best. Usually I'm strongest in long distance races. I thought I was in good shape for this race, because I had been racing pretty well the four previous races at Nationals, but for some reason I just wasn't able to go fast this time. Right off the start I knew something was wrong, I don't usually feel THIS bad at the beginning of my races. Originally my plan was to stay with the group for the first 15km, then break away and try to put as much time on everyone as possible and go for the win. But I was struggling to even stay with the leaders in just the first 5km. We did four times a 7.5km loop. After the first loop I was still with the leaders, thinking I could still finish with them. After the second loop two skiers had broken away and I was in the chase pack, thinking I could still place top three. After the third loop I was sitting in around fifth spot, I knew I wouldn't be top three but thought could still be top five. On the last lap I was pretty miserable, I was having a terrible race but still had to keep going in order to keep a spot in the aggregate standings. I finished in 6th. One of the wost races this year. Oh well, at least I still finished 2nd in the Aggregate results.
Photo by Bill Greer
The season I pretty much over now. Overall I am quite happy with this years results. I still have one more race here in the Yukon to do though; the Buckwheat Ski Classic. A local 50km ski loppet, which has some cash prizes!Photo by Bill Greer