The original call was for a classic day on the Summit Nordic upper trails, but after arriving we switched plans quickly to a long-distance skate workout when only Elise, RuthMabel, and Hanne were able to make it up for the session. With these fast-movers in attendance, it was the perfect day to tackle the Mt. Catherine Loop, going the "uphill" way to Windy Pass, continuing around clockwise to Grand Junction and back down the alpine runs, about a 13.5km loop by my measurements. We started out at 10:30, skating out through traffic on some dirty snow till we hit the bridge just past the 2km mark to regroup. I was cruising about 5-10 seconds behind the group, and we waited a minute for Robin Stacy and Dan Miller to catch us. Robin and Dan decided to head up the Hidden Valley trail and try to meet us somewhere on the upper trails. Lynne, Rosemary, and Sharon had taken the chairlift up and were going to do the loop in the opposite direction, so we anticipated running into the different groups as we came around the hill. The race team started up again and we cruised past the HV intersection and the old Yurt spot. The trail conditions were getting better as we got farther out and gained a little elevation, great surface for skating. As we skied out to the first switchback the trail starts to go up, and the race group started to open up a gap on me, still skiing at a steady but not all-out pace, as directed. I watched as they pulled ahead like a bike race breakaway pack, hitting the V1 power side to the right in perfect synchronization, tightly packed, with Hanne and RuthMabel trading spots behind Elise who was setting the pace.
Wow, they looked great!
We pulled up again at the switchback to get a drink, adjust jackets, etc. and get instuctions for the next leg. "How far do you want us to go?" was the question. My answer was "We've got this short switchback leg, so go ahead past that - up to the top corner going into Windy Pass, or the Jim Brooks cabin is just past the top if you want to go all the way there before I catch up". The racers all nodded, and we started the serious climbing. The racers were around the first corner before I could even see it. About 50 yards before the turn, probably less than 1km from the lower corner, I pulled up, my pulse pounding, and leaned on my poles. I had two radios in my pack, but had forgotten to give one to Elise to stay in contact. "Oh well, they know to wait for me at the cabin" I thought. I could hear some skis on the trail behind me so I started up again around the corner - I did not want to get caught and passed by touring skiers on backcountry classic gear! After getting around the corner I had to pull up again. After a few surges and stops I checked my pulse - 188bpm, well above the nominal maximum for a guy my age.
I took my jacket off and tied it around my waist, took a drink, and started up again. Spiked over 180bpm almost immediately, even trying to keep a slow pace using diagonal V skate. At this point the overtaking skiers started to arrive - a bunch of guys doing skate intervals on the upper switchback. They all got by me at various points as I started and stopped and started again, and now I was checking my watch as the racers were undoubtedly waiting at least 15-20 minutes for me by now.
Peter Boveng came surging up the trail on his classic skis, and we had a brief "are you OK?" conversation. Peter continued on up to check in on the racers and let them know I was having trouble and would have to turn around. While I was still working my way up, Peter came back to tell me that the racers were OK with continuing around to Grand Junction and down the other side, and would meet me at the lodge. I was a couple hundred yards away from the Windy Pass cut, so continued up to the 8km sign, then put my jacket and hat back on for the return trip. There was no way I would be able to continue around and tackle the uphill climb on Ripsaw.
It had taken me 90 minutes to get to the top, almost an hour of that was the last 2km. The return trip only took me 30 minutes, but I still had to stop twice in the last 2 km to catch my breath (on those dinky little uphills). SNC club members Amy and Fang caught me just after I started down, and we skied together for most of the return. We emerged at the trailhead just in time to see Hanne's red hat zig-zagging the last 100 yards down to the lodge, which I followed down in time to meet the 3 racers taking off their skis.
Any doubts about whether or not I can keep up over a longer distance with sustained climbing are dispelled - I cannot. A rite of passage that brings a smile to my face every time it happens to me though. I still remember Holly Brooks beating me on our Wed. Night Time Trial course for the first time when she was about the same age as Hanne, and beaming about it (it took her a little while longer to beat the other coaches, her Dad and Jeff Clark....). Our racers are improving at a tremendous rate, and getting competitive with the larger JOQ field. We have seen personal bests this year that are 2 to 5 minutes faster than last year over the same distances. I couldn't be prouder of the entire team this year.
So remind me to pass out the radios before the next workout. Way to go Racers!!
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