Silver Star
Last Saturday was an interesting sprint day for me. I had been feeling sick earlier that week and still didn't feel totally better. I qualified 4th Junior and racing out there on my own felt horrible! I had a wicked cough between then and the heats (and all weekend really...) and was feeling quite tired - questioning my coaches' advice to keep racing that day. But I did the quarter finals and the semi finals and by then I was starting to feel like I had a bit more energy. In the finals I had another good start and got in right behind a girl and was right where I wanted to be. I stayed in that position right up to the last sharp corner coming into the finishing stretch. There, I started going to the outside her, also while the girl behind me was trying to get on my inside...one unfortunate pole plant and I saw half of my pole fly through the air. Once I recovered from my almost-face-plant, I paused and looked straight ahead at how much further I had to ski. I don't think I have ever broken a pole in a sprint before and my decision making was a little slow; I didn't know if I should take off the broken pole and hope that one of my coaches would be on the side of the finish or of I should just run/stride to the line. I decided to stride it out with one pole. A few meters down the finishing stretch I looked over and one of my coaches was running beside me reaching out an extra pole. I realized I didn't have time to take off my strap so I just grabbed it in my finger tips around my other pole handle. I still wasn't able to double pole (which would have been ideal for the flat finish) but at least I could pole on each side! I was now in 3rd place and about 10m from the red line and I could hear 4th place coming up quick behind me - I wanted to double pole so bad! Right before the line I couldn't get striding up to sprint speed and I ended up in 4th place, still so close to 3rd.
Next time I get a pole broken in a race I'll have make sure I don't hesitate and just take it off right away!
Sunday's race was a 10km classic race. This was my very first distance race of the season and SilverStar's trails are definitely a challenge for that, especially with the altitude! I started out quite relaxed and focused on technique knowing there was a lot of climbing to be done and not wanting to blow up. Although I was tired at the end of the race I feel as though I could have pushed a bit harder in the middle of it. I found I had a hard time pushing race-pace until about 7.5km in, it was like I was stuck in relaxed-mode. I ended up 4th again.
I was able to take something away from both of the races this weekend and learn from them. In the end I am happy with the way I raced; technically well and efficient. I should be feeling better every weekend so two 4th places is a good place to start!
Next time I get a pole broken in a race I'll have make sure I don't hesitate and just take it off right away!
Sunday's race was a 10km classic race. This was my very first distance race of the season and SilverStar's trails are definitely a challenge for that, especially with the altitude! I started out quite relaxed and focused on technique knowing there was a lot of climbing to be done and not wanting to blow up. Although I was tired at the end of the race I feel as though I could have pushed a bit harder in the middle of it. I found I had a hard time pushing race-pace until about 7.5km in, it was like I was stuck in relaxed-mode. I ended up 4th again.
I was able to take something away from both of the races this weekend and learn from them. In the end I am happy with the way I raced; technically well and efficient. I should be feeling better every weekend so two 4th places is a good place to start!
