Tahoe Debacle

March 22, 2011

     So I'm sitting here in Sun Valley trying to figure out where my fitness really is for the tail end of the season and why i just spent 5 days in Reno/Tahoe without doing a race. I havent raced in about a month which worries me some, but its not like i havent tried. Racing is the best way to keep yourself fit for racing. Learned tactics and pacing comes from racing as well as self assessment. I have had plenty of races this season, but im getting really anxious to find out where my fitness is at.
     Like many of you know, I support myself  through my skiing. I have had the fortune of some local Soldotna sponsors helping me out this year, but for the most part i still maintain a full time job whenever i am at home. If i dont have to be on the road, i will be working. Paying off that credit card is a priority and i will do things as cost efficiently as possible. This leads me to the Tahoe trip. There were scheduled Supertour races to take place in Tahoe followed by the Gold Rush, a ski marathon thats been around for a while. Mark and I bought tickets a few weeks ago knowing that this supertour sprint would be a good to fire up the body and get a few extra days at altitude before the Sun Valley Supertour Finals.  Unfortunately we were informed on the 10th that the supertour was cancelled. I didnt mind too much at first as i saw the opportunity to work a few extra days. To my frustration though, to change the ticket was going to be more expensive than the round trip ticket that mark and I purchased a few weeks ago. This means that i would have to work everyday before leaving (had I left a week later) to almost compensate for the change in ticket price. We really didn't have a choice but to go down and hang out in Reno for a few days. I am a little ticked off that the airlines cant help make better adjustments in scenarios like mine. At any rate, Mark and I made the best of it and went down for a training camp. I had planned on racing the Gold Rush simply to get in a race before spring nationals, but with some 6ft of snow in 2 days, the race was cancelled for the first time in its 31 year history.
      I still havent had the chance to race. I was sick for the tour of anchorage, Tahoe sprints are cancelled, Gold Rush is cancelled. Racing for me just doesnt seem to be aligning. I will be very curious to see how this 50k national championship goes on Saturday. I sure would like to end this season well and on a positive note. Wish me luck.

Brent