A_GEL_ITY

So yesterday was the Birkie. The short story: Lost two gels while trying to fiddle around with getting it out of a brand new pouch. Never drank from my bottle. The gels I had stapled to my drink belt fell off in my race bag. Lost a basket. Spent a minute skiing back down to reattach the darn thing. Cramped up in both legs.

I don't know what I was thinking. Although I managed to place right in the middle of my wave I also managed to partially reenact my epic Birkie of 2008 where I cramped up at 35k and had to walk the hills. I was a little luckier this time. I cramped up at 40k, but not so badly that I had to walk the hills. Nevertheless, did I really think I could ski the Birkie on one 2h45m skate in the middle of January? Sure I had a few shorter and more intense workouts between that "long" ski and the Birkie, but really, wtf was I thinking?

Despite all that I managed to accomplish one goal. I stayed on my feet. In fact, I stayed on my feet at all my races this year except for Mora where I did a mini Majdic. Thankfully I didn't break any ribs or puncture a lung.

So that's it. My Birkie. My season. Next season I'll probably do more skate distance workouts and staple my gels to a fuel belt. I won't carry a bottle. I'll reglue my baskets. You got a story?