This past weekend my daughter and I enjoyed a full weekend of cross country skiing, without the boys (and all the extra luggage that goes along with them!). On Friday we drove almost four hours up to Craftsbury, a charming village in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Here where we would participate in our first Craftsbury Marathon which Ciclismo Classico also sponsored. I had heard great things about the Marathon and was very excited for this premier cross country skiing event. The marathon is open to racers and tourists who can choose from a 25km or 50km event. This event is part of the prestigious American Ski Marathon Series and the New England Marathon Series and has been proclaimed by the VT State Chamber of Commerce as one of the "Top Ten Winter Events in Vermont." Although this would be the farthest my daughter had ever skied, she is strong and has lots of endurance as long as there are plenty of food stops.
We woke up to an absolutely perfect winter day. Bright sun, not too cold and a fresh dusting of powder over the solid base. After a hearty breakfast, we waxed our skis and drove down the road to the start. A jingle of cow bells and we were off along down a big beautiful field to Little Hosmer Lake with hundreds of other skiers. The course was a series of loops that returned back to the touring center base where soups, drinks, sandwiches, treats and a crowd of onlookers awaited.
At KM 10 Valentina hit a wall and wanted to sit out a leg of the course. I got her to KM13, the half way point and the third rest stop. I let her eat some pea soup, chew on a cookie and think about what she really wanted to do, then I pulled out my best ammunition for tired kids: A jumbo York Peppermint Patty. She got up "dusted herself off" and started all over again. The next leg of the course was Sam's Run, a gorgeous 8 KM loop that zigs zags through the woods and across gorgeous, view filled fields. At this point the top racers had lapped up and were now passing us at a rapid pace. Sleek, skin-suited and muscle bound skiers (like 65 year old Trina Hosmer and my buddy Rick Gordon) passed us which inspired Valentina to give it her best stride. She writes in her journal:
"Now I am 15KM and know that I am more than half way. We ski along Sam’s Run where the views of all the farms and big white fields are beautiful. Lots of really fast racers pass us. My mother reminds me that they are super tired too! One last time back at the center, people take our picture and tell me its only 5 more KM back down to Craftsbury Common. I ski down and then up a long hill. I see the 24KM sign and I know that there is only one more KM! Now I am singing because we are there and I’m tired."
We ski across the finish line together, extremely proud to have finished the course in 4 hours 30 minutes. The best part; she said that was fun, , maybe I can do even better next year.
After a hearty lunch and the awards (Ciclismo Classico donated a trip to the raffle), we drive 2.5 hours to Bethel, Maine for our 2nd Women's Cross Country Ski Day. On Super Bowl Sunday, while millions of fans were getting their parties and kegs rolling, 200 active women of all ages and abilities were focused on learning and improving their cross country skiing techniques. The Bethel Inn, with its miles of gently rolling trails on its golf course backyard, was the perfect location for this day of learning, skiing and bonding. Valentina and took the advanced skate, uphill and downhill classic and the advanced classic clinic. The previous day's long ski got her body and mind into the "zone" for today each clinic was like a walk in the park. Everything came together as she skied beautifully and zipped around the clinics zones. We met skiers from all ovder New England including a the owner of Carter's Ski Touring Center in Maine who came with her very pregnant daughter.
At the buffet lunch we all gathered to eat, share experience and listen to gold medal marathoner (and Maine native) Joan Benoit Samuelson speak. Her message was simple: each one of us can make the world a healthier place by just being active and inspiring others to do the same. Brava Joan!
After lunch it was time for the relay. Valentina and I got our numbers and headed to join the pack. At the cow bell, I started with the classic 1 KM leg which I discovered when watching the strong ladies in the lead, meant a double-pole sprint to the finish. I held my own, tagged Valentina and she was off like the wind. She writes in her journal:
"After lunch it was time for the relay race. I did skate and my mom did classic. At the last minute I passed another girl my age. My mom screamed and was super proud of me. I was out of breath but felt like I was flying. We both worked hard and got 5th place. We won a ceramic tile that said Women’s Cross Country Ski Day 2009."
What a day! What a weekend. Little by little the women went on their separate ways. I took a great one hour sunset ski on The Moose Trail and Corkscrew and reflected on how blessed I am to have been able to spend such a gorgeous weekend with my 9-year old daughter and other active women.
Upon my return we walked to dinner and the oversized Superbowl filled the room. Luckily my daughter found the whole thing very boring and no comparison to our own super ski weekend. We retreated to the heated outdoor pool, I pretended I was a sea monster and she reveled in screaming and splashing her crazy mom. That night visions of snowflakes, steamy pools and perfect tracks danced in our heads. Good Night Moon. Good Night Mouse. Good night skis. Good night trees. Good night my little girl who skis like the wind!
