Training Log Archive: AliCIn the 1 days ending Feb 27, 2011:
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Sunday Feb 27, 2011 #
Note
So random small-world moment: I wore my ski-o jacket up to the podium (what else? =)), and Elisabeth Coupot, who came in 2nd asked if I orienteered, and said her husband is a coach for the French team. So went down and met him afterwards, and chatted, turns out he knows/also coaches? Emily Kemp! Cool!
9 AM
XC skiing race 1:57:22 22.95 mi (5:07 / mi) +808m 4:37 / mi
ahr:166 max:179
4éme Marathon de la Clarée
I won! =) Super psyched, because it was quite a good race between me and 2nd for the whole second lap. Photo (scroll down past the guys).
Frederic attempted to explain (too tricky for my French) to the technical delegate at the start that I should be allowed to start in the first line, but no go, so started in the 2nd, but luckily, there aren't many fast women, so no probs to get up to the lead pack. Lead pack started at a leisurely pace with six, I was 6th, but totally comfortable. For whatever reason, lead girl didn't indicate she wanted to switch the lead (tactical to switch, drafting helps) for the first 10k or so, until the bottom of the course, when things all broke up a bit, and heading from Plampinet to the start, ended up as a group of 3 of us in the lead, still perfectly comfy pace.
Then the steeper hill from the finish area at Névache through the forest. Elisabeth and I dropped the 3rd girl at the beginning of the steepness, and I think Elisabeth was actually surprised I kept up. We were now going a pace that was actually tough, but I was happy to hear she was breathing quite hard too. Kept right behind her for the up, then she indicated I should take the lead for a bit. So switched into the lead for the flats on top and the big descent.
Then, she broke away up the hill from Plampinet! More or less just skied away from me. I was kinda bummed, but kept head up and skiing hard. And then, heading into the last 4k bit between the start and finish (we did this bit 3 times, if that makes sense), I could tell I was gaining. Woo! Still not convinced I could take her, but caught her on a down, and then accelerated into the 2nd to last hill, really going for it. Didn't look back, and on the actual last hill, felt like I was going quite slow and that for sure she was right behind me, but no! when I turned around on the downhill following, it was a guy! Awesome. So kept racing racing racing the last 1.5k, not wanting to give any chance for her to catch and ended up in 1st by 42 seconds!!
After the race, got interviewed in French, which I think I did decently with, although I didn't know the french word for rollerskis! Everyone there was pretty surprised, because Elisabeth has been winning most of the French marathons. And then got awarded 250 euros, which is pretty cool too, can cover buying some wax or something.
I won! =) Super psyched, because it was quite a good race between me and 2nd for the whole second lap. Photo (scroll down past the guys).
Frederic attempted to explain (too tricky for my French) to the technical delegate at the start that I should be allowed to start in the first line, but no go, so started in the 2nd, but luckily, there aren't many fast women, so no probs to get up to the lead pack. Lead pack started at a leisurely pace with six, I was 6th, but totally comfortable. For whatever reason, lead girl didn't indicate she wanted to switch the lead (tactical to switch, drafting helps) for the first 10k or so, until the bottom of the course, when things all broke up a bit, and heading from Plampinet to the start, ended up as a group of 3 of us in the lead, still perfectly comfy pace.
Then the steeper hill from the finish area at Névache through the forest. Elisabeth and I dropped the 3rd girl at the beginning of the steepness, and I think Elisabeth was actually surprised I kept up. We were now going a pace that was actually tough, but I was happy to hear she was breathing quite hard too. Kept right behind her for the up, then she indicated I should take the lead for a bit. So switched into the lead for the flats on top and the big descent.
Then, she broke away up the hill from Plampinet! More or less just skied away from me. I was kinda bummed, but kept head up and skiing hard. And then, heading into the last 4k bit between the start and finish (we did this bit 3 times, if that makes sense), I could tell I was gaining. Woo! Still not convinced I could take her, but caught her on a down, and then accelerated into the 2nd to last hill, really going for it. Didn't look back, and on the actual last hill, felt like I was going quite slow and that for sure she was right behind me, but no! when I turned around on the downhill following, it was a guy! Awesome. So kept racing racing racing the last 1.5k, not wanting to give any chance for her to catch and ended up in 1st by 42 seconds!!
After the race, got interviewed in French, which I think I did decently with, although I didn't know the french word for rollerskis! Everyone there was pretty surprised, because Elisabeth has been winning most of the French marathons. And then got awarded 250 euros, which is pretty cool too, can cover buying some wax or something.