With Bash and 3Pin. (Including cooldown)
The Duke designed an interesting course, with several matrix sections where one person had to do most of the controls in each box. There was no obvious easy split up, and also no obvious advantage of skate vs classic.
First was a snowshoe matrix, and we gave Ultra-runner 3-pin 6 controls. He came in a few minutes behind a speedy Bender.
Next, 5 Ski-O CPs, which went fine with Bash navigating. After that- the ski Matrix. Foolishly we assigned me to do 4 of the 6 controls, as I'm supposedly the strongest skier. Well, maybe physically, but I had a nasty parallel error at E which took me forever to sort out. I made a terrible route choice back, bushwhacking and breaking trail to avoid going the wrong way, to the wrong control no less. Arrghh! I was in zone 5 for 58 minutes here, and since I haven't been pushing it hard since my injury in September I arrived totally pooched, with knee and HR throbbing.
Bash had to wait 30 minutes for me! She and 3-pin were quite kind, more than I deserved. More ski CPs, and a star split to finish off.
Oh well, we managed to pull of a (distant )second to the victorious Bender, Tiny and Nosnhoj, by half an hour. Fun race!
Note
Results are up- Our split 5-6 (Ski matrix goofup) was 1:05 compared with MBR's 0.30. :(
Workout #3. Took longer than usual, as I was winterizing bladder hoses and waxing skis between sets. With my busted knee I haven't packed for a race in a long time.
Easy commute with T-dog on a postcard-perfect morning.
Strength (Core) 25:00 [2]
Core class with Bash. Did I mention how much I *hate* long sequences of crunches with legs straight up or one hovering above the ground and the other straight up? I can't think of any training that hurts more.
Yoga45:00 [1]
Caron's yoga class. She was having us hold awkward poses for 5 breaths today. Lots of moans and groans from the class, and evil chuckles from Caron.