I was hoping that the Sugarloaf marathon would slip under the radar because of my unfortunate final 10m, but since I have seen the picture of me flounder-ing around in the snow at the finish on two different websites this week, I figured I had to post something about it. The ending aside, I had a fun time that day. I have spent a lot of time in Carrabbasset Valley, racing and training over the years, it is one of my favorite places, only an hour drive from the town that I grew up in.

I have been hanging around home for a while now doing some training.  Tomorrow I am making the drive to Carrabassett Valley to do the Sugarloaf marathon.  Then it is

It took ten years from the time that I completed my first Birkebeiner until I could do the

Nothing like a little Birkie fever.  Tomorrow I jump a plane to Duluth, thursday night I will be in Cable awaiting the start of the American Birkebeiner this weekend.  I have done the Birkebeiner three times in my life, and only the first time was the race done on a full course.  I am going to go ahead and say that this year might be a rare full course year.  Can’t wait.  The last time I skied this event I can remember the main street in Hayward packed with people three deep from the lake to the finish line.  I have never seen so many Packer’s hats in all my life…

We really are enjoying a nice winter up here in northern Maine.  Even with a little rain and some warm temperatures the past few days, there is still a pile of snow in my front yard almost ten feet tall now.

Here’s to a full Birkie!!! 

I am taking a few weekends clear of any long races to put in some training for the Birke.  Can’t wait, I hope there is snow out there in Wisconsin.

 This weekend I did the 5k Karen Sprague Memorial Aroostook Cup in Stockholm.  This is a cool event, not least because Karen Sprague’s husband’s brother

Video from today’s prologue, a few of the podium finishers are in here:

Arrived in Canmore last night and skied around the venue this morning.  Things are shaping up here for a good week.   Check out these photos.

Bonjour!  Right now I am sitting in the Quebec City Airport wondering if this is the only airport in the world with free wireless internet.  Probably not, but what a great thing it is.

Nationals are over and I am in transit on my way home to northern Maine.