This 10km  race which is undoubtably the World’s Toughest 10km  finishes by climbing about halfway up the Mt Washington Toll Road.  The organizer’s and staff at Great Glen Nordic Center put on a fantastic race. The grooming  was awesome, not even taking into account  that mother nature  did not cooperate. 

Doing this race was a last minute affair for me. First of all one must consider that it is a 470 mile drive from my house to Gorham New Hampshire.  Second of all that I would have to start Friday afternoon or evening after work was finished. Anyway a solo mission to race a crazy hard race that enticed me soon turned into an epic adventure with some of my greatest friends. By the way,  along the way I earned the Psycho Parent of the Year award by forcing my 13 yo son to come along.( He actually wanted to do it and volunteered of his own volition. Even after the course was explained to him. Just ask him.) The race was all that it was advertised to be. Although I finished third it was a great trip.  It was good to catch up with Marc Gilbertson, watch Jesse Downs battle it out with Justin Freeman, Catch up with Ely Walker and the Staff at Great Glen. Go skiing with Bernie Gardner and Bob Thomas.  

Next year if it is possible plan on returning for some more punishment and great times. Definitely recommend doing this race to all. 

It has been so cold the Jury has postponed  the Classic Sprint for the last two days. The Montana Team Hanging out waiting to race has been indicative of the last two days. This afternoon they changed the 15 Skate race to a 10 km Skate race tentatively scheduled for tomorrow. Although there is a nasty rumor of changing that to a classic race and then doing the skate race at a later date. I have a flight tomorrow night, hopefully if that it is the case I will try to  change my ticket in order to be able to participate in whatever, whenever. Personally the 15km coarse is much more palatable. Hopefully it will warm up and everybody can stop sitting around and go race.  

Actually it has the tracks/trail is incredibly slow for skating so that racing on any coarse shall be a lung searing sufferfest.

Arrived yesterday in currently frigid Anchorage Alaska to contest the 15 m Skate National Championship Race. The race will hopefully Monday morning, weather permitting.  

Definitely living the dream 1. flew across the nation in 1st class 2. Arrived in Anchorage with all of my luggage. 3. Staying at the Anchorage Ski Hotel complete with Man Cave Wax Room, World Class Wax Technician, Sauna, and excellent cuisine.

Anchorage has awesome scenery and  impeccably groomed trails. This morning was spent waxing skis in the Man Cave. It is a spectacular place to work on your skis. Today waxed 4 pairs of MADSHUS skate skis with TOKO LF Blue to go out and test in the subzero temperatures. 

The local Anchorage Wax aficionado  has a 1-car garage accessorized with all TOKO wax equipment and waxes known to man. Waxing skis is really an art form. There are many components to transforming a ski into a weapon of speed. Such as ski, structure, wax, ironing, scraping, brushing, and the innate art of putting it all together.

The WAX MAN Cave is one of those places which it is possible to put it all together and create ski art.