We had an APU/UAA time trial this morning at Hillside. Some of the juniors in town were time trialing a little later this morning also (different course), mostly Winter Stars athletes with some APU juniors and High School skiers, so there was plenty of fast skiing going on at Hillside.

I must admit I was a bit of a reluctant time trialist this morning and was a little lazy about getting in a good warmup. It's hard to get psyched for a time trial now that I've had a taste of real racing. We started at the top of Jr. Nordic and skied a lap of the lighted loop, then continued on the first half of the loop to the Hilltop parking lot, then down to the end of gasline and up Spencer, finishing at the high point on Spencer. If that sounds like gibberish to you, you're not alone, it was gibberish to me too this morning. I managed to mostly stay on the course though. There was one intersection where I wasn't entirely sure which way I should go. Luckily, Bart caught and passed me before I had to think too long and I followed him off to the left. Thanks, Bart! I returned the favor by tripping him with my pole when he came by me.

After the first lap Taz made up her 1 minute on me and I decided to ski with her and see if I could pick up any tips... Taz being notably good at those distance skate things and myself being not so good at them. It is amazing how much easier it is to ski when you're following someone. Normally I would say drafting but Taz doesn't offer much in the form of a draft for someone like me. Anyway, I definitely started skiing more smoothly once Taz passed me and I stayed with her to the finish at the top of Spencer.

Labels: race