Anyhow, Big Purple finished with some of the best places the Knights have ever seen in nordic skiing. Though our men's team was absent from this race, the women managed to do pretty well. In fact, I'm pretty sure we (meaning Larissa, Gabby and I) had our best skate results of the season! WOOHOO. The wax was right and the mentality was right, something was right.
The next day of races proved a bit more challenging as we had to summit Mt. High-school Hill 3 times in a nice long 15k classic race. The competition was fierce and I was impressed with the UMPI girls who were skiing their first races ever that race. Go them! So much for easing into the sport.
Seeing as Black Mountain is kind of like my "home course" it was interesting racing there as a college student. I raced there countless times in high school and honestly, I don't remember high school hill being that tough. I also didn't have to do it three times in high school ha! Also, with my home being only 30 minutes away from the venue, we were able to stop by my house for dinner Saturday night. Unfortunately, we missed the banquet, but I think my mom's spaghetti was probably way better. Thanks Mom <3
And we would not have gotten through those races without the amazingly large vat of oatmeal that was made for us each morning by the owners of the Mountain Spring Inn in Andover, ME. (Larissa would not agree with me on this) But I like oatmeal.
Today was just like the season never ended however because while two of our team-mates were off racing a 5k classic at Craftsbury, Gabby and I did some intense intervals! (5x 3min. to be exact) Yay! so we can still feel like we're going fast. Our asst. coach Lary wants us all to do the Craftsbury marathon which is the current future goal. . . so those intervals should have been a little longer maybe.
Anyway, just a Big Purple update. The skiing is still good and the team is still skiing. perfect.
-Kat
