American Birkebeiner

Its hard to believe that I am writing this. Three months before I attended my first Birkie (2008 as a spectator) most people would have laughed if I had said I was going to ski the Birkie. I was out of shape and trying to quit smoking, plus I had never even seen a pair of cross country skis before.

Prior to Thanksgiving 2007, I was told I needed to quit smoking so I could heal from minor surgery. It was my final motivation and I quit on the spot. Along came February 2008 and a friend asked us to join her at her family cabin for Birkie weekend. After watching the first skiers come across the line I remembered what it was like to cross the finish line when I ran in track and field. I made up my mind then and there that I was going to ski the Birkie.

I was hooked. I had no skis, and not a clue how to ski. By November 2008, (a year after I quit smoking) I saved enough money to buy some equipment and I hit the trails. With some help from an instructor at the gym and sheer determination I learned to skate ski.

February 2009, Birkie weekend was upon us. I was registered and ready to line up Saturday morning. I skied out of the back of the final wave and started to weave my way through traffic. It's amazing the people you meet on the trail and the things you learn about yourself and the other skiers.

My only goal for the race was to make it across Lake Hayward, ski up Main Street and cross the finish line. I crossed the finish line in a little over 5 hours. It was an amazing experience and I plan to participate for many years to come.