Notes on Skiing Long before the Birkie

                              Moose less then a stone throw away off the ski trail.

Two weeks before the race, is the last time that you should be considering, skiing long. I am not saying ski the distance, but if you are going to be, say, a 6 hour skier, then you ski at least 2/3rds of the time, not the distance. So, a 6 hour skier would ski at least 4 hours.

Due to faster snow and your own rest recovery leading up to the race, you can normally fudge one third. Of course, if you are able ski the expected time of what you figure you are going to do, then do so.

Those that are a bit younger (under 35), may be able to ski long up to within 10 days of the race. However in my years of observation and personal experience, I feel you cannot recover fully, in just a week before the race, if you have skied long.

You may need to go out of town to find decent ski conditions too, unfortunately.

After skiing long, do lots of stretching, preferably in water, eat and drink lots, in the last several days before the race.

Treat yourself to a massage to if you like, but not within the last 2 days of the race, unless of course you do it all the time.

Do not do anything that you are not used to. If you do abnormal exercises, then the newly used muscles will be sore and tender.

As usual, feel free to send me any questions that you may have.

See you on the trails. Look around and enjoy nature as well.
                                                                   
                                                                          Porcupine