My first ski marathon

Training through the dark months for a long race, and what race day actually felt like.

This winter I signed up for my first long-distance ski race. Not to win anything, just to finish and to have a reason to train through December.

Building the base

Most of my training was easy distance at a pace where I could still talk. Once a week I added intervals on a gentle uphill, and in the autumn I used roller skis and walking with poles to keep the arms working.

Double poling

Many long races are skied largely with double poling. I still used grip wax, but I spent a lot of time on flat sections practising a relaxed double pole. On race day it saved my legs.

Race day

The start was a crowd of skiers in a snowy field and a long queue into the first climb. Feed stations served warm sports drink, and I took something at every single one. The last ten kilometres were slow, but I finished, which was the whole point.

Start slower than you think you should. Everyone passes you at first, and you pass half of them later.