TODAY!

The Winner: Fabio Santus of Italy.
He finished the 50 km in 1:56:58.6. He averaged 15 mph. Are you kidding me?

Sweet Sunshine and Succulent Snow!

Today is a beautiful day in the upper Midwest and a fantastic day to be on the ski trails. It is about 28 degrees and sunny. After three to four inches of snow the past couple of nights the Elver Park trails were in terrific shape. They were well-groomed, and I encountered very little ice and even fewer people.

This year's Birkie is tomorrow, and next year's race is 366 days away. Today made things very obvious-I have some work in front of me. This was my longest ski of the year - just over 10 km, and it took just under an hour. One year from tomorrow I will need to ski five times further than I went today. That is one scary thought. Today I struggled often, yet stayed focused on my strides and my breathing and was able to hang in there until the end. Considering that next February I hope to ski the 50 km in about four hours, I am not even close to where I want to be.

But most importantly I have a plan: live an active lifestyle. Keep getting outside, keep moving, keep gaining strength, keep fighting for fitness.

Wisconsin Winterland

Trying to stay fit during Wisconsin winters is no easy task. I have skied several times this winter, but remaining consistent is the biggest challenge. Each day I try to do something. If the weather is inviting I will slap on the skis, or take a two mile jog -- just enough to keep the legs and the lungs in shape -- or sometimes I will just take the dog around the neighborhood park. When the weather is too cold and uninviting I will lift some dumb bells, or pull on the rowing machine for about 30 minutes. But other than the skiing, none of these activities challenge my soft, aging body.

I look forward to March and to spring ... to cruising through Elver Park with the dog. Elver is a fantastic urban park, one perfect for the locals trying to get fit. The widely cut ski trails will become a terrific off-road training ground; the steep sledding hill will become a great place to improve strength and endurance; the flats are plentiful enough where I will be able to work on speed.

But today I only dream about spring...for the fourth straight night we got at least an inch of snow and more is predicted tonight. I will take advantage of the snow on my day off this Friday, but really, at this point, I want warmth and sunshine and dry ground. Next year, as I train specifically for the Birkie, I will welcome the snow, but today I look forward to starting my dry-land training.

The Countdown Begins!

Today is my 50th birthday, only 372 days until the The American Birkebeiner. One year and seven days to get fit enough to ski 50 km's. Here we go!

What is Birkyness?

On a most basic level, Birkyness is nothing more than a cheap ripoff of the movie In Pursuit of Happyness. Metaphorically however, Birkyness defines a way of life. Or at least a way of life which I want to chase.

On Saturday February 20, 2010, I turn 50. Obviously it's a big deal ... and something that seems to have snuck up on me. Sure I could see it coming, but still I am having a hard time fathoming the idea that I am 50. And yet as I reflect on this milestone, and the reality of being a half century old, I am struck by my desire to do some things. You know, to mark some things off of my life list.

I would like to ....

• Hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon (and back out)
• Earn "The Ruahine Tramping Club Badge" by hiking in New Zealand with my college buddy Robb Kloss (check out his awesome blog: http://ruahineramblings.blogspot.com/)
• Hike the John Muir Trail (hopefully parts of it with my blogging friend Allan over at http://threehundredsixtyfivewalks.blogspot.com/)
• Hike to the top of Half Dome
• See Denali
• Canoe a remote northern river
• Bike 100 miles in a single day
• Ski the American Birkebeiner.

It is not difficult to see that each of these dreams share one common and necessary ingredient - a high level of fitness. Something I lost while in my 40's.

So to me, Birkyness is quite simple to define and quite difficult to achieve. Birkyness is about being fit enough to hike any mountain, canoe any river, bike any trail whenever and wherever I want.

The way I figure it, if I can ski the American Birkebeiner in any given February, then I will have prepared myself to start checking off the items on the list in any given adventure.

The Journey

February 1992:

My pursuit of the American Birkebeiner started on a snowy February day in 1992. It began during my first year of teaching in Medford, Wi when some friends invited me to Hayward for Birkie weekend. I did not know what the weekend would bring. I knew there was going to be several thousand skiers hanging around this small northern town. I was mainly along for the party. I didn't know people were this crazy about cross-country skiing.

Growing up I was a downhill skier. Grabbed a tow rope, held on tight, and went to the top - Headwall - that's what the locals called it. Then pointed the skis down hill and went as fast as I could. Probably took about 15 - 20 seconds to get to the bottom, maybe less. Then did it over again. All day long. It was all about speed. As far as cross-country skiing went, I had skied a bit during the college and Colorado years, all classical, mainly moving slowly through the woods. Mainly taking girls on dates. These Medford friends however were hardcore. Every weekend they were out on the trails...training for the race, something I just didn't understand. Until the moment the race began.