| HALF MARATHONS
In praise of going the (half) distance in today's XC ski races By Jim Smith A few years back, during the last weekend of February, I found myself in the company of a few thousand other skiers making my way toward Hayward during a rather heavy snowfall. I was having a good season, and after shying away from the Birkie for a number of years, I thought it was time to work toward a better wave placement. My plan was to get out at the front of my wave, ski hard until I hit the next wave, and take it easy to the turn
off for the Kort and then pour it on. The weather can | Skiers in the Noquemanon have a half-marathon option. |
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change things, but my plan worked well, until I hit the nine kilometer mark and the junction with the Kortelopet. The image, that is still vivid years later, pictures the hoards of skiers making the right turn on the Birkie trail while, two, count 'em, two skiers headed down the Kort trail back to Telemark.
The realization struck that I don't have to ski the long event, that there are some compelling reasons to ski the half marathon events that are a part of all full length marathons. There are numerous advantages of skiing the "half," the main reason being they are shorter. If your training has some significant holes in it, you can still slug it out for 25K, where 50K would be a slow form of torture.
A second reason is there are usually less skiers on the course because it is a shorter race, and the longer race is usually the big show. A third important reason is you get to the food at the end of the race sooner because the race is, well, shorter. A final reason is that age group awards are usually easier to come by because the races are, of course, shorter. The marathon ski races in the upper Midwest can all be divided into two
basic categories: looped courses and point to point races. The looped courses usually feature two laps around the loop for the long race and just one for the half marathon; the point to point races have to get more creative. I will start with the looped races and include an upside and a downside for each event.
Seeley Hills Classic 22K, classic technique, Jan. 18, Seeley, WI
The premier classic marathon in the Midwest is run the same day as the
Pepsi Challenge. However, don't expect a small or untalented field in either the 22K or the 42K races. A few years back, I skied the short race in which Olympian John Bauer smoked the field. The next year, in the 42K race, he did it again. In fact, the 22K race is more competitive than the longer race.
Starting at OO on the Birkie trail, the 22K heads south, while the long race goes north. The 22K course is less hilly than the northern section of
the long race, but still provides a great ski. The out and back format allows you to see the leaders go by in the opposite direction. The upside is a great ski on the Birkie trail without the big crowds. Downside, it's hard to find one here, except be ready for some really cold temperatures at the start. The age group awards only go two deep, and given the depth of the field, they are tough to win. It's a not to be missed classic race.
Porcupine Ski Marathon 21K, classic technique, Feb. 1, Silver City, MI
If you are looking for snow, the U.P. is the place to go. Located in Porcupine Mountain State Park, this is a fairly new classic only race. The track is a double track loop starting at the downhill chalet, which gives you an inkling of what is to come. The course starts out flat for the first few kilometers before heading uphill. The run to a high point above the
ski area offers long climbs sprinkled with fast downhills. After the drink station at the top the second half of the course, your efforts are rewarded with a lengthy downhill run. But keep some gas in the tank for a long climb shortly before the finish. Upside, the skiing is really nice and the long curvy, fairly gentle downhill after the summit is a blast. Downside, the age group awards are in 10 year increments instead of five year,
probably because this is usually a smaller race which faces major competition.
Governor's Cup, 12K, 25K or 44K, freestyle, Feb.1, Little Falls, MN
This is one I have not skied, so I have no personal experience with this race. People I have talked to like the race course. The race is freestyle only.
Badger State Games, Jan. 31 Feb. 2, Wausau, WI
The other race I have not skied. Being a Minnesota resident, I am not invited, but it sounds like great fun.
Bemidjithon/Buena Vista Classic (Finlandia), 25K, freestyle/classic, Feb. 15, Bemidji, MN
In the wilds of northern Minnesota, you will find this quality event. The classic skiers go out a half hour before the skaters, and the quality of the course is superb. The toughest skiing comes in the last 10 kilometers with some steep hills. Upside, the small wave starts for each event keep crowding to a minimum. Downside, it is quite the haul to get to this event
from most areas covered by this magazine, but it is worth the drive. A few years back, I was tucked down a hill with a small pack of skiers when two deer exploded out of the woods right in front of us. They quickly got out of our way, but I think we all had visions of some sort if evasive maneuvers might be necessary. Hard to believe that your heart could stop when it was beating so hard.
Great Bear Chase, 26K, freestyle/classic, March 9, Calumet, MI
This race has had some tough luck the last few years with a major meltdown one year, then a big windstorm that knocked down so many trees on the course that the race had to be canceled. Hopefully, the weather gods will smile upon the race this season.
Tucked high in the wilds of northern Michigan, on a peninsula jutting out into Lake Superior, this race is worth the drive for no other reason than seeing how much snow lies on the ground in early March. The ends of
mailboxes stick out of massive snowbanks and whole towns are hidden by walls of snow. Accumulations like this usually cannot be found outside of mountain areas.
The classic skiers get a head start and the half marathon, freestyle skiers also get their own start separate from the long race a nice touch. Upside, the snow is the ticket here. I don't know how they keep the Swedetown trails groomed with all the accumulation, but the course is always in great
shape. Downside, getting to the race from points south usually involves driving in the snow belt for a few hours, which can offer some hair raising moments. Not to worry; if you go off the road, in most places you will land in deep piles of snow, since the roads resemble deep trenches with the blacktop at the bottom.
Point to Point Races
Lauratian Loppet (Pepsi Challenge), 24K freestyle, 24K classical, Jan. 18, Biwabik, MN
For pure quality of skiing, Giants Ridge is tough to beat. While a point to point race, the Pepsi Challenge starts and finishes in the stadium at the Ridge. The half runs on the easier part of the Pepsi Challenge course. This gives the half crowd a technically easier course than the long race. The problem the last few years have been lean snow conditions, which have forced changes in the course, but at least no cancellations. Classic
skiers get a half hour headstart over the freestyle crowd, with separate awards for the freestyle and classic skiers. Upside, the quality of the course is hard to beat and the snow usually consistent. Downside, you either love or hate the split pea soup at the finish, and I am of the latter group. People tell me it is tasty split pea soup, an oxymoron if I have ever heard one.
Hall of Fame Half Marathon (Noquamanon), 25K, freestyle/classic, Jan. 25, Marquette, MI
If you are interested, the Hall of Fame race has some real perks. Foremost, the half begins almost three hours after the long race. While the marathon skiers are shivering at the starting line, you can be deep between the sheets and still have time for a lengthy breakfast, with massive caffeine loading. The other secret of this race is that you can ski it like a 10K. There really are only three uphill sections in the race and then the course drops down, down, down to the shores of Lake
Superior. Take the hills at full blast knowing you are going to have long downhills and a fairly flat finish to the race. Go for it!
Upside, separate starts for both freestyle and classic. It is fun to watch the marathon skiers come through the start area after the first 30 kilometers of the long race, but you can't help feel a little sorry for the unfortunate folks who end up in the midst of the charged up, half marathon start. Downside, the warm up area for skiers is very small. If
you are a classic racer, you almost have to wax ahead and hope for the best.
Mora Vasaloppet, 35K, freestyle, Feb. 9, Mora, MN
To call a 35 kilometer race a half marathon is a bit of a stretch, but the flat nature of the course is somewhat forgiving. This is the most popular of the four Vasaloppet races, with over 1,000 skiers on the course. All the Mora races are great, but you really can't call any of them a half marathon.
Kortelopet (Birkebeiner), 23K, Feb.22, Cable, WI
The Korte parallels the Birkie for the first nine kilometers, then strikes off on its own. Not quite a loop, but close the course returns to Telemark, but not the start area it offers excellent skiing. I have not skied the Korte before, but this is where I will be the end of February this season.
Sibley Ski Tour, 20K, March 1, Thunder Bay, Canada
Always a blast, the Sibley Tour is held in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park across from Thunder Bay. The 20K course runs in tandem with the 50K for the first 10K, where the long race branches off for the next 30K before joining the short race for the last 10 rolling kilometers. Upside, Thunder Bay has a strong ski community, and the organizers have the best sense of humor on the racing circuit. A few years back, I was eating breakfast alone in a Thunder Bay restaurant the morning of the race
when I was suddenly surrounded by a loud and friendly group of people. These were the race organizers having breakfast before the race. I have never heard so much laughter so early in the morning nor felt so welcome. Downside, most of the awards go to the long race and there is no classical division; however, the grooming is excellent for classic as well as freestyle skiers.
When making your racing plans, check out the half marathon. Whether
you are going for the hardware, or stop at the feed stations to assist the volunteers, all the thrills of the big race can be had during its shorter cousin. If you have never skied a race before, the half is a good way to start.
One last note. I have been pushing for a Clydesdale/Athena championship for years, and the half marathon would be the perfect venue for this type of event. There are enough full figured skiers, like myself, out there who would support such an undertaking.
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