Sacandaga Mini Marathon 1/10/2004
Note: I started writing this following the race a year ago and shelved it, unfinished. I revised and finished it on 1/6/2005.
It was a hell of a day for a ski race.
The weather pattern is predictable in the early part of a northeast winter. Following a chilly start to December, you can expect a thaw around New Year's, followed by a cold snap in early January. This year, the temperature changed from the 40's to 15 below zero, just in time for the Sacandaga Mini Marathon.
The Subaru Motel is in the great parking lot in the sky, with 203,000 miles on it. My new Subaru doesn't have a name yet, but it does have a lot of electronic doodads I've never had on a car before. Including an outside thermometer. Dave Baker and I watched it edge downward from 16 degrees in Dover to -8 by the time we arrived in Saratoga, NY on Friday night. The National Weather Service predicted lows of -15 to -25.
Located on the northeast side of Great Sacandaga Lake, the Saratoga Biathlon Club is about 20 miles west of Glens Falls. The trail system is owned and maintained by Jim Schreiner, and it features a fully functional biathlon range. One thing it does not feature is a lodge. Keeping warm before and after the race would be the challenge. Dave and I packed just about everything we owned, including winter sleeping bags, booties, and enough fleece to open a store.
With the race shortened to 21 km and the start delayed until 11:30, we had time to ski most of the course as a warmup. There were a lot of short, steep hills, and also some longer and more gradual climbs. Rather narrow in places, it would reward a skier with good technique.
The mass start was the usual mad scramble, funneling away from the shooting range into the woods. I had a good start and kept sight of Dave and the back of the lead group. After a couple of kilometers I made the bonehead mistake of trying to cinch up my pole strap while moving. The plastic plug that keeps everything in place on old Exel pole straps just popped out. I fought with it and had to stop twice to fix it. When I got moving again it felt like I was in last place.
For all the bitter cold, there wasn't much snow on the ground. The uneven, packed surface and the many transitions made it a real challenge. Even on the last lap, I had a hard time relaxing. I passed several people as I skied myself back into the race, and a few passed me at the end as I began to get cold. It was tough but fun, and I would definitely return.