|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
 |
|
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Rate Thread |
| Author |
|
|
durn for'ner
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: South of Sweden
Posts: 17,090
|
I did it! Vasaloppet. The longest cross-country ski race in the world.
After several years of procrastinating I finally took the plunge a year ago and put my name up for Vasaloppet. As you can see in the link below, its the longest (90 km), oldest and largest (15000) cross-country ski race in world.
I used to ski in my youth but not for the last 25 years. This winter I borrowed my fathers skiing gear but for lack of time and snow I only managed to get some 15 km of training. For this race its recommended that you get at least 500 km before the race.. The race starts at 8 am. All 15000 at once. The start field is at least a kilometer long and 50 meter wide. It was just as the sun was rising and a cold but beautiful morning. It was just a magnificent sight! With approximately 10 km intervals there are control stations where they serve the classic blueberry soup and the electronic chip you are wearing is checked. You have to pass each station before a fixed time or you will not be allowed to continue. To make a long story short, I just barely made it to the goal within the stop-time. You had to pass the finish line before 8.15 pm and I crossed it, half dead, at 7.41 pm. In summary it was without a doubt the most gruesomee experience in my life - both physically and mentally. During the second half of the race I kept rambling two mantras to myself: "Every pole push takes me a little closer to the finish" alternated with " NEVER MORE, NEVER MORE!!" For the two following days I was literary unable to get out of bed. The muscle ache was just devastating. In closing, I am now of course planning to participate the next year again.  Vasaloppet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
__________________
Markus Resident Fluffer Carrera '85 |
||
03-13-2013, 05:09 AM
|
|
|
Model Citizen
Join Date: May 2007
Location: The Voodoo Lounge
Posts: 19,042
|
You're the man! Congratulations!
__________________
"I would be a tone-deaf heathen if I didn't call the engine astounding. If it had been invented solely to make noise, there would be shrines to it in Rome" |
||
|
03-13-2013, 05:13 AM
|
|
|
UnRegistered User
|
Congrats, Markus!
Skoal!
__________________
Bill K. "I started out with nothin and I still got most of it left...." 83 911 SC Guards Red (now gone) And I sold a bunch of parts I hadn't installed yet. |
||
|
03-13-2013, 05:13 AM
|
|
|
Bandwidth AbUser
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SoCal
Posts: 29,522
|
Way to go, Markus!
__________________
Jim R. |
||
|
03-13-2013, 05:19 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
Congratulations!!! That is a very special accomplishment as cross-country skiing is (for me) the ultimate test of my endurance and physical/mental conditioning.
I noticed that in 2012, Jörgen Brink finished the race in 3:38:41; man, he must be a god and national hero...very impressive. NICE WORK!!! |
||
|
03-13-2013, 05:31 AM
|
|
|
durn for'ner
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: South of Sweden
Posts: 17,090
|
Thanks so much, guys!
Vasaloppet is one of the most popular sport events during the year and it is very well covered in media. Since I was a kid I have always watched the race on television. Although I have always been mighty impressed by the guys in the top 100 who finish in just around 4-5 hours, I think I always had this notion that "well, how hard can it be?" Now I know. And my respect and awe for these guys has grown enormously. I mean, if I could get a lot of traing before next years race I hope to shave off 40 minutes and finish under 11 hours - at best! From there to 3.38 hours is just an ocean of time.
__________________
Markus Resident Fluffer Carrera '85 |
||
|
03-13-2013, 05:51 AM
|
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 11,258
|
not quitting when your ready..
that's when it get's interesting.. well done Markus... bound to be some painful tunes you can pull from this.. Rika |
||
|
03-13-2013, 05:56 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
You provide a great role model for us Pelicanites. Being active like that(but not necessarily for that distance!) is inspiring to many of us. Congrats!
|
||
|
03-13-2013, 06:04 AM
|
|
|
durn for'ner
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: South of Sweden
Posts: 17,090
|
Thanks, Rika.
Hehe, stay tuned.. 
__________________
Markus Resident Fluffer Carrera '85 |
||
|
03-13-2013, 06:05 AM
|
|
|
durn for'ner
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: South of Sweden
Posts: 17,090
|
Quote:
__________________
Markus Resident Fluffer Carrera '85 |
||
|
03-13-2013, 06:09 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: the beach
Posts: 5,151
|
Mycket bra!
__________________
Charlie 1966 912 Polo Red 1950 VW Bug 1983 VW Westfalia; 1989 VW Syncro Tristar Doka |
||
|
03-13-2013, 06:40 AM
|
|
|
durn for'ner
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: South of Sweden
Posts: 17,090
|
Tack, Charlie!
__________________
Markus Resident Fluffer Carrera '85 |
||
|
03-13-2013, 06:50 AM
|
|
|
|
In Vino Veritas
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Waiting in vain
Posts: 1,116
|
Congratulations and best of luck in this amazing endeavor!
__________________
Todd '85 3.2 Targa/'87 951/'04 C4S Coupe "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained" Thomas E. |
||
|
03-13-2013, 06:50 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
I cross country ski more than I do downhill, and boy, 90km is a distance! For every uphill there is a downhill, but they can't come soon or often enough! Congratulations Markus, I think this is just the beginning for participation in a few "endurance contests" for you. We're going to have to start calling you the "Swedish Ironman/ Fluffer"!
__________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- "There is nothing to be learned from the second kick of a mule" - Mark Twain |
||
|
03-13-2013, 07:11 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
Very impressive Markus.
Well done 
__________________
Pete 79 911SC RoW "Tornadoes come out of frikkin nowhere. One minute everything is all sunshine and puppies the next thing you know you've got flying cows".- Stomachmonkey |
||
|
03-13-2013, 07:28 AM
|
|
|
závodník 'X'
|
Congratulations Markus! Feelin' the burn eh', blistered...ha?! I can only imagine what happens with some of 15,000 plus participants and all the ski gear get tangled.
__________________
“When these fine people came to me with an offer to make four movies for them, I immediately said ‘yes’ for one reason and one reason only… Netflix rhymes with ‘wet chicks,'” Sandler said in a prepared statement. “Let the streaming begin!” - Adam Sandler |
||
|
03-13-2013, 08:04 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Kenbridge VA
Posts: 4,285
|
Congratulations Markus, that is one heck of an accomplishment.
__________________
Peppy 2011 BMW 335d 1988 Targa 3.4 2001 Jetta TDI dead 1982 Chevette Diesel SOLD 
|
||
|
03-13-2013, 08:14 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
Congrats! I just took up skate skiing this year. By far the hardest activity I have taken up. I imagine at that distance, at some point loose your form/technique and it becomes 3x's the effort. Nice accomplishment!
__________________
Joe |
||
|
03-13-2013, 08:34 AM
|
|
|
canna change law physics
|
Congrats and what the hell is blueberry soup?
__________________
James The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the engineer adjusts the sails.- William Arthur Ward (1921-1994) Red-beard for President, 2020 |
||
|
03-13-2013, 08:36 AM
|
|
|
Bandwidth AbUser
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SoCal
Posts: 29,522
|
So, when you finished the race, Markus, did your kids ask you "What took you so long?"
__________________
Jim R. |
||
|
03-13-2013, 08:39 AM
|
|
1983 Porsche SC
2010 Porsche Carerra 4S - Coupe
1980 Porsche 911SC Targa
Lexus RX350
1983 Porsche 911sc Cabriolet 3.0
1979 Porsche 911SC
1985 Porsche 911 3.2
1970/1982 Porsche 914-6/911SC 2.7 RS
