US Nationals 5km Classic

Yesterday was the US Nationals 5km classic, a race that had originally been scheduled for Short Distance Nationals in Anchorage but was reinstated here at Distance Nationals after cold weather forced its cancellation in January.  At my 6:18pm start time yesterday it certainly wasn't warm, despite the evening sun.  A biting wind whipped through the stadium, chilling the athletes waiting in the start pen.  Nonetheless the race was held and the organizers did an incredible job.  Volunteers covered athletes with blankets at the start and finish lines, had hot tea and sports drink ready post-race, and designed a challenging race course.

A volunteer helps cover me in a blanket as I wait for my start. 

(Published in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, photo: Sam Harrel)

I was pleased with my performance, placing 7th overall in a tough women's field.  First place overall went to Swede Kristina Strandberg who won by a convincing 30+ seconds.  From second place on the race was tight.  This was reiterated over and over again to me throughout the race.  The intermediate split times showed that 5 seconds separated the top five.  In the end, I was 20 seconds out of 2nd, 5 seconds out of fifth, and 2 seconds out of sixth, and the field was stacked similarly behind me as well.  Since the National title goes to an American, my US teammate Morgan Smyth took the win for her first ever gold at a National Championships (Strandberg being Swedish could not win the National title).  Another notable result was my APU teammate Becca Rorabaugh, a Fairbanks native, who took third overall and was the second American.  On the men's side, APU teammate James Southam won the National title and overall, beating a tough field including many successful Canadian World Cup racers.  APU teammate Brent Knight also raced well, finishing as the third American and fifth overall.

It was a good start to a challenging week of racing.  I was happy that my body responded to the hard effort well and felt decent throughout the race- something I've struggled with this season. It is evident that I'm finally finding my racing form, and although it's a little late, it feels good to end the season on a high note.  With one race down, I have two more long ones to go, and I am feeling confident that I can log some solid performances.

Midway through the US Nationals 5km classic at Birch Hill, Fairbanks, Alaska.

(Photo credit: Lance Parrish, borrowed from Fasterskier.com)

This evening is the freestyle team sprint, which I'll be sitting out.  My teammates have patiently waited all day and are just leaving for the venue as I write this.  After a short ski this morning to shake out my legs, I returned to our hotel for lunch and a shower before going on a marathon grocery shopping trip.  Two cart-loads later, a teammate and I have filled all our different suite fridges with food.  I have two pots of beef stew on the stove and cornbread in the oven for my hungry teammates and coaches who likely won't get back from the venue until 9pm or so.

So I'm off for an afternoon run before I head out to the venue to cheer on my teammates in the final heats at 7pm and 7:30pm.  The sun is out, and I hear the temperature at Birch Hill is warmer than yesterday and perfect for evening racing.  

Stay tuned for more racing updates... tomorrow's race prep and Friday is the 15km pursuit. Can't wait!