Gatineau Loppet 50km Skate Ski!

COACH GABI'S COURAGEOUS 50KM SKATE SKI...IN A BLIZZARD!

 

I’ve always wanted to do the 50km Gatineau Loppet skate ski event. With the earlier start to the ski season and continuous snow this year, I finally felt like I had enough time to train and prepare for the big one. I was able to get about 600km’s of ski training in, and stuck to a more rigorous strength training program in preparation for this race. While tapering in the days leading up to the race, I was feeling very strong and ready to race - I couldn’t wait to get out there! 

Then came the news of a possible blizzard -over 30cm’s of snow accumulation, and very high winds on race day. I had to think long and hard about whether or not I wanted to do it; I had never skate skied in a big snow storm before, let alone for 50km’s. Part of me thought for sure they would cancel the race due to the weather, so I waited for the announcement. To my surprise, I woke up on race day to an email update saying the race was still on. I turned to Dusty and said “alright, it’s happening. I’m going to finish this.”  

About 30 minutes before the race start I ate an energy bar and had some water. Quick warmup around the start line, and off we went. The grooming had been done about an hour before the race, but with the rapid accumulation of snow, it didn’t take long for it to disappear. 

I really focused on my pace - I didn’t want to risk going too hard in the beginning and not being able to finish. I kept my heart rate low and made sure I ate and drank every half hour. I packed extra snacks knowing it would be a longer day than I was expecting. 

I stopped for about three minutes at every aid station, drank some electrolytes, and shared a few laughs with the volunteers about how bonkers this all was. Things got really interesting in the last 20km’s. My back and legs were killing me slugging through all the powder and I started to question why I was doing this. The wind was howling at that point, and it was snowing so much I could hardly see anything. The grooming and packed snow from the skiers ahead of me had disappeared, and it felt like I was skiing through snow dunes. I was really starting to get discouraged. 

I reached an aid station at the 34km mark and was greeted by an incredibly friendly and kind volunteer. My gloves were frozen solid and my face stiff from the cold, so she offered to put jujubes in my mouth and gave me water and electrolytes. Her calm demeanour despite being stuck in a blizzard and her encouraging words gave me life again - she really helped me get out of my mental funk. I am in awe of all the volunteers and support teams that braved the storm and stood out there for hours to help the racers make it through. They’re the real MVP’s. 

I decided to continue the rest of the race by focusing on one kilometre at a time. I trained a lot on the race course, so I knew it well. I knew what to expect in the climbs and descents, and I trusted my instincts when visibility was very limited and the snow and wind was hitting me in every direction. I started to sing the lyrics to the song “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan and just embraced the wildness of this weather. I thought to myself, “how cool is this, that my body and mind can make it through something as wild as this?” I really pumped myself up for the remaining kilometres. 

As I got closer to the finish line I could hear the announcers, and I couldn’t believe I was still going. I finished strong and in one piece. Despite all the obstacles, I finished only about an hour later than what I was aiming for on a perfect day. The best part was seeing my wife Dusty and my Dad both cheering me on at the near empty finish line!

It’s hard to describe the feeling of finishing something like this. I am filled with gratitude that my body and mind can do these incredible things.

Coach Gabi