Now I do not know about you, but for me being born and bred in Australia’s harsh summer sun, I never knew that cross country skiing could be so demanding. While far from being the most competent skier, I always like to try something demanding in the world of adventure sports whenever I get the chance. Therefore, on January 23 2007, I tried to test my endurance skills in the Bearskin Wilderness Pursuit that is comprised of 10 kilometres of gruelling cross country skiing in the fastest time possible. Little did I know that having only skied twice before in my life I was far from prepared for the demands of the race.
Before leaving Australia for the event in Minnesota, I trained religiously by running everyday in the harsh Australian heat. Always having my trusty hydration pack on my back to ensure that I kept well hydrated because of the heat I never thought for a moment that I would have the same need for my running hydration pack in the Bearskin Pursuit because it would be so much cooler. Boy was I shocked to learn that I would. When I arrived in Minnesota there was blistering cold winds with snow coming from every direction I looked. Let me tell you the contrasting temperatures between Australia and Minnesota were a total shock to my system.
But there was no time to worry about the cold. I had to get ready for the race and that included buying myself a set of sturdy cross country skis and getting some nutritional supplements that I could store in my hydration back pack. I have to tell you though I was a bit worried because of the freezing temperature, the water in my hydration pack may freeze, I had never put my hydration pack to the test in such a cold environment. But then again my hydration back pack had never failed me before even in the hottest of temperatures, so I was confident that the hydration pack was properly insulated.
The big day came around, and to say I had butterflies in my stomach is a bit of an understatement. I woke at 4 am in the morning and checked all of my kit, filling my running hydration pack with 1.5 litres of water and just a little sprinkle of electrolytes to keep my body going for the entire ten kilometres. Then it was off for a breakfast of hot fatty foods to give me the energy to start the day. At 8 am, I was standing on the starting line with 145 other competitors. They all looked primed and ready to go, one thing I did notice however, was I was the only one with a hydration pack.
The starters gun banged at 8:10 am and we were off. It was hard work pushing and sliding all across the countryside. I was far from the head of the pack and I was quite surprised just how hot I could become in such a cold environment. My body is used to continually rehydrating itself with my hydration pack so I sipped fluid continuously as I skied along. People seemed to keep getting further and further in front of me until I could hardly see them again, after all so far it was all uphill skiing. When I reached the top of the hill, I saw all of the competitors stopped at the water station trying to get as much fluid as they could.
Well lets just say, because I had my running hydration pack on, I didn’t need to stop to have a drink like the others who didn’t have a hydration pack. While everyone was stopped at the water station I continued on for the downhill stage of the race. I was able to pick up pace and with everyone still behind me I was confidant I might even win. As I was nearing the quarter way to go mark, I saw that they were again starting to catch up to me so I pushed and pushed as hard as I could. While at the finish line I was narrowly beaten by sick other competitors, who looked like seasoned pros.
This event showed me just how important my running hydration pack really is. I was definitely underprepared for the skiing event as opposed by the others, but because I had my hydration back pack, I had everything with me, so I didn’t need to stop for anything. I know one thing; if I had of prepared myself a bit better on the ski slopes, the hydration pack would have seen me win this event. Oh well, there is always next year.