endorphin recipe

i may be in a swimsuit at a pool in the 80 degree sunshine right now (and am not complaining about that), but i keep thinking about the birkie. it was just a week ago, and i still feel all that endorphin rush of finishing. after 55k in the woods, the joy and pleasure of the experience all came rushing at me at the end and creating a nearly un-containable feeling of joy and accomplishment. i will never be fast, and i will never improve my coordination, and i’m never going to an aggressive athlete, but i am now hooked on distance endurance events that leave me feeling strong, healthy, brave, adventurous, and full of the kind of feeling that playing outside for hoods can give you. i’m gonna ski this race every year as long as i can. that is all.

there is joy even in laying out the race outfit on the gross hotel floor the night before the race...

and there is most certainly joy in visiting the cabin full of friends to have dinner together the night before the race.

the start line is so wonderful, full of crazy people with donut pant and fake baby prince haakon in their backpacks.

here is the view ahead to the start line, and all sorts of classic skiers waiting for the gun to start wave 5.

i even found my adorable neighbor amy in my wave in the starting pen (see that cute girl behind me??). she's the coolest because she stopped to nurse her baby half way through the race.

because i'm the slowest of all my friends, i'm the last to finish of all my friends, and therefore only have pictures of me and no one else. here i am! so happy to be on the main street, getting to that finish line!


and here i am, cooled down, change of clothes, skis off my feet for the first time in 6 hours, and recovery drink in hand.

my favorite birkie skier and me...

and here's david looking like a boss.