January 2010
In the Bitterroot Athlete Valley

January brought people back to the gym and running outside. We have had up to 12 people running on Saturdays.  The weather has been mild too.  The picture on the right was Matt's "Torture Gazebo Run," a 7.5-mile run at the Stockfarm, Jan. 23rd.  The red jacket is Jim Woods; thank you for wearing red! (I carried my camera.) We have a schedule to increase our mileage until we get to the Snow Joke Half Marathon at Seeley Lake, Feb. 27th.

Skate Skiing

January was a good month to explore skate ski options.  I got out to Como and Lolo three times each, Seeley Lake once, and the Grand Tetons-three ski sessions. Skalkaho is one place I have not visited yet and I know it will be quite a workout since it is all up hill!  Ten ski outings in one season is the most I have done in years!  There are a lot more skate skiers out there than some people may realize.  People ask if it is a new sport, but it gained popularity in the early 80s thanks to Pauli Siitonen from Finland.  He began skate skiing in the middle of a XC ski race (Germany?). Siitonen thought he had lost the race, but ended up winning by serendipitously skate skiing past bewildered XC skiers.  The skiing association, FIS, officially created skate ski races in 1987.  (Info.) It will be on the Olympics, but it seems they are lumping it together with XC skiing?  But, you talk about glutes, abdomen and arm workouts!  It is an abdomen crunching, glute and hamstring workout and there is no debate after seeing skate ski athletes in their spandex! 

Besides the rolling hills of Como, all of the ski locations above have varied terrain, which is good training for triathletes.  Grooming conditions are important for skate skiing, but if you ski with Annie Creighton and Tony Neaves you learn to just take it as it is and it is more work when it isn’t neatly groomed—no problem for them and no forewarning by them either!  At least they turn around and come back and get you before they get too far ahead...again. 

Lolo is very pretty, home to the Mountain to Meadow Half Marathon.  On Saturday’s I was running with the group and skiing after.  In Lolo, after a 7.5-mile run, we planned a 15-mile ski route.  I realized, this was the end of running high mileage (for me) and trying to skate ski after.  As I was climbing yet another hill on this 15-mile stint, I put my thumb out when some snow mobilers were riding by…one stopped, and they all stopped and I got on for a ride as the other snow mobilers chided their friend that they  were going to tell “Ruby” on him for picking me up!  I was all smiles as I waived to MY comrades, Marisa, Cory, and Tim as the snow mobiler and I flew by them! They waived and laughed seeing me on the “bubble head” machine.  Then I was on a ride for my life…as I hadn’t been on one for at least a couple decades or more.  I was freezing and I felt like we were going to tip over at any turn.  Finally, after about four miles I got off and skied the last two miles in.  It wasn’t long after I got my coffee at the Lolo Visitor’s Center that the others caught up to me.  They are all good skiers.

Seeley was beautiful skiing when I went with Annie and Tony. Annie came in second, much to her chagrin, missing first place because of an 18-year-old skier. But, she is always all smiles and loves the sport. I certainly didn’t feel ready to skate race yet!

I then skied at the base of the Tetons with Ronnie Neumann and Hannah Spenser. This was absolutely the most beautiful place ever.  It was like God’s backyard.  We skied at three different locations.  The best was in Teton park under blue sunny skies and the Tetons looming up behind us.  Everyone was taking pictures and I would stop and take other tourists' pictures with the Teton backdrop. We went 22 miles that day, which tired us out enough that we only got in seven and five miles the next two days.  The Teton area is a skate skiing wonderland. 

The Saturday Run Group

The Saturday runners have been a dedicated and exceptional crew.  As in years past, winter seems to be the time that more people come out while schedules aren't as hectic, fresh air beckons, and perhaps new goals and aspirations encourage? The larger group began with the first run in 2010 beginning at Dean Jordan’s house for a 5.5 mile “Slip & Slide” loop up Mill Creek.  (Aptly named due to two of us slipping and falling on the icy trail path.)

The following Saturday we ran from the Canyons parking lot for a 6.5 mile loop.  Here, we spread out, Justin turned around unbeknownst to us, Bill went back to run with him and ended up doing over 9 miles!  When we got back, we all wondered where Bill was?  Justin drove the course to find him.  After that experience, Bill decided to take a class on Saturdays in Missoula rather than run with us again!?! [It was planned...the class, that is...:-)]

The 23rd was Matt’s 7.5 mile “Torture Gazebo Loop” through the Stockfarm.  It snowed for the first time in a while that morning and was a bit chillier, but a great turnout and a beautiful route. 

Our last January run I missed, leaving for the Tetons, but the group ran a foggy and chilly run from the Canyons, Howard’s 8.5 mile “Golf Course Loop.”  I ran it the day before and had blue, sunny skies. 

February is looking up for increased mileage and the Snow Joke Half Marathon; then we can back down the mileage again and begin thinking about swimming, biking, and running in preparation for the Griz Triathlon in April! Oh joy!

Hope you enjoy all the pictures.  January was a great month to be outdoors.

Have a great month.        Antara Croft

The group takes off from the Gazebo above.  Lolo Ski area on right.

	Annie's racing smile above.
	Hannah & Ronnie on left, Jenny Lake sign at Tetons above.
Lost Trail Pass January 30th.
	Woodside Crossing on left, Main Street Bridge above.
Back to top  Teton Sunrise...Tony tests skis on right.