Lappe Part 2, and Biathlon

Day two of the Lappe Invitational was a skate about 12k, pursuit start. I started 25 seconds or so ahead of Jeremy Hecker and Timo. My game plan was to go out conservative and then finish strong. I knew they would catch me, it was just a matter of time. They caught me going down into the swamp. Jeremy and his hibby's were rockets, standing up behind me in my draft trying not to run me over. Timo put a push on up Massaro's trying to drop the young grasshopper, Hecker, I suppose. He caught up easily on the downhill. Timo's energy reserves were dwindling, Hecker and I carried on, I let him lead at his pace for the time leading up to Klukie Line. In the warmup I had skied Klukies well and felt I would make my move on it. I pulled up beside Jeremy, and said "you ready?" He said, "yup" and we took off. It was fun, I wasn't going to sprint by him and have him feel caught off gaurd. I was wanting to finish strong and catch back up the time I had lost to them in the beginning. I finished strong but not strong enough, only gaining back maybe 15seconds of the time lost. Jeremy skied a great race and I had a lot of fun playing around with tactics and energy levels.

Again thank you to the Lappe staff for putting on a great race. I received a Lappe t-shirt as a prize. I feel part of the gang now.

Monday I was invited to Biathlon practice with Becky Purias. They set me up with a 22 and showed me the basic of shooting. First time shooting a gun so I wasn't expecting much accuracy. We set up prone (lying down) it's easier, a lot less movment and pracitce dry firing along with hitting some paper targets. I got to keep my target and was told I had some nice "groupings" by Thomsen, the wiley Biathlon vet. Standing was a lot more difficult, a lot more movement. Then we were set up infront of the targets, that was the best part, seeing the black circle turn white when you actually hit the target. To say modestly, "I'm an ACE shot" I destroyed Timo's shot.

I was shooting without skiing 2k at an all out effort, my chest wasn't heaving, and my arms weren't tired from the skiing, so it wasn't a fair estimate of my biathlon abilities but it was a lot of fun. Thanks a lot Becky for bringing me out and letting me try shooting.

For all those cross country skiers out there that trash talk Biathlon, "Try it before you fry it"



Timo...missing haha

Cheers