Racing Again!

The first races are done and my 2010/2011 race season has officially begun! I raced in two Alberta Cup races last weekend in Canmore. Though they were low profile races, there was a strong senior field because of all the skiers who are based in Canmore. Saturday was a 1km skate sprint race. The day started at 9:30 with the qualifying round. Despite some heavy legs I qualified in 3rd spot, 3.33 seconds behind winner Perianne. After an extended break the heats started at 4:00 in the afternoon. I won my quarter and semi-final heats and raced the A-final. I had a good start and was in second place. I wasn't able to stick with Perianne in the middle section so I finished in 2nd spot.

Sunday was a 9km classic individual start race. It was a decent race and I finished in 4th spot, about a minute and a half behind the leader. Overall it was a successful weekend. After a bad season last year it's awesome to feel fit and fast and have my body respond in races.

Unfortunately the good news ended after the weekend. I woke up Wednesday morning with a sore throat which has turned into a head cold. I decided not to travel with the team to Silver Star for the NorAms this weekend. I waited one more day, then caught a ride to my parents' house in Salmon Arm yesterday. I am laying low at their house, hoping to kick this thing! I really want to race this weekend but logically I know that I need to get over it fast so it doesn't affect the rest of the season, and in the big picture these NorAms aren't that important. It is very disappointing to get sick after feeling so good last weekend but c'est la vie. Maybe this will give me immunity so I don't get sick before more important races later in the season. Meanwhile, I'm getting lots of sleep, drinking litres of tea with lemon juice, eating garlic (I have very bad breath!) and taking cold-fx, echinacea and vitamin C - anything to get my immune system going!

Good luck to everyone racing this weekend!

Alysson