From the Ski for Light Bulletin - Summer 2009
Compiled by Vicki Post
Earlier in this Bulletin, we all heard the sound of Marion Elmquist's Nordic Track calling her from the basement. So, we know what she doesn't do in the summer. What we do want to know is what some of you do to keep in shape year 'round. We hope this will give you some new and interesting ideas, and that this will inspire some of you to prepare a little more than you might otherwise do. So here's a sample of what folks are doing.
By Marvin Liewer
Ski for Light is the big event of the winter for me. To really enjoy the week I want to be physically ready to ski. The visually impaired skiers seem to get better and faster each year. In Soldier Hollow I was a guide for Rod Maccoux and he just informed me that he recently completed his first marathon in 4 hours and 27 minutes. Wow! No wonder I was all worn out by the end of the week in Utah. So here's what I do for exercise in the summer. I ride my bicycle. As an incentive to ride I sign up for an organized week long event ride. This forces me to train. This year I rode the Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska (BRAN). www.bran.org
In June I joined approximately 600 riders for the week long event. Similar to SFL we started on Sunday and ended on Saturday. We were a diverse group with people of all ages from many states. We rode 454 miles in seven days. Our personal gear was hauled forward to our destination each day. We usually camped out on a high school football field. To be ready for a ride of such distance and duration I started riding in March and rode 900 miles prior to the ride. The training paid off as I had a good week.
The toughest day was the third when we rode 75 miles against a strong wind. To add to the challenge it rained for part of the day. During this day I had decided that riding was no longer fun and this would be my last long distance bicycle tour.
Day number six proved to be an exhilarating day. We were now headed north towards our distination of Omaha and the wind finally switched to our backs . This part of Nebraska is quite hilly with corn and bean fields broken up by rivers and tree lined creeks. Birds, wild flowers and deer were common. Much of the time I let myself coast down the hills while taking in all the scenery. I was in high spirits and by now was pondering where and when my next ride would be!
Day seven, the last day reminded me of the SFL race/rally day. The faster riders who finished early gathered around and cheered as the remaining riders completed the journey. One of the riders was a big heavy man. He was riding with his young son. For this man to complete the ride, it had to take supreme effort. We cheered for him as he reached the end of the 454 mile ride. He slowly got off his bike and exchanged hugs with his son and other family members. I sensed the strong emotions and feelings that this father and son felt. This proved to be the most emotional moment of the trip for me.
Only six more months until SFL 2010. I must keep riding.
And for those of you in the Pacific Northwest, here are some ideas from SFL guide, Bob Stevenson: The SkiBiWalHiVi Club (Skiing Biking Walking Hiking Vikings) is mostly members of Edmonds Sons of Norway, but membership is not restricted. The club has no by-laws, but if we had them they would read no meetings, no dues, no records, no elected officers, just outings. I am the permanent Vice President. We get out every Tuesday for a hike in the Cascade Mountains. We also do an annual trek to the Kendall Katwalk which is an all day affair north of Snoqualmie Summit on the Pacific Crest Trail. We stay at the District Two Sons of Norway Facility near Stampede Pass on the nights before and after the Katwalk hike. There is a great web site for the Kendall Katwalk if anyone is interested in checking it out. Just enter Kendall Katwalk and you will find it. This year we go there on Friday August 14. So this keeps the quads in shape and it's good for the cardio vascular system. Cindy Labon is coming out this summer for the Katwalk hike. Bob Miller has also made the Katwalk trek in the past. It is mostly a good trail and the alpine scenery is spectacular from the Katwalk part of the trail that is blasted out of nearly vertical rock. Other ideas include biking, kayaking, working on upper arms with therabands and weights, and doing lots of stairs. Of course, you must also keep your socializing muscles in shape, so hanging out with a beer in the company of friends will help. And finally, keep SFL alive in the summer by talking to as many people as you can about the winter event and the great organization behind it; recruiting muscles need work too! Good luck and happy exercising!