Challenge Accepted!

Hello, dear readers! Today, I’m excited to share my journey at the 51st Marcialonga. A legendary 70 km classic skiing race, it’s a gem in the crown of cross-country skiing, sitting proudly alongside greats like the Vasaloppet and Birkebeiner. The latter I’ve ticked off my bucket list, but Marcialonga remained an elusive challenge, especially with its demanding double poling technique.

My preparation for this race was… let’s just say, unconventional. November, which should have been the start of my rigorous training, turned into a battle against a series of pesky viruses. So, there I was, heading to the Marcialonga, still reeling from the aches of last week’s La Diagonela and grappling with a bizarre virus called „Ringelröteln“ – a real joy for the joints!

Nevertheless, with a mix of stubbornness and optimism, we set off to the picturesque Valle di Fassa. I decided to give it a go, despite the odds. The race began, and oh, the first uphill section! Imagine a sardine can, but with skiers. Not much room for the classic diagonal stride here. Many skiers these days don’t bother with kick wax, but I clung to tradition – without it, I doubted I’d ever see the finish line.

Surprisingly, as the course turned downstream, my spirits started to rise. My double poling, though not as swift as my fellow athletes, was getting me somewhere. It was a classic case of „slow and steady wins the race“… or at least finishes it!

Once we left the shadows and could race in the sun, that gave and adiitional boost as well. And one thing is sure: the Italians – and the Marcialonga crew in particular – are just mindblowingly crazy: despite not so much snow, they prepared a 70 km race track which was in really good shape and the craziest part about the race are all the passages through the villages. Before you know it, you find yourself skiing on the main street of Predazzo, the church at the horizon before you turn left, refresh yourself at the food sation and head off through tiniy streets to the next open field. Even if you are note a double poling machine, this experience is totally worth it. Once you reach La Molina, you turn upstream valley again to reach the dreadful final climb, „La cascata“. 2 km steep uphill to the finish line. Although there was not so much in the tank anymore, I could still play my strong card in this last section a bit and could finally overpass some skiers… And helas, even my ski was still performing an kick was ther after 68 km icy track. So, I jogged up the last meters, entered a final – semidynamic double poling stride for the sprint to the finish and crossed the finish line with my family as fan crew on the side line. Tiny tears of overwhelmed joy started to form behind my sunglasses, because to be honest, I was far from sure to be able to finish this race. With almost zero specific training, with a solid, but far from superior ski in terms of glide, with many moments on the track where the „xx km to the finish“ were almost crushing my spirit, I still did it. Because, the event itself was just one of kind. Because in the end, it is training for SWISSMAN 2024. Because ranking does not matter for me. Because my kids asked so many times „Do you think you’ll make it“. Because the body is a wonderful machine. Because your head can win races – or at least get you to the finish line.

As the race progressed, we left the shadows behind and skied into the sunshine, which brought an additional burst of energy. One thing became crystal clear: the Italians, particularly the Marcialonga crew, are incredibly dedicated. They crafted a 70 km track under challenging snow conditions, and the track was in excellent shape. The most astonishing part was skiing through the villages. Before I knew it, I was gliding down the main street of Predazzo, with the church in the distance, turning left after a quick refreshment, and weaving through narrow streets back into open fields.

The experience of skiing in such unique settings was utterly exhilarating, even for someone who isn’t a double poling prodigy. Approaching La Molina, the course turned upstream again, leading to the daunting final climb, „La Cascata.“ Despite feeling drained, I played to my strengths in this section, managing to overtake some skiers. Miraculously, my skis still provided decent grip after 68 km of icy terrain.

As I ascended the final meters, I shifted into a semi-dynamic double poling stride, sprinting towards the finish line where my family was cheering. Overwhelmed with emotion, tears formed behind my sunglasses. To be honest, finishing this race wasn’t a certainty. With minimal specific training, a solid but not superior ski, and moments where the distance to the finish line seemed insurmountable, I still made it.

This event was truly one-of-a-kind. It served as an early training milestone for SWISSMAN 2024. The ranking didn’t matter; what mattered was the journey, the support of my family, the resilience of my body, and the power of determination. This race was a testament to the amazing capabilities of the human spirit and the triumph of will over physical challenges.