2026: American Birkebeiner
After a disappointing DNF in 2025 – my only one so far in cross country skiing and I had no one but myself hold accountable for it, my primary goal for the 2026 edition involved something I had done several…
Gowtham
2026: Pre-Birkie and North End Classic
After skipping the 2024 and 2025 editions (not enough snow and the events were canceled), I signed up for these events only a few days ago … chats with and subtle hints from Stephen doing the trick for Pre-Birkie. For…
2026: Noquemanon Ski Marathon
After skipping the 2025 edition (not enough snow and the event was canceled), I signed up not long after the registration opened up. For a vast majority of my cross country skiing Winters, Noquemanon has served as the second family…
2026: SISU Ski Fest
After having missed the last three editions for various reasons (Michigan Tech was hosting the US Cross Country Ski National Championships in 2023, and not enough snow in 2024 and 2025), I signed up not long after the registration opened…
2025: Marquette Marathon
My performance in (or to be honest, lack thereof) in the 2025 Grandma’s highlighted the importance of consistency in training and its specificity to the target distance. The DNF in Duluth was a blessing in disguise … stepping off the…
2025: Grandma’s Marathon
Since my last personal best attempt (2023 Grandma’s) and the last completed one (2023 Marquette), I hadn’t necessarily enjoyed the luxury and the privilege of a race day performance representative of my training and progress and more importantly, of all…
2024: Marquette Half Marathon
A review of my training journal leading up to and through the 2023 Marquette Marathon indicated that I had executed numerous aspects quite well. As is the case while pursuing anything that takes a lifetime of learning, it shed light…
2024: Mt. Ashwabay Summit Ski Race
To (continue to) say that the 2023-24 Winter has been subpar and has negatively impacted snow-dependent communities in the upper midwest continues to be an understatement. The Canadian Birkebeiner, the North End Classic, the Pre-Birkie and the Vasaloppet USA (all…
2024: Noquemanon Ski Marathon
To say that the 2023-24 Winter has been subpar (a result of El Niño) and has negatively impacted snow-dependent communities in the upper Midwest is an understatement. SISU Ski Fest (scheduled for the first weekend of January) and Wolf Tracks…
2023: Marquette Marathon
Reflecting on the 2023 Grandma’s Marathon and discussing relevant portions of the training log with the family indicated some aspects I could retain and some others that needed a little tweaking to continue racing a marathon. Faith-ing in the fitness…