#birkie2020

Some of my @MichiganTech Huskies in action during the 2020 @AmericanBirkebeiner in Hayward, WI. #BirkieFever #Birkie2020 (at Hayward, Wisconsin) https://www.instagram.com/p/B87kTvJFDOI/?igshid=wq2jfrl4zdx2

Some of my @MichiganTech Huskies in action during the 2020 @AmercanBirkebeiner in Hayward, WI. #BirkieFever #Birkie2020 (at Hayward, Wisconsin) https://www.instagram.com/p/B87japFl2at/?igshid=10u4y3ipejyu9

Another sun-kissed winter day to celebrate the first anniversary of my affair with Salomon nordic ski gear where it all started last year ... On Snow Demo at the Birkie Trailhead. We (yes, we are in a fully committed joyous relationship) explored the Power Lines and other trails with new and known friends. #BirkieFever #Birkie2020 #Birkie2021 (at Cable, Wisconsin) https://www.instagram.com/p/B863oYJFscr/?igshid=1e66dzfrxs1xo

Another glorious sun-kissed day in Wisconsin spent with lovely friends watching many of my heroes and hardworking skiers in action during the 2020 American Birkebeiner #BirkieFever #Birkie2020 (at Hayward, Wisconsin) https://www.instagram.com/p/B85Jahglhp9/?igshid=ctsm61munfzs

2020 American Birkebeiner - Kortelopet Classic 29 km⁣ ⁣ Many layers of prayers that were methodically sent into the base of my @Salomon skis a couple days ago were answered pretty spectacularly on a cloudless day in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. The weather deities graced us with appropriate conditions over the past few days and the stupendously talented groomers did a marvelous job of setting up the classic tracks and skate lanes.⁣ ⁣ My wave, #2, started in time and the initial rush made way for sufficient wiggle room within the first 2-3 kilometers. Though never was alone by myself at any point, there was plenty opportunity to absorb the serpentine trails as the kilometers whizzed by. A few hundred meters before the final aid station at the 21 kilometer mark, I did fall once and broke one of the ski poles. Though quite frustrated, I was grateful for a cognizant young volunteer persuaded others in that aid station to get me a pair of usable replacement ski poles.⁣ ⁣ It took a couple more kilometers to get adjusted to the skate poles (they are a bit taller), adjust my mechanics and get back in the groove of things. The finish time in this grand event made possible by the seemingly endless list of lessons from friends near and far, 2:18:59, was good for 217/1181 overall, 149/655 in gender and 6/32 in AG. Barring that one fall, I was quite happy to have put a vast majority those lessons into practice today.⁣ ⁣ There was plenty support from plethora of friends - old and new - throughout the weekend and as has been the trend so far this skiing season, festivities felt like yet another homecoming ... and a grand family reunion. And just like that, the family reunion is drawing to a quick close and the preparations for 2021 will begin in due time with new goals. A complete recap will be in my website (https://sgowtham.com/journal/2020-american-birkebeiner/) in a few days.⁣ ⁣ #BirkieFever #Birkie2020 #ProtectOurWinters #PintForPublicLands #TimeToPlay (at Hayward, Wisconsin) https://www.instagram.com/p/B82jXdwFHn3/?igshid=pgekmmgkc1nh

A history lesson in Wisconsin’s Northwoods #BirkieFever #Birkie2020 (at Hayward, Wisconsin) https://www.instagram.com/p/B81FOErFtrZ/?igshid=es33knnc33rp

A blue bird kinda day ... all the way from Houghton, MI, to Hayward, WI! It was fun to watch the little Birkebeiners ski the Main Street as part of Barnebirkie!! #BirkieFever #Birkie2020 (at Hayward, Wisconsin) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8ztbfFlW7e/?igshid=rzh0jrvoig9v

Last of the Toko wax layers for Kortelopet ... before being Birkie bound in the morning #BirkieFever #Birkie2020 (at Houghton, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8xbbNolStk/?igshid=19z0pla7u6ipv