Back from the cold...

Abraham · 03-15-06, 03:40 AM

Some of you may have missed me on this forum, for better or for worse.

I've been on winter holidays, more exactly I've training and taking part in the Engadin Ski Marathon. This is a yearly 42 km cross country marathon in the Swiss canton of GraubÃ¼nden.
Although I am an experienced "Langlaufer" and participated for the 11th time, things were different this year.
The night before the Marathon a cold front moved in, so the temperature at the start (12-03, 09:00) went down to - 12 C. and hardly got any higher during the event. Furthermore, there was a strong headwind blowing (Bf. 5) wich created a windchill and blew snow particles in the faces of the 11.000 participants. Temperature sensed like - 22 C.
In the second half of the race I ran out of strength, I couldn't focus anymore in the distance and my toes and fingers started to freeze. One out of ten of the participants gave up during the race. I did finish, but only barely and got a mild idea of what Scott and Admundson must have gone through on their way to the Pole.
My time was a new personal record; the worst time ever. But who cares, at my age...

Next year I'll do better.

P.S. Some of my fingertips are still completely insensitive. This may reflect on my postings.

Sixpack · 03-15-06, 05:27 AM

Welcome back, Bram

I wondered what kept you.

Anyway, I kept a close eye on this forum while you were maxing in the snow.

Sixpack · 03-15-06, 05:27 AM

Welcome back, Bram

I wondered what kept you.

Anyway, I kept a close eye on this forum while you were maxing in the snow.

Skybird · 03-15-06, 05:52 AM

Next time you do 42 km, try inline skates. Makes you go faster.

Also is not so cold and exhausting

Happy Times · 03-15-06, 08:44 AM

Abe does cross country! Your an honorary Finn in my book.

Abraham · 03-15-06, 12:46 PM

@ Sixpack:
Thanks for keeping an eye on the forum. I knew we Dutchies could rely on one another.
Thanks for keeping an eye on the forum. I knew we Dutchies could rely on one another.

@ Skybird:
Inline skating is for Yankees, skating for Dutchies. But life is never a smooth field.
Gimme classic or freestyle langlaufen. At least you can conquer the hills on your path.
By the way, nice avatar you've got in the meantime. Better than that old sailors face with the Nazi cap...

@ Happy Times
I like that.
Next autumn I might go to Finland with a group to do some early snow training near the Polar Circle. Ive been told that you Finns even made an artificial snow loipe in case it's not cold enough up there...
(Will be quite a contrast with IsraÃ«l, where I'll have to be in August or early September...)

03-15-06, 01:22 PM

Who are you?

You talk like you used to be a regular here. I don't remember.

Oh, yeah; that's 'cause I'm getting old.

Welcome back, Abe.

August · 03-15-06, 01:55 PM

Glad to see you back Abe.

porphy · 03-15-06, 02:36 PM

Good effort Abe

Wind and cold combined with hard physical work can really drain a person quick. Not to mention the frostnip you brought home as well.

Reminds me of coming back from moutainering in Peru this summer. The tip of two toes took about 3 weeks to recover. Now they are ready for Khan Tengri this summer...
Ever thought about doing the swedish race Vasaloppet over 90km? I haven't done it yet.

http://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/Article____11166.aspx

Cheers Porphy

Happy Times · 03-15-06, 02:46 PM

Quote:

I like that.
Next autumn I might go to Finland with a group to do some early snow training near the Polar Circle. Ive been told that you Finns even made an artificial snow loipe in case it's not cold enough up there...
(Will be quite a contrast with IsraÃ«l, where I'll have to be in August or early September...)
Grin

They sure do and you can even come in the summer, we have ski tubes were you can ski year around. Im going with my friends to one cross country ski center this month, but this time to test curling.

Torplexed · 03-15-06, 08:00 PM

Welcome back! Wondered where you had gone. Next time be sure to drink your Swiss Miss. You won't be so cold.

Nothing quite like faux Swiss powdered hydrogenated cocoa to hit the spot!

Iceman · 03-16-06, 01:44 AM

Thank....that ya still got your fingers and toes huh?....Welcome back buddy was wondering about ya just ducking out like that.Good to get away from the computer huh? Sounds like a coooool time.

STEED · 03-16-06, 07:24 AM

Abraham no time for a beer :P welcome back

Abraham · 03-19-06, 05:53 AM

I'm really amazed by the amount of friendly responses I got on my little "back to the forum" message. It just shows what a great place subsim.com is.

When I saw that Torplexed had reacted I first feared a cartoon of an exausted moderator on ski's with a Captain's Cap, but I escaped such humiliation.

And Iceman, that frostbite is nothing serious. At the moment only the tip of my (right) middlefinger is still a bit insensitive. But since I was raised as a decent boy, I'm not using that finger too often anyway...

Good to be back with all of you again!

03-15-06, 03:40 AM	#1
Abraham Eternal Patrol Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,572 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Back from the cold... Some of you may have missed me on this forum, for better or for worse. I've been on winter holidays, more exactly I've training and taking part in the Engadin Ski Marathon. This is a yearly 42 km cross country marathon in the Swiss canton of GraubÃ¼nden. Although I am an experienced "Langlaufer" and participated for the 11th time, things were different this year. The night before the Marathon a cold front moved in, so the temperature at the start (12-03, 09:00) went down to - 12 C. and hardly got any higher during the event. Furthermore, there was a strong headwind blowing (Bf. 5) wich created a windchill and blew snow particles in the faces of the 11.000 participants. Temperature sensed like - 22 C. In the second half of the race I ran out of strength, I couldn't focus anymore in the distance and my toes and fingers started to freeze. One out of ten of the participants gave up during the race. I did finish, but only barely and got a mild idea of what Scott and Admundson must have gone through on their way to the Pole. My time was a new personal record; the worst time ever. But who cares, at my age... Next year I'll do better. P.S. Some of my fingertips are still completely insensitive. This may reflect on my postings. __________________ RIP Abraham

03-15-06, 05:52 AM	#4
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,624 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Next time you do 42 km, try inline skates. Makes you go faster. Also is not so cold and exhausting __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

03-15-06, 08:44 AM	#5
Happy Times Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 2,950 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Abe does cross country! Your an honorary Finn in my book. __________________

03-15-06, 12:46 PM	#6
Abraham Eternal Patrol Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,572 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Back from the cold... @ Sixpack: Thanks for keeping an eye on the forum. I knew we Dutchies could rely on one another. Thanks for keeping an eye on the forum. I knew we Dutchies could rely on one another. @ Skybird: Inline skating is for Yankees, skating for Dutchies. But life is never a smooth field. Gimme classic or freestyle langlaufen. At least you can conquer the hills on your path. By the way, nice avatar you've got in the meantime. Better than that old sailors face with the Nazi cap... @ Happy Times I like that. Next autumn I might go to Finland with a group to do some early snow training near the Polar Circle. Ive been told that you Finns even made an artificial snow loipe in case it's not cold enough up there... (Will be quite a contrast with IsraÃ«l, where I'll have to be in August or early September...) __________________ RIP Abraham

03-15-06, 01:55 PM	#8
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Glad to see you back Abe. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

03-15-06, 05:27 AM	#2
Sixpack Samurai Navy Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: below North Sea level (iow Holland) Posts: 592 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Welcome back, Bram I wondered what kept you. Anyway, I kept a close eye on this forum while you were maxing in the snow.

03-15-06, 01:22 PM	#7
Sailor Steve Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Who are you? You talk like you used to be a regular here. I don't remember. Oh, yeah; that's 'cause I'm getting old. Welcome back, Abe.

03-15-06, 02:36 PM	#9
porphy Commodore Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 603 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Good effort Abe Wind and cold combined with hard physical work can really drain a person quick. Not to mention the frostnip you brought home as well. Reminds me of coming back from moutainering in Peru this summer. The tip of two toes took about 3 weeks to recover. Now they are ready for Khan Tengri this summer... Ever thought about doing the swedish race Vasaloppet over 90km? I haven't done it yet. http://www.sweden.se/templates/cs/Article____11166.aspx Cheers Porphy __________________ "The only remedy for madness is the innocence of facts." O. Mirbeu "A paranoid is simply someone in possession of all the facts." W. B.

03-15-06, 08:00 PM	#11
Torplexed Let's Sink Sumptin' ! Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5,823 Downloads: 43 Uploads: 0	Welcome back! Wondered where you had gone. Next time be sure to drink your Swiss Miss. You won't be so cold. Nothing quite like faux Swiss powdered hydrogenated cocoa to hit the spot! __________________ --Mobilis in Mobili--

03-16-06, 01:44 AM	#12
Iceman Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Mesa AZ, Arizona, USA Posts: 1,253 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Thank....that ya still got your fingers and toes huh?....Welcome back buddy was wondering about ya just ducking out like that.Good to get away from the computer huh? Sounds like a coooool time.

03-16-06, 07:24 AM	#13
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	Abraham no time for a beer :P welcome back __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!

03-19-06, 05:53 AM	#14
Abraham Eternal Patrol Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,572 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Back from the cold... I'm really amazed by the amount of friendly responses I got on my little "back to the forum" message. It just shows what a great place subsim.com is. When I saw that Torplexed had reacted I first feared a cartoon of an exausted moderator on ski's with a Captain's Cap, but I escaped such humiliation. And Iceman, that frostbite is nothing serious. At the moment only the tip of my (right) middlefinger is still a bit insensitive. But since I was raised as a decent boy, I'm not using that finger too often anyway... Good to be back with all of you again! __________________ RIP Abraham