Back from the cold...

[Abraham]

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 Graubünden.
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.