Last 2011 Carnival!

The season always seems so long and daunting looking at the schedule in December, but it comes and goes so fast. We're officially done the carnival races. While we're sad to be done everybody's pretty relieved to have some extra free time.

This weekend was the Bates Carnival in Rumford, Maine. We left Friday in an absolute blizzard. Big Purple was looking a little sad and consisted of only four girls with Bear and Silke both left home with various illnesses. We stayed in the cutest bed and breakfast, but for whatever reason I never took any pictures of the room all four of us stayed in, which included about six beds and an electric fireplace. We were joined at the B&B by two sets of St. Lawrence parents as well.

Saturday was the 5k skate race. I was yet another Big Purple sickling and didn't race. I did some cheering and will happily take credit for helping the girls up High School Hill for some of their best races of the season. Lately our incentive for pretty much anything has been a Tootisie Pop promised to us by my dad. Saturday he had promised all of the girls that if they either caught the girl in front of them or beat someone in particular they were guaranteed a Tootsie Pop of their choice. On Saturday afternoon we all got Tootsie Pops - the other girls for their races and me mostly because they felt bad, but also because I cheered real loud. A highlight was definitely Gabby's 39th place finish and her pomegranate Tootsie.

Gabby well after she had earned her Tootsie Pop

Rizz almost at the top

Sunday was the 15k classic. I've really been looking forward to this race and, even though I've had to take a couple extra days off in the past week, was really hoping to put in my best race of the season. The course was three 5k loops. I've never been in such a good position after a mass start. I've also never had an asthma attack racing. Unfortunately, that hit at about 4k as I reached the top of High School Hill and my fantastic placement amongst every girl I've had in my sights was absolutely shot. After the first lap I went into the second dizzy and completely short of breath. After taking a feed from my dad with Katlyn just behind me I was able to pull myself together to finish the race. I've never dropped out of a race, but my dad told me later he was really surprised to see me come back around and had almost radioed Joe to let him know I was dropping out. All in all, I'm really disappointed that even though I was mentally ready to work hard with the group of girls I was with I never really got the chance. On the other hand, I'm pretty happy that I can still say I've never dropped out of a race. (Or "retired" from a race as the announcers so kindly put it for those that did opt out of finishing yesterday.)

Start of the men's 20k

Now that the carnival season's done we've still got the team vans until Spring Break. We're all doing various races and practicing as a team, but it's nice not to feel so committed to practice. I really like the idea that if I need to take a day to get work done I don't have to feel bad about not skiing that day. This Wednesday the girls are heading to Craftsbury for a 5k. We're pretty psyched to rock out a citizen's race.

Now, for the last post of the 2011 carnival season, I leave you with this picture. Because it's fantastic.