at Lake Morey, Vermont, January 25-26, 2003
Race Results: 1K ... 2K ... 5K ... 10K ... 25K ... 50K
Above: Rob Kramer, Mark Kandola and Bob Tysen sprint for the finish line in the 50K.
Below: Willem Langenberg leads a large pack of skaters in the 25K.
There's short track and long track but the best one you see, is marathon skating for me.
And it's way ho, it's 15 below, my lungs are on fire and I can't feel my toes.
My cheekbones went numb a half hour ago, but it's marathon skating for me.
Short trackers think their meets are the best, with those short little races and hour-long rests.
They think a 3000 is a tortuous test, but for us it's a short little warmup at best.
And it's way ho, it's 15 below, my lungs are on fire and I can't feel my toes.
A blizzard just hit and we've got drifting snow, but it's marathon skating for me.
Now metric is graceful, it's skating so pure, no ruts, no cracks and no elbows for sure.
You skate all alone, just the clock as your foe, but there's no packs to jump in and pick up a tow.
And it's way ho, it's 15 below, my lungs are on fire and I can't feel my toes.
My back muscles ache and my legs feel like stone, but it's marathon skating for me.
I think of the Pettit, how I love that place, where there's no wind or snow to mess up your pace.
'Cause I'm trying to skate with a gale in my face, this isn't much fun now you see.
And it's way ho, it's 15 below, my lungs are on fire and I can't feel my toes.
My Gatorade's frozen, there's 10 K to go, maybe this isn't for me.
The finish is near, I can see it ahead, my legs hurt so bad, I wish I was dead.
Before I try this again, someone shoot me in the head, no more marathon skating for me.
And it's way ho, it's 15 below, my lungs are on fire and I can't feel my toes.
I've got blisters and frostbite but It's over you see, no more marathon skating for me.
Now I finished the race a few hours ago, the pain's mostly gone, haven't lost any toes.
And I feel like I could take on the Elfstedentocht, it's marathon skating for me.
And it's way ho, it's 15 below, my lungs are on fire and I can't feel my toes.
I might not win any medals, but who cares about those, it's marathon skating for me.
Copyright © 2001 by Jim Daniska