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With many of us beginning to hit our stride with regular running workouts and miles logged, now is the best time to consider both our footwear and our footwork. Our partners at New Balance Williston are having a Mother’s Day promotion, and you can view that information below. Also linked below is a video of some helpful running warmup and skills drills to incorporate into your training!

NBW Mother’s Day

Last Friday and Saturday brought a heap of snow up at Bolton’s high elevation! It was enough snow, with just enough of a hardened icy base in the shade, to bring the MNC snowmobile and groomer down Broadway for some nice skating and even classic tracks! At this point, the temps have reverted Bolton back to a backcountry/fishscale adventure zone, but it was pretty cool for some members to get an extra day or two of “real” skiing in April!

Friday, April 2

Friday, April 2

Saturday, April 3 (Sam Holt)

Saturday, April 3 (Sam Holt)

A member suggested a few weeks ago that this was a season of small victories for many, in a year when big victories were sometimes hard to quantify. They had an idea that folks might like to submit and share these small victories, so we created a form and had some responses that we will share below! Thanks for contributing.

I felt like such a bad@$# using my car as the lodge on those cold nights at Sleepy.

-Anonymous

This was the year I fell in love with skiing! With so many other things being cancelled, I spent a lot more time with the club and on snow. My technique got better and I’m a much more confident skier. Definitely the highlight of my winter!

-Anonymous

It was such a pleasure to ski at Sleepy Hollow multiple times per week with such great snow conditions. While this is not a personal victory, it is a victory of our small, but mighty ski community and the love and attention they give to skiing, grooming, trail maintenance and trail building. Thanks Sleepy Hollow and MNC for connecting with Sleepy for Master’s this year.

-Anonymous

This is more of a big victory. That the MNC masters training program was able to happen safely with all the coaches providing helpful instruction and encouragement and everyone involved creating a sense of community which is so needed during this time of the pandemic.

-Pascal Cheng

Coach Adam was always enthusiastic and motivated. He kept the team a team, even through this seemingly impossible season. In my opinion, that’s a BIG victory!

-Anonymous

This one is small in that it has nothing to do with results, but for me it is huge: I met so so many amazing people through MNC this past year, and it honestly might NOT have happened without the pandemic! Like everyone, I was kind of scrambling last spring, but eventually I settled in Burlington and hopped in with the strong junior/ college group that was forming. In a season that was shaping up to be a solo grind, I got to do some great workouts, explore new roads and trails, and have some great conversations along the way. So when the UVM club’s season was cancelled, I knew I had an alternative: not only did that free me up to help coach the Masters, but I also got to rock the MNC speed suit, get amazing wax support for the races that happened, and feel like I actually knew some people there. I have been saying that it was a “”building year” for fitness, but it was a banner year socially, and at the end of the day that’s more important . . . Go Pugs!

-Sam Holt

I have long blamed my work travel schedule for my lack of fitness. With my butt in an airplane seat for over 180,000 miles in 2019, why not? And yet I found myself in even worse shape come December of 2020. I joined up with the masters with a vague hope of skiing 25km continuously, covering 10km in an hour, and seeing if I could improve on my technique. With the season behind me, I’m pleased to say I’ve covered nearly 250 miles skating, classic and backcountry, had several 20 – 30 km days, covered my 10km race in well under and hour, picked up many great pointers on my long-neglected technique, all the while spending time with a great group and shedding 15 pounds. I’m very much looking forward to working on my base over the summer and hope to keep a sane travel schedule in the future and get back again next season for some more MNC Masters and EABC Masters. Thanks to all the coaches and my blue group buddies for all the help and encouragement!

-Matt Thomson

Finishing 100k

-Anonymous

Proudly adding my time to the list of MNC Bolton hill climb historic time trial results. My first year with MNC, I was in awe of the juniors for even attempting such a crazy feat. The next summer, I thought “maybe, someday.” And last summer – I did it!!!

Celebrated turning 50 by roller-skiing up the App Gap for the first time. A particularly sweet victory, because this is something I wasn’t able to do at age 49 – or any time before that.

I successfully completed my first 15k skate race, which was a big step up for me this season. Managed to get the pacing just right – my skate technique held up until the finish (first time ever) and I crossed the line with nothing left in the tank. Perfect!

-Katie Hill

Focused on glute & core exercises during the lock-down. When I got back on snow, I finally had the strength I needed to balance on one leg and glide. What a difference that makes!

-Anonymous

Discovered that sometimes klister can be a beautiful thing.

-Anonymous

Thanks to a great turnout of racers from all of our member groups, Mansfield Nordic ended the season in 2nd place overall in the “Hall Mark of Excellence”, a competition named for noted skiing and Nordic philanthropist family Kathy and Marty Hall. This achievement comes with a $3,000 prize for second place, which is amazing for our club and community.

As Marty Hall noted in the press release announcing the season-long competition,

“It is with great pride that we give these dollars to join the fray and journey to international success.”

You can read NENSA’s press release and find more links to standings by clicking here.

Thanks again to all those MNC members who put on a bib in this unique year for racing!

Rosie striding up the hill with Lydia in pursuit!

MNC is excited to partner with a new supporter this spring: New Balance Williston!

We look forward to collaborating for shoe fitting, training, outdoor events, and more. Some of us may have gotten out for our first running workouts of the spring already, and if you are in need of some new footwear be sure to stop in the store!

You’ll find NBW in the square of Maple Tree Place in Williston. Conveniently, this is a location right near some of our favorite rollerski and running spots like Southridge, Mud Pond, and Catamount.

It’s likely that you’ll find Gary Richter (and canine buddy Augie) helping folks find the perfect fit. Many might know the Richter family from their longtime involvement in the club, including Kai who raced for MNC and MMU before competing for St. Lawrence. Be sure to mention you’re an MNC member when you stop in!

Please take the time to fill out our Winter Program Survey

MNC 20-21 Survey