2019 Birkie Recap
(by Chase Rosenberg)
A solid snowpack and a guarantee of a warm day had Birkie anticipation peaked by the start of the weekend in Hayward. Wearing the MNC tights for the first time was great, as a bunch of folks recognized them came up before and during the race to share their connections to the club and its members. Shortly after Kikkan Randall’s opening address to the crowd, the birch-legged Birkenbeiner themselves kicked off the race in traditional dress, complete with a real baby Prince Hakkon that was skied by his brown-robe clad mother ahead into the birch forest. A couple of inches of new overnight snow on top of the groomed trail made for a sloppy surface, especially for later waves who contended with the mashed potatoes left behind by the legions of forward skiers. Running into friends on the trail never fails to inject energy, and just after the classic and skate courses converged, MNC’s Mike Bazywewicz skated up behind me, having attacked well up into the Wave 1 skate field (his goal for the race) and shared a smile. Sammy Leo and Chelsea Cary were also representing MNC out there. The afternoon in Hayward ends on Main St., where you stand post race with food and drink in hand and cheer for the trail-worn finishers as they come on unsteady legs down the slope of the International Bridge and onto the final 400 meter stretch of flag-lined course, music and cowbells blaring, bratwurst ubiquitous, and Northern Midwest culture in full bloom.
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