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Engadin Ski Marathon - 1999

Where my secret training strategy is revealed.

Introduction

I've taken part in the Engadin Marathon each year since 1999, when my friend Marcel ¹, who's completed the course ten times, convinced me to join him. Up to that point I had never owned a pair of cross-country skating skis, or indeed ever skated on skis for more than a few meters.

After Marcel finally convinced me to take part in my first ever race, I realized that I should buy some proper skating skis and go out and practice. I went to a local sporting goods store ² that specializes in cross-country equipment and got some advice and bought a pair skis.

My Training Strategy

The very first time on my new skis I discovered that it is really hard work. After a few steps I was so exhausted that my coordination was completely gone, and I nearly fell over. Thus, my training strategy was born. Simply stated it was:

Learn to skate on cross-country skis well enough so that I can still do it while utterly exhausted.

Unsurprisingly, I mastered the the first part of my strategy very quickly. Namely that I was always completely exhausted. The second part took more dedication and patience. Gradually I learned to plant my ski-poles beside my skis instead of between my legs, and even mastered the skating technique, while somewhat tired. Coordinating both my feet and pole plants while utterly exhausted took somewhat longer, but I finally mastered not skewering my toes with each step. After completing a distance of 15km with only a few falls and no major injury, I felt ready to take part in the race.

Marcel's other friend, Jürg, approached training in a completely different way. He had never even stood on cross country skis, although he had taken part in an in-line skating race. Jürg's training strategy was not to train at all. But this only became apparent to Marcel a few days before the race when Jürg telephoned him to ask if was better to rent skis near his home or to rent them up in St. Mortiz. Marcel finally convinced him to take a one hour lesson with an instructor before the race. To his credit and our surprise, Jürg completed the race without problems.

At that starting line before the race.

The Race

The actual race is a massive exercise in organized chaos. The organization is superb. Busses are brought in from all over the country to ferry the constestants and spectators around. There are also trucks waiting at the start, were you can deposit dry clothes that will be taken to the finish line for you. Approximately 12,000 people take part. The mass of skiers must be seen to be appreciated.

We started at the back of final group and it was a full three minutes before we even crossed the starting line. I immediately lost sight of both Marcel and Jürg who dissapeared into crowds. The first third of the race is over flat frozen lakes, and with the nice hard snow, the slight tail wind and the thousands of skiers all around, I managed to keep up with the pack and make fairly good progress.

The rest of the race is a blur, except a few steep uphill sections where, due to the crush of skiers, you must line up at the bottom of the hill and take your turn. This provided a much needed rest. There was also one brutal downhill section through a forest. Thankfully the organizers had wrapped mattresses around the trees. I saw a number of spectacular crashes but, much to my surprise, I managed to escape without incident.

After a couple of hours the sun had risen in the sky and the snow had gotten softer and slower. The group I was in slowed down, myself included. You could sense that everyone was beginning to tire. We were all thankful for the refreshment stations placed every few kilometers, both for the chance to replace lost fluids and merely to stand still for few moments.

The final few kilometers were tough. This passes though an area called the Golan Heights. I'm not sure where the name comes from, but perhaps it's because it consists of a series of small rolling hills. At this stage however, they seemed quite large and unsurmountable. The track is strongly canted to one side, and if your feet aren't hurting by the time you reach the Golan Heights, they will be after the first hill.

At the finish line.

The Finish

Finally, after over three hours of skiing, I crossed the finish line and it was all over. I was exhausted. In fact I had been utterly exhausted for over three hours. I limped about and found Marcel who had finished the race about twenty minutes before me. We congratulated each other and together limped about looking for Jürg. He arrived at the finish line a few minutes later complaining about blisters on his feet, but otherwise looking fine.

I ached all over, but being an experience alpinist I had remembered to cover my face with sunblock, so at least I wasn't burnt to a crisp. After a snack we boarded the train back to our hotel and spent the rest of the day sitting in the Jacuzzi. A few beers later and in spite of my aches and pains, Marcel managed to make me promise to take part in next year's Engadiner Marathon.

Typical scene after the race.

Notes

Marcel also convinced Jürg. The three of us are pictured at the top of the page. From the left it's Jürg, Marcel and then myself.
I went to Kempf Sport, Luzern. I figured that since the owner's brother won an Olympic gold medal in nordic combination by buying skis there, this success would rub off on me. Given their good advice, it actually has.