After
arriving at the hostel and eating lunch, we all went out in the falling snow
for a one hour ski tour.
After
that, I found out we would soon be leaving for the pre-race reception with HIH
Princess Akiko.
At 8
pm, the ski waxing session began.
This
place has an onsen instead of individual showers. When I went to the onsen that
night, there were two older Japanese women already in the bath who wanted to
talk with me. I could understand and answer the “where are you from”, “when did
you get here”, “why are you here” questions, but some of the things they asked
me – I just had no idea. Naked strangers asking me questions I couldn’t answer!
We had
to get up early so we could clean the place at 6 am, eat breakfast at 7 am and
get on the bus to go to the race starting place at 7:30 am.
Ted and
I were both in the 10K race that started at 9 am.
It was
snowing like crazy for much of the time we were skiing and by the time we got
to the finish, the wind had picked up, making it very cold! It was the same
course as three years ago, but this time the uphill sections seemed to be
steeper and the downhill sections faster.
I only fell down once, at the bottom of a steep downhill when I failed
to make the left turn.
Ted finished in 1 hour 40 minutes and I finished in 1 hour 42 minutes (which was 8
minutes faster than my finish time three years ago!)
Many of
the students were in the 38K race, but then they are only 20 years old. I went in
and out of the building for the three and a half hours after we finished, but
Ted stayed at the finish line cheering for the finishing students the entire time.
There was an award ceremony that the Princess
presided over. Everyone else was sitting
in folding chairs, but she was sitting in a throne-like chair!
After
the race, we loaded up the bus and went home.
I’m glad I had the opportunity to participate in the race weekend and
meet the Princess.
5 comments:
Wow you're good. I tried skiing once and found it wasn't for me. The speed scared me lol.
Congratulations on your good finishing time! Who would think you have recently had major surgery? I am so glad to know you are fit and enjoying your life to the full in Hokkaido, including being 'approached by naked strangers in the bath'.
What a fun trip and race! Congratulations on improving your time! It sounds like an incredibly memorable adventure.
That looks like a fun trip. Great finish time! (Anytime you are faster than your previous race is a plus as far as I am concerned.)
Thanks for all the pictures, I feel as though I were there. What an exciting and adventurous time for you!
Post a Comment