END OF SKATING SEASON

Edmonton and Olympic Oval

Edmonton’s Hawrelak Park has a 1km loop race (25k and 50k) Held during the “Silver Skate Festival” in Feb. Have skated there the last three seasons (pix from 2007). Haven’t been able to complete the 50k yet.

The Oval’s “Finale” Marathon (perhaps a one hour race?) is held Mar. Costs for Edmonton ~$200-$300 per, while the Oval is my “home ice”.

Calgary, with the Winter Olympics in ’88, had an Oval constructed. I entered “Stride and Glide” (10k run plus 10k skate) over three years. For the first I used hockey skate blades. When others passed me as if I were standing still, bought long blades and quickly my sport became marathon long blade ice skating. Now 20 years later, am looking forward to continuing. M.S.I. allows me to determine personal bests for various venues. What will the effects of aging and conditioning be?

My M.S.I. Start - ‘06

QUEBEC CITY and LAKE PLACID

For Quebec City's race Nov 25 & 26, 2006, I set Personal Bests! Took plane to Montreal, train to QC, stayed at hostel in Vieux Quebec, and skated at Ste Foye, “L’Anneau Gaetan Boucher”.

For Lake Placid, NY the following month: car rental between Calgary AB (where I live) and Shelby MT, Amtrak to Utica, NY, another car rental to Lake Placid. Lysek’s Bed and Breakfast, with Ottawa’s “Pacers” SS Club. Wasn’t even able to finish the 25km, so skipped the next day’s race.

Outcome: Quebec City 19kph for 25k and 16.7kph for 40k, cost ~$850. For Lake Placid (pix shows chip on right foot, used to identify and time), pushed body too much and paid for it, with DNF and DNS! (~$1,300 over 8 days). I skated again in Quebec City’s M.S.I., Dec 1 & 2, 2007.

FAST AND IMPROVING

FAST and Improving!

Planning a more enjoyable skate experience


After switching from hockey to long track ice skating blades, I discovered an enjoyable sport. Am now a “Marathon Skater”. Just need ice! With M.S.I. (Marathon Skating International), I’m able to determine speeds for certain distances at various venues.

This picture is from 2002 on a cruise ship. Since then, I’ve been comparing value with enjoyment. At 62 years of age, I'm looking forward to retirement and a more concentrated direction in terms of time and cost towards this sport (which some call “Speed Skating”).

For this excursion: Cost ~$3000 with the novelty of skating while on a Royal Caribbean Cruise, “Adventure of the Seas”.