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The Elfstedentocht hasn’t happened in Holland in 15 years. It’s time for another! The recent cold snap has the country excited. Everyone is out trying to take care of the ice, hoping it gets thicker. It’s an instant national holiday once they give the word. Thousands do the event which winds its way through eleven cities via canals, lakes and such.
www.theworld.org/2012/02/elfstedentocht-netherlands/
Man, back in the 80’s my pals and I were speed skating a lot. We’d had low snow here in mid-Michigan and so had switched over to ice sport. Man, we got into it. We liked it out on the big lakes and also in the tiny hockey rinks doing short-track rough-stuff action.
We were basically in perfect shape for the 11 Cities at the time. When I first learned about it, it was going to happen. I thought, Wow, I want to do that! I just need better skates and to get in a bit better shape and I’ll be ready! Next year! It didn’t happen again until I was old and had a mortgage. Moral of the story: Do it while ya can! Young folks shouldn’t be fussy. They shouldn’t worry that they’re “not ready.” If you’ve been spending a lotta time outdoors pantin’ and sweatin’ and rackin’ up some miles of whatever kind, then you’re ready for just about ANYTHING. If you’re not ready, you’ll learn as you go. Have no concern about “how well you’ll do,” just DO IT or you’ll find that you never did…
Of course, I *was* broke and I *did* only have hockey skates probably at that exact time. But that’s what *begging* and *hustling* are for!
(I still wanna do the Canada Ski Marathon, too… That seems more likely…)
High hopes!
Fun with friends.
