Counting cups, safety pins and Double Marathon Challenge hats
Three weeks from tomorrow I’m looking forward to hearing the sound of the cannon, signaling the start of the TD Banknorth Great Glen to Bretton Woods Nordic Adventure. Great Glen and the Mt. Washington Auto Road have this little cannon (which makes a BIG boom) that we use to start various events—the Bicycle Hillclimb, the Road Race, the 24 Hour mountain bike race, the Nordic Adventure. When you see smoke in the start pictures from these various events, that’s from the cannon.
Besides locating the cannon, it’s time to start counting cups. Hot/cold cups will be used for soup out at the third aid station on the ski course, as well as at both finish lines—25 and 50 km. Cold only cups go to the other three aid stations—for water and PowerAde. I’m also counting safety pins and elastic ties, leftover hats for Double Marathon Challenge participants, gold and silver logo pins, shipping tags,. . . the list goes on. It’s time. Time to inventory the supplies we currently have for the Nordic Adventure, so I can make up the orders for the supplies we’ll need this year.
I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I offered to be the Event Director of the Great Glen to Bretton Woods Nordic Adventure six years ago. I had only put on a couple small races before, with a lot of help from the local ski club and parent groups. I had raced in several big marathons however, so I figured that ought to help me know what to do.
“The devil is in the details.” That is so true. There are an amazing number of little details I never imagined. I won’t bore you with them. I will just say that directing the GG to BW has been the most challenging work project I have ever undertaken.
The reward? Hearing from skiers their individual stories of taking on the challenge of skiing the course, how they prepared for it, how they talked their best buddy into doing it too, how they trained together, how they got out skiing more often this winter in preparation than any other. For some of our entrants, it will be the most significant athletic challenge they have ever undertaken. And to hear how proud they are at completing this event, at going through all the preparation it entails and then, they did it, they made it—that’s what makes all the hours worthwhile for me. I picture standing at the podium in the Ballroom of the Mt. Washington Hotel, congratulating the finishers of this year’s Great Glen to Bretton Woods Nordic Adventure. That’s the vision that’ll keep me going through the next three crazy-busy weeks. I hope perhaps YOU will be one of the skiers I’m congratulating!
Sue W.
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Great Glen Tidbits
In 1994 Great Glen Trails pioneered the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) in wetland mapping when they became the first company allowed to use this technology during the Department of Environmental Services permitting process.
In 1994 Great Glen Trails pioneered the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) in wetland mapping when they became the first company allowed to use this technology during the Department of Environmental Services permitting process.
