Sheila Mulherin (Hokkaido)
Hokkaido’s winter earns fame through its powder snow, endless white landscape, and ice festivals. The prefecture also introduced me to the wonderful world of cross-country skiing. The sport fits me like a glove due to my strong endurance base built from running long
distance since childhood, and love of winter and the outdoors. Soon after making connections in the cross-country skiing community, I heard about an 80-kilometer ski marathon that piqued my interest. Held in late February, it stretches from Okushirataki to Yubetsu. I set
the 2019 race in my sights, but the winter of 2018-2019 had arrived in a less than desirable manner. I broke my wrist and needed surgery in September 2018. Then severely injured a tendon in my left ankle that October, so I couldn’t easily build an endurance base.
At last, my injuries healed enough to ski in late December. I was buoyed hearing about the race’s gentle course (only one long steep hill climb in the middle) and generous time limit of eleven hours. Despite my uncertainty, I took a leap and registered for the race, I put faith in my leg muscles to pull
out magic like they had in the past on dry land. I worked back into a comfortable running and weightlifting routine, and put in long ski days whenever possible to whip myself into the best shape possible. On consecutive days in early February, I did 15 and 33-kilometer races in Otaki and Chitose respectively.
The next weekend was the Miyasama 38-kilometer race in Biei. The course had stunning beauty, and presented a challenge due to its steep climbs, swift descents, and snow blowing hard at my face. Despite my fatigued arms and burning hips, I finished well before the cutoff time.
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