Walter Rhein at the finish line of the American Birkebeiner with his wife and two daughters.
The Long Road to the Start Line Story and photos by Walter Rhein Every now and then you come face to face with your mortality. In those moments, you realize you have to make changes or you aren’t going to be there for the people you love. For me, that moment came in December of 2021. I’ve done the American Birkebeiner 18 times. When you’ve done it 20 times, you become a member of the Birchleggings club. Becoming a Birchlegger is a big deal. At this point in my life, I’m not a fast skier. However, I’d dreamed of becoming a Birchlegger because I thought it might make my wife and daughters proud of me. I think about that often; I’d like them to be proud. 16
APRIL 2022
I stay active throughout the summer. I ride my bicycle and I go on runs with my dog. I thought I had maintained a decent level of fitness, but I was in for a rude awakening when the snow finally fell. The aerobic demands of cross-country skiing dwarf other forms of exercise. After the first snow, I went out to ski and found I simply couldn’t breathe. I’ve had asthma all my life, but it has been getting worse over the last few years. I’m fine to get around the house and go on family hikes, but I couldn’t get the air I needed to climb a hill on skis. Anyone who has ever done the
NORTHERN WILDS
American Birkebeiner, knows that the race is nothing but hills.
them anymore. But, I couldn’t breathe. The Birkie seemed hopeless.
I pushed aside my concerns and tried to train like normal. ‘Maybe I’ll feel better after a week or two.’ ‘Maybe I can push through this.’ The phrase “mind over matter” doesn’t apply when you can’t breathe. If you can’t get air, you’re done.
Then, I thought about my mother, who is still going strong at the Birkie even though she’s over 70. She doesn’t have an ounce of quit in her. It might take her all day, but the race officials would have to physically drag her off the course to make her stop. I couldn’t quit without a fight. I had to do everything in my power to at least try.
My first thought was that I had to quit. It was depressing. It didn’t seem fair. I’m 47 years old. I should still have a few decades of good skiing left. My girls are only now becoming active. It was heartbreaking to think I wouldn’t be able to keep up with
The American Birkebeiner is better than an annual checkup. When you go into the doctor, they ask if you feel okay. You say yes. They check a box and you’re on your way.
