14,490 people started this bugger this morning.  It was -13c, snowing and windy.  According to the Vasa people this is the oldest, the longest and the race with the most racers... I don't know but the race is 82 years old, 90km long and a lot of people do it.  I highly recommend doing this thing, seriously.

Dave Chamberlain is bib 314.  He started out with a tight back... was in 250th place at 5km and skied himself up to lead the race from about 10 to 15km.  Here he is in the lead group at about 50km.  Hey, only 40 to go!

D.C. at 70km.  Back seized.  Game over, man.

Vasa Country.  Dalarna - Sweden.

The lead pack with 30km to go.  The pace was high.  Interesting how it is very seldom that a World Cup skier wins this thing.

I did this race in 1991.  It was an increadible experience and if you like ski racing this is one I recommend doing.  It looks flat on paper, but in the first 5km there is a 3km uphill and in the first wave it is basically done at 5km pace.  There are good uphills here and there throughout.  There is a little tucking, but there is actually not much rest anywhere - and even in fresh cold snow there is a lot, a lot of doublepole.  Toward the end you are inventing new ways to doublepole.  The record for the course is around 3:30.  Normally it is around 4hours but can be as slow as 5.  It all depends on the snow conditions.  No matter what it is a long day.  Just feeding Dave today left me whipped.  I'm going to bed...

(Vordenberg Images)