My body and mind is a bit fried as I sit down to write today. I have been skiing for the first time the Engadina Ski Marathon, 42km ‘classic style,’ (not skating).
The marathon today reminded me of how much cross-country skiing is part of my cultural heritage, and something I can feel the cells of my body have missed. It was thrilling to be back on skis and amongst so many others who love the sport.
I grew up in Norway where cross-country skiing is a national sport. During my childhood our family cross-country skied quite often, but only leisurely. I was not passionate about skiing as a child and racing was for sure not my thing. However, the older I got the more I came to enjoy the tranquility of the sport particularly because I was mostly skiing in the mountains above the tree line.
It was while cross-country skiing in the Norwegian mountains I came to learn about peace of mind. Skiing in this wide-open, untouched landscape, above the treetops, with no or few people in sight, with the diagonal movement of cross-country skiing, harmonized my brain and touched my soul.
It is thirty years ago since I left Norway. I have missed my old love of being out in the wild and cross-country skiing.
I am grateful that my husband and friends encouraged me to participate in this ski Marathon. It was a thrilling experience to be skiing amongst 25,000 participants (some doing the half marathon and others doing the full distance). It felt like I had come back to my element.
Somewhere along our life journey we may give up part of our cultural heritage and who we used to be. If we meet a partner who does not share the same heritage or if we move abroad, many of us let go of cultural heritage and values we love.
If we reclaim the old ‘parts’ of us, these can bring loads of joy and energy to our lives.
ANINERGY 
March 9, 2015 at 9:54 am
First of all, well done on the 42km ski Anine!
To keep connected to our cultural heritage is so important and makes us feel alive and happy when we do, so your words really resonated with me.
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March 13, 2015 at 9:29 pm
Thank you for your support Alison! 🙂
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March 9, 2015 at 2:13 pm
Kjære Anine.
Gratulerer med vel gjennomført Engadina Marathon. Jeg tenkte på på deg når du var unner veis. Så har jeg da som “gammel” Birkebeiner noen spørsmål som du ikke har nevnt i ditt innlegg “Living our cultural Heritage”.
1. Hvordan var været. 2. Hvordan var føret og hva hadde du unner skiene. Tørrvoks? Litt klister med tørrvoks på toppen?n Eller noe annet? 3. Hadde du brukbare ski hele veien. Eller begynte det å glippe på slutten? 4. Etter din første ski marathon. Hvordan har kroppen din reagert. Jeg tenker da også på muskulaturen i ben og armer. Ryggproblemer?
Dette er jo relevante spørsmål fra en erfaren tur-langrenns competitor. Ha-ha. Uten å skryte så har jeg en del mileage i konkurranse på langrennsski. 12 ganger Vestergyllen 38 km. 10 ganger Torleif Haugs renn 37 km. 10 ganger Grenaderen 90 km. 34 ganger Birkebeineren 57 km. + en rekke andre renn samt König Ludvig Lauf, Marcialonga 75 km. Amarican Birkebeiner 55 km. osv. Så Anine. Det er bare å begynne å henge i stroppen.
Spøk tilside Anine. Jeg er meget stolt av deg at du har gjennomført Engadina Marathon.
Vi snakkes. Klem Pappa.
8. mars 2015 kl. 23:31 skrev ANINERGY :
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