By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
Not much can cause Burlington’s Don Howell to break his stride.
That included Feb. 27, when Howell started his 31st American Birkebeiner, the largest cross country ski race in North America.
Howell, in spite of being sick and on antibiotics, finished at the top of his age group, ages 75 to 79, in a time of 5 hours, 26 minutes and 37.1 seconds.
Overall, Howell finished 3,591st of more than 11,000 racers, many of which tackled the 52-kilometer option in the race.
Howell’s latest Birkebeiner wasn’t without issues, though. The first half of the race went smoothly, but after hitting the second half, a bad sinus infection began taking its toll.
“I knew I was sick, so I took it easy,” Howell said. “The second half, I started to cramp at the triceps. I had to rely more on my legs.”
He struggled on the remaining hills of the course, and also through the two kilometers across Lake Hayward, where he said warm temperatures put slush and water on top of the ice.
When Howell reached the finish line, he called it “the worst I’ve felt.”
“I was so cramped, volunteers had to take off my skis,” Howell added.
He hurt so much that he didn’t even pay attention to the results. As it turned out, Howell was one of just two in his age group to finish the course – and he won by 20 minutes.
Last year, he was in the middle of the pack of about 40 skiers in the 70 to 74.
For Howell, cross country skiing is one of many activities he takes part in to keep himself in shape. He also bikes, hikes, swims and does stationary “spin” biking.
To get ready for the ski season each year, he roller-skis on the roads starting in late October.
The Birkebeiner remains a special passion, though. He finished 28th consecutive races before having to drop out three years ago due to illness. Last year, he was inducted into the “Birchleggings Club” – a group that includes those who have completed at least 20 Birkebeiners.
“I didn’t expect I’d be doing 30, or even 20,” Howell said. “It just got to be such a thing I looked forward to.”
Each year, he meets friends and family at the event. A small group rents a cabin for the week, and they eat, dine and visit the various events together.
“It’s like a reunion,” Howell said.
However, after all the suffering this year, will Howell be back for his 32nd?
“Yeah,” said Howell. “But am I going to do the 52? If I’m that sick, I won’t do it.”
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