Racer ready and in the gate br seeing your breath br as you breathe deeply and wait br Confirmation on the radio br the course is clear br br Looking downhil at the course br and feeling your heart beat br adrenalin rushing from head to feet br Telling yourself to keep your turns br tight and neat br br Adgust goggles and regrip poles br scanning the white snowy course br Feeling the cold as you wait br Gates set left and right br Here's the count....Three, two.. br (bend knees, sink back) ....one br br GO! ! br Spring forward over your skis br Launch with your poles and arms br as your knees push the timer wand br clock ticks as you skate hard br eye the first gate and carve br Your ski edge bites the snow br br Propel to the right and sight the br gate pole you'll slap with your fist back br look downhill to the left as you round the gate br fling your body sharply toward the next turn br br You're moving so quickly that the gates are too br You've got to fight to stay ahead br picking your lines and cutting off the turns br but the rhythm is just right br a blur of motion, color and white br the only sounds heard: br The rushing of wind and the chatter of skis br as your quads begin to burn br and you're breathless br br Rush and skate through the finish line beam br look up at your time br skid to a stop as your skis chatter an edges bite br look up at the sun and catch your breath br steaming in the winter air br br 2008 © James T. Adairbr br JAMES T.