Birkebeinerrennet

Last weekend, Kevin and I drove up to Lillehammer. It's a picturesque little town at the northern tip of Lake Mjosa, about a 40 minute drive from our house. Lillehammer hosted the 1994 winter Olympics. (The U.S. coverage of the games was dominated by the Tonya Harding/Nancy Kerrigan scandal.) We are planning to go to the Olympics museum someday, but we just wanted to wander around and see the town on this visit. As we were walking along, we saw this statue in front of the library. At first I was indignant, obviously 4 out of 5 pediatricians do not recommend hurtling yourself down a mountain while holding a baby! Then it dawned on me that, no, this statue is not a monument to child abuse, it actually is a tribute to the Birkebeiner Skiiers.
In 1200, Norway was split into two main factions, the Baglers and the Birkebeiners (literally: birch legs, as they were so poor they wrapped their feet in birch bark instead of proper boots) fighting for control over the country. When the Birkebeiner king died in 1204, his infant son, Hakon Hakonsson, was in grave danger, as he was the heir to the Birkebeiner throne. To protect Hakon from the Baglers, on Christmas day in 1205, two of the Birkebeiner warriors skiied the child across the mountains to safety. Hakon survived and became King Hakon Hakonsson IV, who is best known for bringing peace and stability to Norway.
To commemorate this courageous and heroic trek through the mountains, in 1932, the Birkebeinerrenet was born. It is a 54 km. ski marathon, through the mountains, from Rena to Lillehammer. As if skiing 54 km. isn't arduous enough, the participants are required to carry a 3.5 kg. backpack to signify the weight of the infant Hakon. Hundreds of people participate each year--I will not be one of them this winter, but I do plan to go and watch! (Because in Norway, there's no such thing as too much vigorous exercise, after the snow melts, there is also a mountain bike race and a running marathon in celebration of the journey.) If you want to know more about the Birkebeinerrent, (or if you want to participate) here's a link to a good web site: www.birkebeiner.no And for you Americans who can't make the trip over but would really like to experience the torture, I mean, excitement, there is an American Birkie held in northern Wisconsin. Here's the link to that website: www.birkie.com/
I do have cross country skis, but I think I have to master getting past the driveway without falling over before I take on a marathon. Maybe in a couple of years...but I think it's much more likely that I'll always be cheering from the sidelines with a hot cocoa in one hand, a waffle in the other! If you want to join me, the Birkebeinerrennet will take place on March 17, 2007. (I'll even put some Bailey's in the hot cocoa in honor of good old St. Pat!)