Norwegian Birkie Overhaul
The following is a translated and summarized version of an article originally appearing in the Norwegian Oestlendingen focusing on Marianne Myklebust –- the woman in charge of renewing the Norwegian Birkebeiner. All translation and summary by Inge Scheve, XC Oregon/Alpina Racing/Madshus USA
Marianne Myklebust suspected that she would encounter critical voices when she, as a woman, determines to change the start order in the venerable Birkebeiner ski race. But the fearless female has a degree in reorganization management and believes in success.
Oestlendingen meets the fresh CEO of Birkebeinerrennet A/S in Hamar, which is home these days. Events in Myklebust’s life tend to happen fast, and after only two weeks as the chair of the board of directors, she was promoted to CEO of the established race. “I have a hard time saying no,” she explains.
So far, she has said yes to a one-year contract as the CEO of Birkebeinerrennet A/S, combined with a part-time job in the Norwegian Ski Association.
“Sometimes, you have to change things around,” Myklebust says of her previous 3-year project. She lead the ski association’s junior recruitment project “Coming up, young and in the tracks,” designed to get increase the interest for cross-country skiing among youth. Currently, cross-country skiing is experiencing increased recruitment among juniors.
“It has to be fun,” Myklebust states.
Now, she wants to reformat and modernize the pinnacle of Norwegian skiing traditions: the 14,000 skier Birkebeiner race from Rena to Lillehammer. Myklebust hopes to make the strenuous trek across the mountain more fun. That, in and of itself, may not be rocket science, but an institution that is more than 70 years old in its current format can’t be easy to change.
“No problem. We’ll change the start format starting with the 2005 event,” she says. “During the 2004 Birkebeiner event, the 10,000 participants passed each other more than six million times. Accordingly, the tracks vanished. This problem will be solved by leaving the old start format with waves based on age to the now format where waves will be based on ability and previous race experience. Racers will be surrounded by other participants of roughly the same athletic ability,” Myklebust explains.
“Of course, they will still pass each other, but our estimates indicate that the amount of passing will be reduced by 80 percent, which will enable about 200 additional racers to earn the ‘pin’ (Ed. The ‘pin’ is awarded to only the top 25 percent of the racers.), so the new start format will ensure a better experience for everyone,” she argues.
Myklebust herself has completed the Birkebeiner race five times and earned the pin every time. Two of her race starts were cancelled in favor of her biggest accomplishment yet: His name is Vegard and he is 18 months old.
Training, racing and over-training
Marianne Myklebust was one of Norway’s most promising juniors. The rocket from Brummunddal surged past most of them, both on skis and in track and field. She posted a 2.09 800-meter time at 15, and at the Junior World Championships in cross-country skiing, she helped her team win the relay gold medal, and she also placed seventh in the World Cup (cross-country skiing) in 1986. Then she became the world champion of over-training. “When I was 19, I decided to train full time. I am sure I had done a lot of things right so far, but now I stopped listening to my body and ignored its need for recovery,” Myklebust recalled. “I completely hit the wall and my doctor announced me world champion of overtraining.”
Background
Myklebust has a degree in business administration from Rena, a degree in pedagogy from Lillehammer, and a degree in reorganization management, project administration and synergy from the college of business at BI in Oslo. Six years of experience from Ideal Wasa and three years working with the Norwegian Ski Association in Oslo provide additional weight to her symbolic backpack she hauls between Rena and Lillehammer as the CEO of Birkebeinerrennet A/S. Now, she plans to make the event longer.
Isn’t it already far enough to suffer with slippery skis alongside thousands of other who experience simultaneous near-death experiences?
“We plan to move the start area down closer to town and push the finish all the way to Stampesletta in Lillehammer, as it used to be years ago,” Myklebust said. “Accordingly, the race will be 59 or 60 kilometers long like it used to be. Currently, the event is about 54 kilometers.”
What is it about this race that appears so magical to skiers? 11,000 racers entered and 10,000 completed the 2004 Birkebeiner event. Why do so many skiers do this to themselves?
“A lot of skiers need a goal to train toward, and find the Birkebeiner to be a solid challenge,” Myklebust argued. “Physical activity is good for people, and those who complete the event have really accomplished something. Less than 30 percent earn the pin, but it’s doing it that matters.”
Some claim that far from everyone is in favor of the format changes. Do the racers really want these changes – a new start order, a new start area and a new finish?
“We have researched the event thoroughly and had a whole committee devoted to analyze the course and the event. And among the participants in the focus group, more than 50 percent are positive to the changes we suggest,” Myklebust claimed. “We feel certain that the choices we have made will improve the overall event, but we also promise a very careful evaluation following the 2005 event.”
The heart and soul of the Birkebeiner, will it survive 2005?
“Absolutely. We won’t touch the core and the traditions of the event,” Myklebust ensured. “The feedback and interest we have enjoyed in the renewal process indicate that the Birkebeiner is an institution that will continue to thrive through modernization and will continue to be the best citizen race in the world. All institutions have to renew and modernize to maintain their market share,” she argued.
Did you learn anything from earning the world champion title in over-training?
“Yes… I learned a lot. Maybe the most important lesson was that there has to be a balance between wanting progress and improvement and wanting results,” she explained. “I believe a lot of juniors could love their sports more if they weren’t subjected to a focus on results as early as they typically are,” she said, noting that every athlete needs to feel that they are improving and developing through their careers.
So, we wondered, what can Myklebust offer to motivate us to dig out the running shoes and get in shape for the 2005 Birkebeiner – can we at least lose the backpack?
“No. The pack stays. End of discussion,” Muklebust said without hesitation. “It has become lighter over the years – it used to weigh 5.5 kilograms (ed. about 12 pounds) and now it weighs 3.5 kilograms (approximately 8 punds) – but it’s mandatory and will remain so.”
But why?
“Because the Birkebeiner is a citizen race that traverses remote mountainous areas and participants frequently encounter a variety of inclement weather conditions. The pack must include extra clothing, wax, tools, food and drink. Plus, it does symbolize the weight of the baby king carried across the mountains to safety in 1205 by Birkebeiners Skjervald Skrukke and Torstein Skjelva.”
But they carried him in 1205 – didn’t they finish the task?
“The pack stays.”
