Re. [XC] Why listed as 45?

[Don Fariss]

Ok, ok, ok.......enough with the whining.   I've been doin' these marathons for 25 years now (since 1978). You learn quickly never to believe what you hear.   Don't tell me you've never been near the end and had a spectator say "Only 2 kilometers to go" and then five km later you are still looking for the end? Happens all the time. In fact, you can count on it.   Maybe these people just walked a direct route of 2 kilometers from their car at the finish and they don't realize the trail actually winds around another 5 or 10 km.   This year I had a guy at 40 kilometers say, "You're almost home."   Do we really look that bad that we deserve the pity that such lies are founded on? Gosh, I hope not.   A bunch of years ago (my individual Birkies are all a blur now) we skied south to north. Due to open water on the lake, we started east of Hayward (Rosies?) so the course was short a few km. Or so we all thought. There was a rumor at the start (that I wasn't privy to) that they added km at the north end to make it normal length. So much later, I was skiing in on Telemark's Birkie trail, got near the warming cabin, heard the loudspeakers at the finish up ahead, smiled and then the course CRUELLY turned up the John Bower around the BACK side of the mountain adding about 5 more kilometers. Ugh!   So grasshoppers, it is NOT over even when "the fat lady sings" (over the loudspeakers).  It ain't over 'til it's over.   So don't believe you're there 'til they rip the timing chip off your cold dead boot !