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Catching Birkie fever

By Jessie Bazan, Comm '14

Above: Seven friends from Marquette jammed into a Suburban for the seven-hour car ride to Cable, Wis., to cheer on Marquette junior Becca Pierre as she competed in the American Birkebeiner. Below: Pierre begins the race. She went on to finish in 3 hours and 47 minutes.

On a sunny February Saturday in northern Wisconsin, Marquette junior Becca Pierre glided across the finish line of the American Birkebeiner, one of the world's toughest cross-country ski competitions. Running a marathon was always on Pierre's bucket list, but she quips, "This was a good substitute."

Now, 31 miles later, Pierre can officially cross this one off her list.

Each year, some 9,500 ski enthusiasts from around the world flock to Cable, Wis., for a snowy weekend of endurance-testing events. World renowned for its challenging terrain, the Birkie's course begins in Cable and takes skiers on a 50-kilometer adventure through woods, up hills, over highways and even across a lake. By the time skiers arrive at the finish line in downtown Hayward, they've been through the wringer.

"As I crossed the finish line, my knees were absolutely throbbing and my lungs were burning. All I could think about was finding water and sitting down, which actually ended up taking awhile to accomplish," says Pierre, who started skiing on her high school's cross-country team seven years ago.

To prepare for the physical demands of the Birkie, Pierre skied every day over winter break on the trail next to her family's house in Rhinelander, Wis. Back in snowless Milwaukee, she was relegated to running and cardio training at Marquette's Rec Center. Mentally, Pierre prepared for this year's race by drawing on her previous Birkie experience in 2010, which taught her essential strategies for pacing and motivation.

Pierre says the training is well worth the great experiences she gets as a member of the "Birkie culture," a term used to describe the race's tight-knit community.

"Once you do it once, you are addicted to it and want to go back," explains Pierre. "It's the whole ambiance of the event; everyone bonding together over this one really difficult task." She adds that the Birkie community is very enthusiastic and supportive, especially at the finish line.

"Main Street in Hayward is blocked off and covered with snow to become the finish line," Pierre says. "It's really fun because everyone's just lining the street and all the little shops have signs cheering us on."

Among those lining the street this year were Pierre's parents, brother, extended family and seven friends from Marquette, and she says their support was crucial. A few days before the event, Pierre was studying at the library when she got a call from her uncle, who raced in the Birkie for 15 years. "Becca, just wondering if you have Berkie fever?" he asked excitedly. There's no doubt this skier certainly does.