My favorite cross-country ski racer, the red-cheeked Frode Estil of Norway, just borrowed a tactic from American athletes and undid his decision to retire. Along with female racer Hilde Gjermundshaug Pedersen, who has by my count now retired and unretired twice, Estil will join the private "Team Fast" squad, which races in the ultra-long distance events like the 70km Marcialonga in Italy and the 90km Vasaloppet in Sweden. Estil says (so far as I can tell) that he dreams of winning the Vasaloppet, which is the longest and most prestigious ski race in the world. For her part, Pedersen jokes that "I just have to keep in shape," which she tried not to do, but failed. With five-hour races in the offing for the upcoming winter, she'd better keep failing to not stay in shape.